Pakistan Launches Major Counter-Insurgency Operation After Coordinated Balochistan Attacks Leave Dozens Dead
By Saleem Ahmed and Ariba Shahid
QUETTA, Pakistan, Feb 1 (Reuters) — Pakistani forces concluded a 40-hour counter-terrorism operation on Sunday, killing 145 militants in heavy fighting across the southwestern province of Balochistan. The military action was a direct response to a devastating series of coordinated gun and bomb attacks that swept through multiple districts on Saturday, leaving at least 48 people dead and dozens more wounded, according to provincial authorities.
The violence represents a significant and bloody escalation in a decades-long insurgency in Pakistan's largest but poorest province, which is rich in natural resources and borders Iran and Afghanistan. Separatist groups, primarily the banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), have long fought for greater autonomy and control over the region's resources.
"This was a well-planned, province-wide offensive by the militants, but our forces were prepared and have responded decisively," Balochistan's Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti told reporters. He confirmed that 17 security personnel and 31 civilians were among those killed in the initial militant assaults. The subsequent military operations, he said, resulted in the highest militant death toll in such a short timeframe since the insurgency intensified.
Saturday's attacks unfolded with alarming coordination. Armed assailants, some disguised as civilians, struck nearly simultaneously in the provincial capital Quetta, as well as in the strategic port city of Gwadar, and the districts of Mastung and Noshki. Targets included a Frontier Corps headquarters, hospitals, schools, banks, and markets. Junior Interior Minister Talal Chaudhry condemned the militants' tactics, stating they had used civilians as human shields during the assaults.
The BLA claimed responsibility for the operation, which it dubbed "Herof" or "black storm," asserting it had killed 84 security force members—a claim Reuters could not independently verify and which the military has not addressed.
In Quetta, the aftermath was stark: streets were sealed with yellow tape, bullet-riddled buildings stood as grim testaments, and security was visibly heightened. "They hit me on my face and head," recounted Jamil Ahmed Mashwani, a private security guard outside a damaged shop, describing the sudden midday violence.
Broader Implications and International Reaction
The attacks have drawn sharp geopolitical lines. Pakistan's military alleged on Saturday that the assaults were carried out by "Indian-sponsored militants," a charge swiftly rejected by New Delhi. Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal called the allegations "baseless" and accused Islamabad of deflecting from its internal issues.
The United States condemned the violence. "We stand in solidarity with Pakistan in the face of these acts of terrorist violence," said U.S. Charge d'Affaires Natalie Baker. The BLA is designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the U.S. State Department.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif highlighted a troubling shift in militant strategy, noting that two of the attacks involved female perpetrators and that civilians, laborers, and low-income communities were increasingly in the crosshairs.
Voices from the Region
Reuters spoke to several residents and analysts for their perspective on the escalating conflict:
"This level of coordination is terrifying. It shows the insurgents' capability hasn't diminished; it's evolved," said Dr. Ayesha Raza, a political analyst based in Karachi. "The government's heavy-handed military response might secure short-term gains, but without addressing the deep-seated grievances around resource distribution and political marginalization in Balochistan, this cycle will only repeat."
"Enough is enough!" exclaimed Bakhtawar Khan, a university student in Quetta whose cousin was injured in the market attack. "We are caught between the militants' bullets and the state's operations. When will our lives matter more than this endless fighting? The authorities talk of numbers—145 militants killed—but what about the trauma of the 48 families who lost loved ones? This isn't victory; it's devastation."
"The strategic timing is notable," observed Colonel (Retd.) Hassan Saeed, a former security official. "Launching such a broad operation requires significant planning and resources. The security forces' pre-emptive actions, based on intelligence, likely prevented an even greater catastrophe. However, the militants' ability to penetrate urban centers in disguise points to serious intelligence and policing gaps that need immediate addressing."
"My shop is destroyed. How will I feed my family now?" asked Mohammad Yasin, a shopkeeper in Mastung. "We hear about big operations in Islamabad and accusations against India, but here on the ground, we just see loss. No one wins here."
The Pakistani military stated that security forces successfully repelled all attempts by militants to seize control of urban centers or strategic installations. As clean-up operations continue, the province remains on high alert, with the latest violence underscoring the persistent and complex challenge Balochistan poses to Pakistan's stability.
(Reporting by Saleem Ahmed in Quetta and Ariba Shahid in Karachi; Additional reporting by Hritam Mukherjee in Bengaluru; Editing by William Mallard, Saad Sayeed, and Alexandra Hudson)