Quetta cut off after BLA attacks

Internet blackout, tight security paralyse life

QUETTA:

The provincial capital of Balochistan remained on edge Monday, with residents enduring a third consecutive day without internet access following devastating coordinated attacks by the banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) over the weekend.

Mobile data and broadband services stay suspended province-wide, isolating people from work, online education, and loved ones in an already volatile region.

A university student in Quetta described the atmosphere as eerily silent: "Classes, online work, everything has come to a halt. It feels like the city has gone silent." The unprecedented assaults, which targeted police stations, military sites, banks, and other installations across multiple districts including Quetta, left dozens dead, including civilians and security personnel, while security forces reported killing over 170 terrorists in intense counter-operations.

Heightened security is evident everywhere: armed personnel man major intersections, new checkpoints dot sensitive zones, and several inner-city roads remain blocked, forcing lengthy detours and compounding commuter frustrations. Train services connecting Balochistan to the rest of Pakistan have been halted for precautionary reasons, stranding passengers at stations. A railway official emphasized passenger safety as the priority, promising resumption once stability returns.

Local economies are suffering too. Shopkeepers and daily wage earners report near-total business stoppages due to restricted movement and communication blackouts. "When roads are blocked and the internet is down, business almost stops," said a trader in a bustling market. "We understand the security concerns, but we hope things return to normal soon."

While calm has largely been restored, the lingering restrictions highlight the fragile security situation in Pakistan's largest province. Officials indicate internet services may resume shortly, but residents brace for continued uncertainty.