Separatist fighters claimed responsibility for two attacks this week in Pakistan's Balochistan province, reportedly killing 14 soldiers, following an earlier blast that killed seven military personnel in the volatile region. The assaults come amidst heightened tensions between Pakistan and neighboring India.
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) stated its fighters targeted Pakistani Army forces in the Bolan and Kech areas of Balochistan Wednesday. In the first incident, the BLA's Special Tactical Operations Squad (STOS) used a remote-controlled explosive device against a military convoy in the Mach area of Bolan. The group reported 12 soldiers died in the blast, including Special Operations Commander Tariq Imran and Subedar Umar Farooq.
In a separate operation the same day, BLA fighters reportedly targeted a Bomb Disposal Squad in the Kulag Tigran area of Kech with another remote-controlled device. Two personnel were killed, according to the group.
A BLA spokesperson, Jeeyand Baloch, issued a statement asserting the attacks were carried out against a "mercenary occupying army." The group claims Pakistani authorities exploit the resource-rich Balochistan province while neglecting its population, driving the ongoing insurgency.
These attacks followed an incident on Tuesday in Balochistan where seven Pakistani Army soldiers were killed by an improvised explosive device. Pakistan's military stated the BLA targeted their vehicle in the southwestern province and accused India of backing the group, calling it an "Indian proxy." Pakistani authorities did not provide evidence for the claim, and there was no immediate comment from New Delhi or the BLA regarding the accusation.
Violence has been frequent in Balochistan and neighboring Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. According to tallies, armed groups have killed over 200 people in these regions in 2025, many of them security forces members. In March, the BLA hijacked a train carrying hundreds of passengers while traveling to Quetta, the provincial capital.
The recent surge in attacks occurs as tensions escalated between Pakistan and India following a shooting in India-administered Kashmir's Pahalgam region on April 22 that killed 26 people. India accused Pakistan of supporting the group responsible, a charge Islamabad denied. The two nuclear-armed nations have since taken reciprocal actions, including suspending trade, closing a land border, halting airspace access, expelling personnel, and India suspending aspects of a Indus Waters Treaty.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently visited the Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence headquarters with other top officials for a security briefing. Pakistan conducted Pakistan test fired two missile tests recently, while India announced civil defense drills in several states. Operation Sindoor was also reportedly underway by India. The United Nations Security Council discussed the situation in New York, with the UN Secretary-General urging both nations to avoid a military confrontation.
