Three Baloch armed groups targeted Pakistani military forces, installations, and gas pipelines in various parts of Balochistan.
According to reports, unidentified armed men attacked a patrolling team of Pakistani forces in Badrang, Jhao tehsil of Awaran and seized their arms and other military equipment. After the incident, backup forces rushed to the spot and cordoned off the local population of the area, allegedly harassing civilians in the remote areas.
The Pakistan army’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed the attack, stating that two attackers were killed, along with Naib Subedar Asif Irfan and Sepoy Irfan Ali who were also killed during an intense exchange of fire.
Meanwhile, the ISPR did not reveal the identity of the attackers killed in the combat.
The responsibility of the aforementioned attack was claimed by a “pro-independence” Baloch armed group, the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF).
BLF spokesperson, Mjr Goahram Baloch said in the statement that six Pakistani soldiers were killed in the attack and BLF fighters made it to their safe haven after the attack.
Meanwhile, in a press release, another Baloch armed group, Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), claimed responsibility for four separate attacks targeting Pakistani military forces, communication towers, and a natural resource exploration company.
According to the group’s spokesperson, Jeeyand Baloch, BLA fighters attacked a Pakistani army post in Kolwah, resulting in injuries to two army personnel. Mr. Baloch also cited another incident on Saturday in Nushki, where two pylons of the cellular tower were reportedly blown up by planting explosives, and the tower machinery and cables were extensively damaged.
The BLA also claimed responsibility for targeting oil and gas company personnel living in a quarter in the Manguchar area of Balochistan.
The local administration confirmed the above incident, stating that four workers from different areas of Punjab province were seriously injured in a hand grenade attack followed by gunfire in the Kalat district of Balochistan on Saturday.
According to levies sources, those injured in the grenade attack and firing were shifted to RHC Manguchar. The injured have been identified as Nazakat Ali, Abdul Manan, Attaullah, and Muhammad Saeed.
The BLA warned of further attacks, adding that BLA has already made it clear to the “exploiting” companies that they should stop looting Baloch resources, or else the people associated with these projects will be responsible for their own loss of life and property.
In a separate attack, the Baloch Republican Guards (BRG), another “pro-independence” armed group, also claimed responsibility for blowing up a 36-inch diameter gas pipeline in Khairpur district of Sindh. BRG’s spokesman Dostain Baloch said its fighters destroyed the pipeline using an IED.
The aformentioned gas pipeline supplies gas from Balochistan’s Sui gas field to Karachi, the largest industrial city of Pakistan. The sources confirmed that gas supply to several areas of the city has been suspended due to the incident.