Internet services suspended in parts of Balochistan amid security concerns
A policeman stands guard outside the provincial Election Commission office, in Quetta on February 5, 2024. PHOTO: AFP
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) announced on Friday that mobile internet services have been temporarily suspended in certain areas of Balochistan, citing public safety concerns amidst a recent surge in terrorist attacks.
The PTA statement explained that the decision followed directives from relevant authorities and was implemented to "ensure public safety given the security situation in these areas."
The temporary suspension comes as Pakistan grapples with an uptick in violent incidents, particularly affecting Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa provinces. The PTA has yet to provide a timeline for the restoration of internet services in the affected areas.
The security landscape in Balochistan has worsened in recent months. Last week, a bomb blast at a railway station in Quetta killed at least 24 people and injured 45 others.
According to Balochistan’s Inspector General of Police Mouzzam Jah Ansari, the blast specifically targeted army personnel from the Infantry School.
In August, Balochistan witnessed one of its deadliest assaults in years, with at least 73 people killed in coordinated attacks on police stations, railways, and highways. Retaliatory operations by security forces followed the assault, highlighting the scale of militant threats in the region.