QUETTA, BALOCHISTAN: Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch, in a statement issued to media, has claimed responsibility for the killing of 40 Pakistani army personnel in 48 attacks carried out over the past fifteen days.
According to the spokesperson, BLA fighters (“sarmachars”) killed more than 40 personnel of the “occupying Pakistani army” in 48 operations across Balochistan during the past fifteen days, while several personnel were also wounded in these attacks. Under what the group termed an “economic blockade,” vehicles violating blockades on main highways were targeted and destroyed, additionally, four major bridges were destroyed using explosives. The group said five of its fighters were killed during various clashes with the army.
July 1: At Kori Door in the Dasht area of Mastung, fighters attacked an army supply vehicle, killing two personnel and preventing the delivery of supplies to army posts. A previous attack at the same location on June 29 had reportedly also disrupted supply delivery. The same day, one cargo vehicle was targeted on the main highway in Kachki area of Noshki, and two cargo vehicles were targeted on the Chaidgi route in Panjgur.
July 3: An army vehicle was targeted in an IED attack in the Zareen Jungle area of Noshki, killing at least two personnel. Similarly, an army vehicle was targeted in a bombing on Sibi Road in the Dasht area of Mastung, which also damaged a main bridge.
The same day, fighters blockaded and took full control of the Shahrag-Harnai and Shahrag-Ziarat highways for two days. During the blockade, two suspects were reportedly detained for questioning, while two bridges were destroyed in bombings on the Noshki-Kharan road in the Reko area of Noshki.
Fighters also took control of the Quetta-Taftan route in Dalbandin, setting large vehicles ablaze. Clashes between the army and fighters occurred the same night, in which the army reportedly suffered losses.
July 4: Army foot patrols were targeted in a bomb explosion in the Balgor, Machaat area of Kech, killing one soldier on the spot and wounding another. Meanwhile, in the Mirzazo area of Tump, fighters launched an armed attack on an army vehicle and foot patrols conducting a clearance operation, killing one soldier on the spot and wounding at least three.
July 5: In the Ahmad Wal area of Noshki, fighters reportedly took full control of a police station before setting it on fire; three police personnel detained there were released after a stern warning. Separately, in the Saami area of Kech, fighters fired multiple grenades at a main army camp using a grenade launcher, inflicting casualties and damage.
July 6: In the Bencha area of Sorab, fighters blockaded the main highway and set fire to a vehicle transporting minerals. The same day, in the Sonaro area of Khuzdar, fighters targeted an army vehicle with an IED, causing severe damage.
July 7: Fighters attacked army personnel in the Khilafat area of Ziarat, near Harnai, as hundreds of soldiers reportedly attempted to advance into the area three soldiers were killed on the spot. That evening, fighters staged ambushes at three separate locations, more than seven soldiers killed, several wounded, and forcing a retreat. The group said three of its members Rahimullah alias Zafar, Khair Muhammad alias Hamal, and Kaka alias Rasheed were killed in these clashes.
July 7 (separate incident): Near Kali Karim Bakhsh in Kharan, the army suffered heavy losses after an armed attack on foot patrols. Meanwhile, in the Ahmad Wal area of Noshki, have inflicted further casualties and damage on the army in a separate operation.
The same day, at Dedh Mor in Chamalang, Gul Baig Dadiani, a security guard for mineral extraction company vehicles, was killed in a remote-controlled bomb attack. The BLA statement said he was not only employed by the extraction company but also acted as an informant for the army and helped recruit local youth into the military.
July 8: In the Mehlabi area of Kalat, fighters attacked army personnel at two separate locations, where two soldiers killed and several wounded.
July 9: In the Sachi area of Washuk, fighters attacked a four-vehicle army convoy with a bomb blast and armed assault while it was reportedly transporting Lieutenant Colonel Nasir of the army’s 128 Wing from Washuk to Kharan. Two vehicles were directly hit, one of which was destroyed by a rocket attack. four soldiers were killed and more than six wounded, three of them seriously.
The same day, fighters seized an army supply vehicle on the Chaidgi route in Panjgur.
July 10: In the Minaz area of Buleda, fighters ambushed army vehicles, claiming two soldiers killed on the spot. Separately, on the Quetta-Taftan highway in the Batto area of Noshki, fighters destroyed a major bridge in a bombing. Meanwhile, in the Saraduk area of Panjgur, fighters fired grenades at an army camp, claiming casualties and damage.
July 11: In the Kachki area of Noshki, fighters reportedly took control of a police checkpoint, detaining three personnel before destroying the post with explosives. The BLA statement said the checkpoint had been involved in illegal extortion from passing vehicles; the detained police personnel were released after a stern warning.
July 12: In the Naghar area of Sorab, fighters ambushed two army vehicles as they were leaving their camp, claiming three soldiers killed on the spot and at least seven wounded who fled the scene. Meanwhile, in the Girgina area of Mastung, fighters attacked two army vehicles, claiming damage and casualties. The same day, army foot patrols were attacked in the Phatak area of Ahmad Wal, Noshki, with two soldiers reportedly killed on the spot in the evening, fighters attacked army vehicles in the Gomazgi area of Noshki, claiming further casualties and damage.
July 13: On the Kharan-Quetta highway in the Zomi area of Kharan, fighters attacked an army vehicle convoy, claiming three soldiers killed and several wounded. Separately, in the Naghar area of Sorab, fighters attacked army personnel traveling by motorcycle through a narrow gorge, claiming two soldiers killed and at least three wounded.
The same day, in the Sonaro area of Wadh, a BLA sniper reportedly killed a soldier stationed at an army camp on the main highway. Meanwhile, a vehicle carrying supplies for a military project was set ablaze and destroyed in Dalbandin. Additionally, heavy clashes occurred between fighters and the Pakistani on the Chaidgi route in Panjgur, with the group claiming four soldiers killed and several wounded; the BLA said two of its fighters Sangat Masood alias Sami and Sangat Shah Nazar alias Badal were killed in these clashes.
July 14: Fighters reportedly took control of the Kharan-Quetta road, conducting checks for several hours, and destroyed an empty Pakistani forces post near the highway with explosives – a post the group said was used by the army for convoy security and offensive operations. Separately, fighters destroyed a major bridge on the Quetta-Karachi highway near the Tok area of Kalat using explosives.
In closing, spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch said the BLA pays tribute to its five fighters Sangat Rahimullah alias Zafar, Sangat Khair Muhammad alias Hamal, Sangat Kaka alias Rasheed, Sangat Masood alias Sami, and Sangat Shah Nazar alias Badal who the group says were killed defending their homeland during these operations, describing their sacrifice as one that would keep the flame of the Baloch nationalist movement alive. The group reiterated its vow to continue its campaign until what it called the “complete withdrawal” of the Pakistani army and the establishment of an independent homeland.
