QUETTA, BALOCHISTAN: The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed on Wednesday that its fighters killed 18 Pakistani soldiers and wounded several others in 25 attacks across Balochistan between 14 and 23 September.
In a statement sent to the media, BLA spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch said the group’s fighters took control of areas and police stations in the Mand and Khuzdar districts during three key operations and also targeted military installations. He said 10 BLA fighters were Martyred in clashes with Pakistani forces.
The group said it attacked members of pro-government militias in Gwargo, Panjgur, on 14 September. On 15 September, it said it blew up a communication tower installed for surveillance cameras between Gwargo and Fateh Ali.
On 16 September, the BLA said it ambushed a convoy of military motorcycles and vehicles in Badrang, in the Kolwah area of Kech district, as the convoy was on its way to provide security to a company. The group claimed four soldiers were killed on the spot and five wounded. It also claimed an ambush on a military convoy at Mino Cross in Kalatuk, Turbat, that killed two soldiers and wounded at least four.
The group further claimed an ambush at Dali in Kharan that killed one soldier and wounded at least two and an attack on a military convoy in Rodbin, Tump, on the same day.
The BLA said it targeted a military vehicle with an improvised explosive device (IED) in Sonaro, Khuzdar and blew up the main bridge on the Quetta-Taftan trade route at Kardgap in Mastung.
It also claimed an attack in Gwargo, Panjgur, in which it said a military vehicle was disabled, four soldiers were killed and several wounded and a military quadcopter was shot down. The group said long clashes followed, in which four of its fighters were killed.
The BLA said its fighters took control of the Baloch Abad and Balo areas of Mand on 18 September, set up checkpoints on entry routes and addressed public gatherings. It claimed the military used quadcopters to target residential areas, wounding five civilians and that its fighters shot down one quadcopter.
The group said it also ambushed two military vehicles in Gulogah, Mashkel, destroying one and killing three soldiers and wounding more than five. It further claimed to have burnt a vehicle carrying minerals in Patak, Besima, and blown up a surveillance-camera tower in Bato, Nushki.
On 19 September, the BLA said it ambushed military vehicles at Nagman in Sherinab, Mastung, followed by long clashes in which it claimed several soldiers were killed or wounded. It said a later drone strike killed four of its fighters.
On 20 September, it claimed an attack on a military checkpoint on the bypass road near a stadium in Nushki city that killed two soldiers and wounded at least four. It also said it fired grenade launcher shells at a military post in Koshk, Buleda area of Kech.
On 21 September, the spokesperson said it took control of Radig in Mand, set up checkpoints, attacked the main military camp with heavy and automatic weapons, and burnt a customs post after taking control of it. It also said it seized a vehicle carrying rations for the Pakistani army at Ziarat Cross in Washuk.
On 22 September, the Jeeyand Baloch claimed an IED attack on a bomb disposal squad at Tera Mile in Dasht, near Quetta, that killed one soldier and wounded another. It said its fighters took full control of a police station in Baghbana, Khuzdar, and seized weapons and equipment there. The group claimed police and pro-government militia members who tried to advance were ambushed, leaving several militia members dead and several police personnel wounded, including station house officer Munir Alam Jattak.
On 23 September, it claimed an IED attack on military movement in Heronk, Kech.
The statement also said that on 17 September the group detained a man in Kharan working as an informant for the army. It said he “confessed” during interrogation and was sentenced to death by a “court” and that the sentence was carried out.
The BLA said 10 fighters were killed in the period, including four in Panjgur on 17 September, four in Mastung on 19 September, and two in Mastung on 6 Septembe.
Jeeyand Baloch said the group would continue its attacks “with full force” againist the exploitation of Balochistan’s resources and the state’s policies in Occupied Balochistan.
