Pakistan’s law enforcement agencies, specifically Pakistani Army, paramilitary (FC) and police forces came under several attacks in parts of Balochistan on August 14, country’s national day.
On the eve of August 14, a large number of armed men reportedly attacked a main camp of the Pakistani military in Khost area of Balochistan’s Harnai district — RPG and other automatic weaponry was used in the attack, reports said.
While a group of attackers had blocked the Quetta-Harnai main highway for traffic. After the attack, a military convoy heading to the camp for assistance were also targeted by the militants.
In the morning of August 14, the ISPR, the media wing for Pakistan armed forces confirmed the news. The statement said that two of the military personnel were killed and several including a Major ranked officer were injured in last night’s attack by Baloch insurgents in Harnai.
A “pro-independence” group known as the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), undertook the Harnai attack on Sunday morning. The spokesperson for the group, Jeeyand Baloch said in a press release that the BLA fighters launched a heavy attack on the main camp of the Pakistan Army in Khost area of Harnai last night in an operation from two directions. Fighters of the BLA’s Fateh Squad participated in this operation. Fateh Squad was reinforced by BLA sniper team — along with this, rockets were also fired at the camp, he added. “In this fierce attack, six enemy personnel were killed on the spot while at least seven personnel, including a major rank officer, were seriously injured,” the statement reads.
Jeeyand Baloch further said that another group of BLA fighters ambushed the convoy of the supply delivering vehicles of the Pakistan army. “As a result of the attack, one officer of the enemy army was killed on the spot and several were injured, while their vehicles were also severely damaged.
In the same statement, the group undertook seven more attacks in Dhadar, Kalat, Panjgur and Kech district of Balochistan. Claiming of killing eight Pakistani soldiers and injuring 19 more while destroying four army vehicles including four outposts.
BLA said that in a different attack last night in Dhadar area of Kachhi, BLA fighters attacked a checkpoint of the Pakistan army at Qalam-u-deen Chowk with a hand grenade bomb. it further said that a patrolling vehicle of the “occupying army” was targeted in an IED attack in Mangochar area of Kalat, which resulted in injuring several army personnel.
The statement said that the residence of the District Commissioner, “who was organizing the so-called independence day celebration of the enemy in Panjgur, was attacked with a grenade bomb while he was present there — As a result of the explosion, one of his guards was injured.” The group warned the Commissioner to desist from anti-Baloch activities, otherwise be ready for more attacks.
In another attack, the BLA fighters attacked a post of the Pakistan army with grenade launchers and other weaponry at Peeri in Goran area of Panjgur, injuring three Pakistani troops, the statement said.
Jeeyand Baloch further said that “BLA fighters carried out an attack at a check post of the occupying army in Goarkop area of Kech, killing one official of the enemy forces and injuring several others.” In Tump area of Kech, the BLA fighters attacked an outpost of the occupying army with a hand grenade bomb and injured two officials, he added.
“The aim of this surge in attacks on the occupying forces on the occasion of the enemy’s so-called “Independence Day” was to send a clear message that the Baloch have nothing to do with the enemy’s so-called national days. Our only relationship with Pakistan is that of an occupier and occupied; our attacks on the occupying forces will continue until the enemy is forced to break this forced relationship,” the statement concluded.
Meanwhile, on the eve of August 14, a hand grenade was lobbed at Police at Lyari Expressway Toll Plaza. The responsibility of the attack was taken by another armed group, the Baloch Nationalist Army (BNA). BNA is an alliance of two Baloch armed groups, The Baloch Republican Army and the United Baloch Army.
The group’s spokesman, Mureed Baloch released a media statement saying that BNA fighters attacked the police post at Lyari Expressway Toll Plaza with a hand grenade bomb, which fell inside the post, as a result of which a police official was killed and another was injured.
The Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF), another “pro-independence” armed group claimed responsibility for four seperate attacks in Mashkay area of district Awaran. Group’s spokesperson, Mjr Gohram Baloch said that their fighters attacked four check-posts of Pakistan army in Malishband, Tankh, Jakki and Ogar areas of Mashkay, on the eve of August 14. The group claimed of killing and injuring several Pakistani soldiers in a result of the attacks.
Baloch armed groups carry out multiple attacks on August 14 every year, recording their resistance and protest against, what they say “the forceful occupation of Balochistan by Pakistan on March 27, 1948.
There has been five insurgencies since. The fifth conflict started in early 2000 and is underway to date.