Synchronised terror jolts Balochistan

QUETTA:

Balochistan is no stranger to acts of terror, but the incidents which occurred on Monday shook the province to the core, leading to the tragic loss of more than 40 lives. From nearly two dozen passengers being offloaded and executed, to bodies being found and security officials martyred, Balochistan witnessed one of its worst days of violence in recent times.

In response to the attacks on innocent civilians, the military sprung into action and wiped out 21 suspected militants, while a major terrorist attack was thwarted in the Lasbela district.

The province, already grappling with instability, faced multiple attacks in various districts, marking one of the most challenging periods in recent history. The Musakhail district witnessed the most horrific incident in which 23 passengers were forced off a bus and brutally slain one after another.

The violence did not spare the Kalat district either, where an attack on security forces left 10 people dead, including five security officials and five civilians.

Speaking about the merciless attack in Musakhail, Ayub Achakzai, a senior police officer, told The Express Tribune that armed men offloaded the passengers and killed them one by one after checking their identities.

The attacks began with the destruction of the Dozan railway bridge in the mountainous Bolan Valley. This critical infrastructure linked Balochistan with Sindh and Punjab via a train service. Reports indicated that its destruction has severed a vital connection, and further isolated the province.

In Noshki, militants attacked near the Frontier Corps fort, resulting in injury to five civilians.

Further south, in the Sibi district, six bodies were discovered, adding to the rising toll from the violence. Militants also targeted the Daringarh police station in Mastung, though, fortunately, there were no casualties in this attack.

In the Pishin district, a hand grenade attack injured two people, with a government office as the target. Meanwhile, in Lasbella, three security officials were murdered in a targeted attack, though a major assault was repulsed by the forces.

In the wake of these terrorist attacks, Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti strongly condemned the violence, emphasising the state's resolve to combat terrorism in all its forms.

Meanwhile, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed that at least 21 terrorists were killed in clearance operations across Balochistan after a series of deadly attacks on civilians and security forces. The attacks, which took place on Sunday night, resulted in the deaths of 14 security personnel, including ten soldiers and four law enforcement officers.

"Fourteen brave sons of the soil, including ten soldiers of the security forces and four law enforcement personnel, embraced shahadat after fighting gallantly," the ISPR said in a statement.

The ISPR further stated that the attacks were conducted on the behest of "inimical and hostile forces" aiming to disrupt peace and development in Balochistan. The attacks were focused on targeting innocent civilians, particularly in Musakhel, Kalat, and Lasbela districts, where numerous locals lost their lives.

In a statement emailed to journalists, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the death and destruction.

The banned outfit said it was also behind numerous other attacks, including one on a major paramilitary base. However, this claim has not been independently verified.

Security forces and law enforcement agencies immediately responded to the Musakhel assault, launching clearance operations that resulted in the deaths of 21 terrorists.

"The evil design of the terrorists was successfully thwarted," the ISPR stated. "Sanitisation operations are being conducted, and the instigators, perpetrators, facilitators, and abettors of these heinous and cowardly acts will be brought to justice.

In Kalat, ten people, including police and Balochistan Levies personnel, were killed in a gun attack, police confirmed. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Dostin Dashti reported that the victims included a police sub-inspector, four Levies personnel, and five civilians.

The attack in Kalat began along the National Highway and continued into the city. The attackers fled the scene, prompting security forces to launch clearance operations.

Kalat Assistant Commissioner Aftab Ahmed and a Levies officer were injured and taken to a hospital from where their conditions were reported to be stable.

Condemnations poured in from government officials. President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the terrorist attack on the passenger bus in Musakhel. "The brutal killing of innocent people is an attack on humanity," President Zardari said, emphasising that terrorists are enemies of both Pakistan and humanity. He called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.

Prime Minister Sharif directed local authorities to support the bereaved families and ensure immediate medical assistance for the injured. "Those responsible will face severe punishment," he stated, reiterating that any form of terrorism is unacceptable in Pakistan. Both leaders reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to eradicating terrorism.

"The entire nation stands with the security forces in the fight against terrorism," Sharif said. He continued that terrorists' attempts to disrupt peace in Pakistan would ultimately fail. "We remain determined to thwart any efforts to destabilise Balochistan," the prime minister affirmed.

Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti expressed his condolences to the victims' families and vowed that neither the attackers nor their facilitators would escape justice. "The government will relentlessly pursue those responsible," Bugti stated.

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar also condemned the attack, denouncing the targeting of innocent passengers. "Those responsible, including their facilitators, will be brought to justice," he declared, expressing his heartfelt sympathies to the affected families.

Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan and Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, as well as Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi and Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, joined in condemning the attack, expressing sorrow over the loss of twenty-three passengers who were killed.

The funeral prayers of security personnel who were martyred while fighting with terrorists in different areas of Balochistan on Monday were offered at FC Headquarters Quetta.

Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti, Balochistan Corps Commander, FC IG Balochistan (North), IG Police Balochistan and other civil and military officials participated in the funeral prayer, an Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) news release said.

After the funeral prayers, the bodies of the martyrs were sent to their native areas, where they will be buried with full military honours, it said.