Armed fighters reportedly killed seven Pakistani soldiers escorting a Saindak project convoy near Mangochar Bazaar in Kalat district on Monday evening, in what appears to be an escalation of conflict in the region.
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), one of the main “pro-independence” groups seeking an independent Balochistan, claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement issued on Tuesday.
BLA spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch said the group’s fighters ambushed a 30-vehicle convoy on Monday evening, adding that the convoy belonged to a Chinese company and was under Pakistani military escort.
“BLA fighters first used a remote-controlled IED to completely destroy one military vehicle,” the statement read.
“They then attacked two additional army vehicles with modern weapons, killing seven personnel and wounding at least eleven others.”
A second BLA squad reportedly targeted more vehicles in the convoy using heavy weapons and grenade launchers, disabling eleven in total. The BLA said a driver was briefly detained but released after he was warned, since he was of Baloch origin.
Warnings to ‘Exploitative Projects’
The BLA described the Saindak project as an “exploitative venture” operated by foreign companies in collaboration with what it called the “occupying state” of Pakistan. The group also named Reko Diq among projects it says are imposed “without the will of the Baloch nation.”
“Companies involved in plundering the resources of Balochistan must abandon their role and leave,”the statement warned.
“Otherwise they will face more fierce attacks.”
The BLA also warned foreign investors and local collaborators against entering economic or trade agreements with the “occupying state” in Balochistan, asserting that anyone involved should “prepare for our attacks.”
Surge in Attacks
This latest attack highlights the ongoing escalation of conflict in Balochistan, where “pro-independence” groups have increasingly targeted government installations, security forces, and Chinese-backed projects.
On Sunday evening, armed assailants reportedly set up blockades in Bolan, disarmed the guards of a Balochistan Assembly Member (MPA), and clashed with Pakistani security forces. The Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) later claimed responsibility for that attack.
Last week, gunmen in Barkhan district forced seven “Punjab-bound travelers” off a bus, shooting them dead in the Radkan area. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the incident, stating the victims were working for the Pakistani military.
In its statement, the BLA described the men as “enemy’s secret agents” who were spying for the military and involved in state violence against the Baloch people.