Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Sunday alleged that coordinated attacks carried out at multiple locations across Balochistan were planned by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and claimed the group was operating with Indian support. He said the assaults were intended to cause widespread casualties and destabilise the country at a time of economic recovery.
Speaking at a press conference in Sialkot, Asif said at least a dozen sites were targeted simultaneously, which he described as evidence of an organised operation. He stated that the attacks were aimed at offsetting setbacks suffered by the BLA and its affiliates over the past year. India has not commented on the allegations.
Attacks and security response
According to the minister, suicide attacks were attempted on Frontier Corps installations in Noshki and Dalbandin, among other locations. He said security forces thwarted the attempts through timely action. Asif reported that 11 security personnel were killed during the operations and said more than 100 militants had been killed over the past two days, adding that the figure could rise as operations continue.
Balochistan operations against Fitna-ul-Hindustan leave 108 militants dead
He said intelligence reports and confessional statements from detained suspects indicated links to India, reiterating that the BLA is a proscribed organisation under Pakistani law and designated internationally. Independent verification of the claims was not available.
Broader counterterrorism stance
Asif also said militant groups were exploiting vulnerable populations, including women and children, citing recent incidents in Karachi and Pasni. He alleged that militant leadership operating from Afghanistan was recruiting and radicalising youth.
The minister said Pakistan would continue what he described as a decisive campaign against the BLA and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and warned that facilitators would face the same legal consequences as perpetrators. He added that counterterrorism measures had reduced attacks in recent years but required further strengthening.
He called for political unity against militancy and said Pakistan would take all measures permitted under its constitution to protect citizens, whether threats originate inside or outside the country
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