Pakistan escalates crackdown on Baloch separatists after brutal assault on civilians and security personnel, with at least 31 killed.
A wave of violence swept through Quetta, the capital city of Balochistan province, leaving a trail of death and destruction. Scores of insurgents launched a coordinated attack on military installations, police stations, banks, and government offices, killing at least 17 security personnel. The assault also resulted in the deaths of at least 31 civilians, with many more injured.
The attacks were described as "unprecedented" by analysts, who noted that they had gained momentum in recent years. The proscribed Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for the attacks, which it said targeted military installations and government offices.
Videos shared on social media show insurgents roaming freely through Quetta, firing rocket launchers at a bank, and torching police stations. The BLA also released a statement claiming to have killed 84 security personnel and taken 18 officials prisoner, although these claims could not be verified.
Pakistan's government has been quick to blame India for backing the terrorists, but this claim was denied by New Delhi. Instead, Pakistan's interior minister, Mohsin Naqvi, blamed Afghanistan for giving safe sanctuaries to the Baloch insurgents and other militant groups.
The attacks have sparked a widespread crackdown on separatist militants, with many arrested or killed in the ensuing operation. However, analysts say that the situation has escalated to a dangerous level, with the BLA claiming a significant local support base.
"Pakistan's military decided everything, which had made things worse," said security analyst Zahid Hussain. "The attacks prove they also have a huge local support base. Without that, such attacks are not possible."
The attacks in Balochistan come as tensions between Pakistan and India continue to simmer, with both countries accusing each other of backing terrorist groups.
A wave of violence swept through Quetta, the capital city of Balochistan province, leaving a trail of death and destruction. Scores of insurgents launched a coordinated attack on military installations, police stations, banks, and government offices, killing at least 17 security personnel. The assault also resulted in the deaths of at least 31 civilians, with many more injured.
The attacks were described as "unprecedented" by analysts, who noted that they had gained momentum in recent years. The proscribed Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for the attacks, which it said targeted military installations and government offices.
Videos shared on social media show insurgents roaming freely through Quetta, firing rocket launchers at a bank, and torching police stations. The BLA also released a statement claiming to have killed 84 security personnel and taken 18 officials prisoner, although these claims could not be verified.
Pakistan's government has been quick to blame India for backing the terrorists, but this claim was denied by New Delhi. Instead, Pakistan's interior minister, Mohsin Naqvi, blamed Afghanistan for giving safe sanctuaries to the Baloch insurgents and other militant groups.
The attacks have sparked a widespread crackdown on separatist militants, with many arrested or killed in the ensuing operation. However, analysts say that the situation has escalated to a dangerous level, with the BLA claiming a significant local support base.
"Pakistan's military decided everything, which had made things worse," said security analyst Zahid Hussain. "The attacks prove they also have a huge local support base. Without that, such attacks are not possible."
The attacks in Balochistan come as tensions between Pakistan and India continue to simmer, with both countries accusing each other of backing terrorist groups.
I'm so saddened by this news from Quetta... It's like something out of a movie 
where the lines between good and evil get all blurred. The Baloch separatists are fighting for their rights, but the violence is just too much 
. I feel bad for the civilians who got caught in the crossfire 
instead of blaming India or Afghanistan. The situation is escalating, and it's a ticking time bomb 
. We need to be careful not to fuel more hate and violence 
.
... I'm so worried about the situation in Balochistan, it's like, totally out of control 
. The Pakistan government is blaming India for this, but I don't think they're telling us the whole truth 
. They say Afghanistan is giving safe havens to these militant groups, but what if that's just a cover-up? 
And 84 security personnel dead? That's crazy! 
I need to stay informed and see what's happening behind the scenes... this is getting way too intense 
.
or is this just another example of how pakistani politics is like a bad soap opera... 
. It's clear to me that there are some serious issues with Pakistan's security situation and they need to get their act together ASAP 
. And can we please talk about the human cost of this conflict? 31 people are dead and many more are injured... what happened to all that love and respect for life? 
. It feels like they're just trying to sweep everything under the rug and silence anyone who speaks out against them. But at what cost? The people of Baluchistan deserve so much better than to be caught in a cycle of violence and fear 
.
like seriously, they can't even take responsibility for their own mess. and now they're saying afghanistan is giving safe havens to baloch insurgents... come on, that's just deflecting the problem. it's clear that pakistani security forces are not doing their job right, so they resort to blaming others. and what's up with pakistan's military being in charge of everything? like, isn't that a recipe for disaster? 
. And now they're cracking down on separatist militants even harder... I'm just worried about the civilians getting caught in the crossfire 
they're not gonna let terrorists roam free in their country... but honestly, it feels like pak gov is shifting blame game left & right on india 
it's like they're just pawns in a bigger game, you know? 
The government is quick to point fingers but where are the facts?
. India's not backing terrorists, that's a load 
. Pakistan needs to get a grip, not just shoot its way out of every problem 
we need more mindfulness and empathy towards these issues, you know? we need to listen to each other and try to understand where the others are coming from 
this pakistan crackdown is getting outta hand 
doesn't seem like a coordinated attack at all... sounds like there's some deep-seated issues here that need to be addressed 
Pakistan's always pointing fingers at India, but what about the role of pakistan's own govt? are they doing enough to crack down on these separatist groups? 
...