Pakistan Launches Major Counter-Insurgency Push After Balochistan Attacks Leave Dozens Dead

By Saleem Ahmed, with reporting from Mubasher Bukhari

QUETTA/Lahore, Feb 2 (Reuters) – Pakistani military forces are conducting sweeping clearance operations across the restive southwestern province of Balochistan, officials said on Monday, aiming to root out separatist militants responsible for a series of brazen weekend attacks that brought the region to a standstill and left nearly 50 people dead.

The coordinated assaults, which struck schools, banks, markets, and security installations, represent one of the largest and most audacious operations ever claimed by the banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA). The group, which has waged a decades-long insurgency for greater autonomy and control over the province's resources, dubbed the campaign "Operation Black Storm."

According to military statements, 17 security personnel and 31 civilians were killed in the initial attacks. In response, Pakistan's interior ministry reported that 177 BLA fighters had been killed in three days of intense fighting, with 22 of those eliminated overnight in various districts.

"Security forces, police, and intelligence agencies thwarted the nefarious intentions of terrorists by taking timely and effective action," Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said in a statement. He reiterated longstanding government accusations, stating, "The Indian agents and their facilitators will be completely eliminated." India's foreign office has categorically rejected the allegations, urging Pakistan to address the "long-standing demands of its people in the region."

Junior Interior Minister Talal Chaudhry described a grim tactical shift by the militants, noting attackers disguised as ordinary civilians entered public spaces before opening fire indiscriminately. "In each case, the attackers came in dressed as civilians and targeted ordinary people," he said, adding that militants had used civilians as human shields.

The BLA, in a statement, claimed a higher toll, saying it had killed 84 security force members and captured 18. Reuters could not independently verify this claim.

Analysis & Context: The weekend's violence underscores the persistent and potent threat posed by Baloch separatists, despite years of military operations. Balochistan, Pakistan's largest but poorest province, is rich in natural gas and minerals, yet its population complains of neglect and exploitation by the central government. The scale and coordination of these attacks suggest a resilient militant infrastructure capable of challenging state authority, complicating efforts for regional stability and economic projects like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which runs through the province.

Voices & Reaction:

Ahmed Khan, Political Analyst in Islamabad: "This is a tragic escalation. It highlights the failure of a purely security-centric approach. There must be a parallel, sincere political dialogue addressing the legitimate grievances of the Baloch people regarding resource distribution and political rights. Otherwise, this cycle of violence will only deepen."

Maria Siddiqui, Human Rights Advocate in Karachi: "My heart breaks for the families of the civilians killed—teachers, shopkeepers, ordinary people caught in the crossfire. Using schools and hospitals as targets is a heinous war crime. The international community cannot remain silent. We need independent investigations and accountability, not just from militants but for all human rights abuses in the region."

Col. (Retd.) Asif Raza, Security Consultant in Rawalpindi: "The state's response has been swift and decisive. These foreign-sponsored terrorists aim to destabilize Pakistan's economic future, particularly the CPEC. The operation demonstrates our armed forces' resolve to protect national sovereignty. The only language these militants understand is force, and it is being applied."

Zara Baloch, Student Activist (Exiled): "[Emotionally] How many more Baloch have to die? For 75 years, we have been treated as a colony. Our land is looted, our people are disappeared, and when we resist, they call us terrorists! The 'Black Storm' is the fury of a people pushed to the brink. The world watches as genocide is conducted under the guise of counter-terrorism. Pakistan's accusations against India are a pathetic distraction from its own brutal occupation."

(Reporting by Saleem Ahmed in Quetta and Mubasher Bukhari in Lahore; Writing and analysis by Saad Sayeed; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)