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Violence erupts across Balochistan
Coordinated gun and bomb attacks in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province have left at least 33 people dead, including 18 civilians and 15 security personnel, the military reported on Sunday.
Military response and rebel claims
Security forces killed 92 attackers during clashes, according to the military. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist group, claimed responsibility for the assaults, alleging dozens of soldiers were killed in the fighting.
The military stated the attacks targeted civilians in and around the provincial capital, Quetta, as well as police stations, paramilitary posts, prisons, and government buildings across 12 cities and towns.
Disruptions and security measures
Key administrative buildings in Quetta were cordoned off, and major roads sealed during the violence. Mobile phone networks were jammed, and regional train services suspended as authorities sought to contain the situation.
Political and diplomatic fallout
Pakistan's government accused India of backing the BLA, a claim New Delhi has consistently denied. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif later commended the military's response, vowing to "continue the war against terrorism until its complete eradication."
Roots of the conflict
The BLA accuses Islamabad of exploiting Balochistan's vast mineral and gas reserves while local communities see little benefit. Human rights activists also allege security forces are responsible for enforced disappearances, a charge the government rejects.
Balochistan, Pakistan's largest province by area, spans nearly 44% of the country's landmass and borders Iran and Afghanistan. Despite its wealth of natural resources, it remains one of the nation's poorest regions, home to roughly 5% of Pakistan's 240 million people.
The Baloch people, the province's dominant ethnic group, have waged an insurgency since 1948, shortly after Pakistan gained independence from British rule. Separatists demand an independent state for the Baloch nation.
Aftermath and outlook
The latest violence marks one of the bloodiest days in Balochistan's decades-long conflict. Authorities have yet to release further details on casualties or the status of ongoing operations.
