At least seven Pakistani soldiers were killed and five others injured in a roadside bomb explosion in Balochistan’s Bolan district, according to military and local sources. The blast reportedly occurred in the Geshtari area as a military convoy was traveling between Amir Post and Ali Khan Base.
The Pakistan Army’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), confirmed the attack, stating that it took place in the Mach region of Kachhi district. According to ISPR, the convoy was targeted by an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by militants. The ISPR acknowledged the deaths of seven personnel and added that a clearance operation in the area is underway.
Among those killed was Special Operations Commander Tariq Imran. The others identified as Subedar Umar Farooq (42, from Karachi), Naik Asif Khan (28, from Karak), Naik Mashkoor Ali (28, from Orakzai), Sepoy Mohammad Asim (22), Sepoy Tariq Nawaz (26, from Lakki Marwat), Sepoy Wajid Ahmad Faiz (28, from Bagh), and Sepoy Mohammad Kashif Khan (28, from Kohat). Five of the deceased belonged to military unit 135 W.
The injured include Sepoy Zeeshan, Sepoy Shadman, Naik Owais (all from unit 135 W), and two special operations personnel — Sepoy Zainullah and Sepoy Tayyab.
Following the blast, a large-scale cordon and search operation was launched in the area. Witnesses and local sources reported the presence of at least five military helicopters overhead, suggesting the scale and urgency of the military response.
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a “pro-independence” armed group, claimed responsibility for the attack. In a statement issued by BLA spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch, the group said its Special Tactical Operations Squad (STOS) executed the remote-controlled IED attack on the military convoy in Shorkund, near Machh.
The BLA claimed that all 12 soldiers in the targeted vehicle were killed, including Commander Tariq Imran and Subedar Umar Farooq. The group also alleged that the military vehicle was completely destroyed in the explosion. Additionally, the BLA claimed responsibility for a second IED attack a day earlier in the Kech district’s Kallag Tigran area, targeting a Pakistani bomb disposal squad, resulting in two more fatalities.
In their statement, the BLA harshly criticized the Pakistani military, describing it as a “mercenary force” serving foreign interests, particularly referencing Chinese investment and influence in the region. The BLA vowed to continue what it called “resistance operations” with increased intensity.
The Pakistani military has not confirmed the BLA’s higher casualty claims and maintains that seven soldiers were killed. Officials reiterated their commitment to eradicating militant elements from the province and asserted that security operations will continue.
Balochistan has long been a hotspot of an insurgency. The BLA and similar groups have targeted state infrastructure and security personnel, citing political and economic marginalization. The Pakistani government considers such groups “terrorist outfits”, undermining national stability.