The Baloch Liberation Army targeted two camps of the Pakistani security forces in two separate attacks in Balochistan’s Noshki and Panjgur on Wednesday, leaving more than 100 soldiers dead and several others wounded. The attack that began in the early evening on Wednesday has continued for more than 24 hours as the security forces battle the BLA self-sacrificers for dominance. Pakistani officials argue that the attacks have been “thwarted” and that the assailants have been “repulsed.” The Baloch Liberation Army on the other hand argues that its “operation” in Noshki has successfully come to an end whereas the operation in Panjgur is in full swing – the attackers are still inside the FC camp and battling the oncoming cadre of the security forces.
Wednesday’s attack appears to be the deadliest attack in the history of the Baloch Liberation Army. The attack was coordinated and carried out by the Majeed Brigade, BLA’s elite unit that specializes in self-sacrificing attacks. Majeed Brigade has targeted several high-profile installations in the past, including the Pearl Continental Hotel in Gwadar, a bus filled with Chinese engineers in Dalbandin, the Pakistan Stock Exchange and the Chinese Consulate in Karachi. Majeed Brigade also targeted the Chinese engineers in Gwadar in August 2021, leaving several engineers dead.
The two separate attacks on the camps of the Pakistani security forces in Noshki and Panjgur began simultaneously on Wednesday evening. The attackers rushed to the main entrance of the gate, blew it apart and entered the camp. The Pakistani forces were caught off guard before they could understand what was happening, they were gunned down by the oncoming attackers.
The Baloch Liberation Army claimed responsibility for the attacks within the first few hours. In a media statement, Jeeyand Baloch, the spokesperson for the group, said: “Baloch Liberation Army’s Majeed Brigade carries out massive attacks on Noshki and Panjgur FC headquarters. Baloch Fidais (self-sacrificers) have successfully entered the occupying forces’ camps by killing dozens of military personnel. After four hours of the attack, the Baloch Fidais are still in strong position, battling with the enemy.”
Six hours into the attacks, Jeeyand Baloch said that BLA fighters have gained control of the forces’ camp. The group argued that its attackers had killed more than 45 Pakistani soldiers just in the initial hours of the attack.
Military aid was summoned from the nearby areas and within a few hours of the clash, gunship helicopters and backup forces arrived at the scene. The attackers reportedly shot down two helicopters, one in Noshki and one in Panjgur. Only one of the attackers was dead at this point as he had rammed a vehicle laden with explosives into the main entrance gates, opening the way for his companions to enter.
The attack continued throughout the night as the Pakistani soldiers battled the fighters of the Majeed Brigade for dominancy. In another statement, the BLA spokesperson said that the BLA fighters were “obliterating the enemy army by tightening the siege.” He said that 50 soldiers of the Pakistani forces were killed and two BLA fighters had “embraced martyrdom.”
After a few hours, BLA released an audio message from one of the injured attackers inside the camp. In the voice note, the attacker informs his commander that he has received a bullet in his shoulder and therefore he has had to stay behind but the other attackers are advancing towards the Pakistani forces.
The Pakistani news media also began covering the attacks on the FC camps in Nushki and Panjgoor. In an initial statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations, the media wing of the Pakistani army, said that the Pakistani forces had “successfully repulsed” the attackers and regained control of the camps. The ISPR said that the FC camps were recaptured and the attackers were killed; it said that the Pakistani forces are now conducting a search operation in the nearby areas to apprehend the facilitators of the attackers.
BLA, however, denied these statements, calling them “fabricated.” In another media statement, the group said that its fighters still had the upper hand in the camps. It said that the attackers had killed 100 Pakistani soldiers and the backup troops that had come to the rescue of their companions had failed to weaken the position of the attackers.
The cellular services and internet were shut down in the area.
In the meantime, the attackers were in close contact with their high command and were informing them of the details of the attack. In the voice notes posted on social media, the attackers can be heard informing their leader that they had shot down military choppers, armoured vehicles and a large cadre of the Pakistani forces.
After several hours of the attack, BLA said that its “operation” in Noshki had finally come to an end. The nine attackers, all of the members of the BLA’s Majeed Brigade, “had embraced martyrdom” and 100 or more soldiers of the Pakistani forces were killed. BLA also released photos of the attackers on social media.
The attack in Panjgur, however, continues. BLA claims that more than 24 hours later, the attackers are still inside the camp and battling the Pakistani forces.
The ISPR has presented a different account of the events. In the initial hours of the attack, it claimed that the attacks were thwarted and the nine attackers were killed. “. . . timely response by troops foiled terrorist attempt. During intense exchange of fire one soldier has been martyred. Terrorists have fled while their casualties are being ascertained.” The ISPR said that four of its soldiers were killed in a confrontation with the attackers.
Balochistan Home Minister Zia Langove told the media during a press conference in Quetta that 12 FC personnel had been injured in Nushki while five were killled. Additionally, 11 were injured in Panjgur and seven were killed.
“We had threats from Daesh and so-called nationalists,” he said while addressing a press conference in Quetta, adding that several groups were claiming responsibility for the attacks when there was only one – BLA – that claimed responsibility. “We have called a meeting of all departments, including intelligence agencies, after which things will become clearer.”
Pakistani premier Imran Khan paid his tributes to the Pakistani soldiers killed in the attacks. “We salute our brave security forces who repulsed terrorist attacks against security forces’ camps in Panjgur & Naushki, Balochistan. The nation stands united behind our security forces who continue to give great sacrifices to protect us”, he said in a tweet.
The ISPR said that Pakistan’s intelligence agencies have intercepted communications between the attackers and their handlers in Afghanistan and India. “As per initial investigation, intelligence agencies have intercepted communications between terrorists and their handlers in Afghanistan and India,” the ISPR said in a statement.
According to the latest reports, the attack in Panjgur is still going on and the Pakistani forces have failed to recapture the camp. The rebels have lost a few of their companions but they are still putting up a fight against the Pakistani forces.
According to the latest statement released by BLA: “Occupying Army’s camp in Panjgur is under control of BLA Majeed Brigade even after 30 hours.”
At 8pm on 2nd February fidayees of Majeed Brigade targeted FC camp in Panjgur and took it under their control. Now at 2am on 4th February the enemy camp still remains under strong control of the fidayees, the statement read.
The BLA spokesman Jeeyand Baloch said that Fidayees[self-sacrificers] have so far killed more than 70 personnel of Pakistani military and destroyed a major part of the camp. “The fidayees continue to engage with Pakistani SSG commandos and every time repulse their movements while inflicting losses on them”, he added.
Jeeyand Baloch claimed that “badly defeated enemy is now abducting and killing innocent civilians in Panjgur.”
He said that further details about both operations will be released later.
Given the recent events, officials in Noshki and Panjgur declared a curfew on Thursday and Friday. Shops were closed and the locals were advised to remain inside their homes during the attacks. Gunship helicopters continue to hover over the city and bombard the FC camp. In Nushki, the forces have reportedly begun a search operation and they are opening indiscriminate fire on the civilians.
The Law Enforcement Agencies throughout Pakistan have been put on high alert.
It is to mention that the militant attacks by Baloch “pro-independence” armed groups have been increased and intensified in last six months.