41 killed, including 18 soldiers in Baloch separatist attack in Pakistan

Local residents look at a burnt-out building set on fire by militants, in Kalat district, Balochistan | Photo: AFP

A militant counter-operation in Pakistan’s Balochistan province has resulted in the deaths of 41 people, including 18 paramilitary personnel. The incident occurred at midnight on Friday, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) of Pakistan. 

On Saturday, the ISPR issued a statement confirming that 11 militants were killed in an operation in the Harnai district of Balochistan, while 12 others were killed in a separate operation in Kalat district. During these operations, 18 paramilitary personnel lost their lives in militant attacks.

According to the ISPR, security forces initially responded when militants attempted to create disorder by blocking roads. As paramilitary forces arrived at the scene, the militants launched an attack. 

However, the specific militant groups involved were not immediately identified.

Balochistan, a mineral-rich province in southwestern Pakistan, shares borders with Iran and Afghanistan. Various ethnic separatist armed groups have been demanding autonomy in the region for decades. Military, paramilitary, and law enforcement personnel frequently face attacks in this volatile area.

In August last year, Baloch separatists carried out coordinated attacks on police stations, railways, and highways, resulting in at least 73 fatalities. Following that incident, security forces intensified counter-militancy operations.