Terror in Balochistan

At least six soldiers martyred and 15 law enforcement officials and civilians injured in Balochistan terror attacks

A spate of terrorist attacks in Balochistan led to at least six soldiers being martyred and at least 15 law enforcement officials and civilians injured. At least one other soldier was martyred and two others injured in a separate exchange of fire with terrorists in the restive province. The fact that half a dozen attacks, involving the use of explosives, took place on the same day should be a matter of grave concern for top security officials as well as elected leaders. The raw number reflects an abject failure to bring peace to the region. Yes, many of the attacks were on security and law enforcement officials engaged in ‘clearing operations’, which have a high risk of violence; but the fact that such operations are still frequently needed reflects how easy it is becoming for terrorists to reestablish a footprint, however small, within weeks of ostensibly being cleared.

In the deadly attack in the Kahan area, five soldiers, including an officer, were martyred after an improvised explosive device exploded near them. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) terrorist group took responsibility for the attack. Meanwhile, despite extremely tense times along the Pak-Afghan border, the military’s media wing cited cross-border support for the terrorists involved, reflecting continuing weaknesses in border security. The deadly shootout in Zhob was blamed on terrorists trying to flee into Afghanistan. On the other hand, no one has claimed responsibility for the five non-fatal explosive attacks, which is concerning in itself — how many groups are actively trying to blow up our civilians and security officials?

And while the government is reportedly mulling plans to up the ante against the resurgent Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan group, it cannot ignore the Baloch terrorist outfits that seem to have never really left. Even in the days after Zarb-e-Azb and Radd-ul-Fasaad, when we were told that the war against militants was won, the few attacks still reported were all attributed to Baloch groups.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 27^th, 2022.

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