The Pakistani military, reportedly aided by gunship helicopters, launched a large-scale military operation in the Kalat and Bolan areas of Balochistan on Sunday.
According to reports, the Pakistan Army has been carrying out large-scale military operations in different areas of Kalat and Bolan (Machh) since this morning. Speaking to TBP correspondent, local sources confirmed helicopters have been spotted shelling at various locations including Roshi Gashtri and Durjan, while ground forces have blocked different places.
There are no clear reports of casualties and forced disappearances due to the complete siege of the area so far. Moreover, government officials have not yet confirmed or denied the ongoing military operation.
It should be mentioned that this week, a large number of armed men carried out a major attack on multiple positions of the Pakistani paramilitary force and simultaneously captured two outposts and a camp providing protection to the gas field & a military base in Iskalkoo, Kalat. Notably, the “pro-independence” Baloch armed group, Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), claimed responsibility for the attack.
Balochistan’s Interior Minister Zia Langove confirmed to BBC Urdu that two FC personnel were killed in the attack on security forces in the Iskalkoo area of Kalat district. He said the attackers aimed to take FC personnel hostage but it was foiled.
“The 20 FC personnel were present in the posts that were attacked by armed men,” he said, adding that the FC personnel were deployed for the security of Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL), a state-owned company that runs major oil and gas fields, including Sui Gas.
However, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed to have killed 11 Pakistani soldiers and injured several others who fled, leaving behind their slain colleagues and weapons. The BLA claims to have taken control of outposts and a camp for nearly 12 hours and carried out further attacks on Pakistani forces and a helicopter that had arrived in the area as backup forces.
A photo released by the “Hakkal” media wing of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) with the caption “BLA fighters seize enemy weapons during the Iskalko gas field attack in Kalat on June 24, 2024.