Different Baloch armed groups have claimed responsibility for attacks carried out on 14 August, targeting Pakistan’s Independence Day celebrations in Balochistan.
According to details, Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) and Lashkar-e-Balochistan (LeB) have claimed responsibility for different attacks.
BLA:
Baloch Liberation Army’s spokesperson, Jeehand Baloch, claimed responsibility for the most lethal attack of the day, that injured more than a dozen people in Noshki. The attack was carried out when an event, held by local administration, was underway in a busy market in Noshki.
In tweets and a media statement, Jeehand Baloch said that: ‘Our warning attack on 13 August in Noshki was not taken seriously, therefore, the event held on 14 August was targeted’.
On 13 August a bomb had went off near preparation activities of Independence Day, however, no one was injured in the attack.
Jeehand Baloch added: ‘We have intentionally toned down the intensity of our attacks on such events to minimize the losses to civilians. However, we warn civilians once again to keep distance from Pakistani events and forces as we will be intensifying our attacks in near future.’
BLA also claimed that their fighters were behind a bomb blast on Sariab road Quetta.
Jeehand Baloch of BLA warned that ‘Pakistani celebrations’ in Balochistan will not be tolerated.
BLF:
BLF also claimed responsibility for three different attacks. Goharam Baloch, spokesperson of BLF, said that Pakistani forces were attacked in Balgithar, Awaran and Hoshab.
Multiple rockets had landed in and around a military camp located near Balgithar in Turbat District on Tuesday. The preparations for Pakistan’s Independence Day celebrations were underway, when the attack was carried out.
Goharam Baloch said in the statement released to media that Balochistan is an ‘occupied land’ and the Pakistani state will not be allowed to hold festivals and celebrations in Balochistan.
LeB:
LeB’s spokesperson, Lawang Baloch, claimed that they attacked a convoy of Pakistani forces in Suman, Wadh.
Lawang Baloch said that Pakistani forces were returning to their camps from Pakistan’s Independence Day Celebrations, when they were targeted.
In another statement, Lawang Baloch claimed that LeB fighters fired long-range rockets at military cantonment in Khuzdar, early in the morning on Wednesday.
He also claimed that LeB targeted a military outpost in Tump with sniper rifles.
Incidents of violence in Balochistan surge every year around the 14th of August when Pakistan celebrates its Independence Day. In August, Baloch nationalist groups also observe ‘black days’ against, what they term, ‘illegal occupation of Balochistan by Pakistan.