Armed activity has once again surged across Balochistan, with reports of a highway blockade in Nushki, two separate assaults on military checkpoints in Kech, and a targeted IED attack claimed by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA).
In Nushki, dozens of armed men reportedly established checkpoints at the Sher Jan Agha picnic point in the Keshangi area, taking control of a section of the Quetta–Taftaan highway (N-40). Local sources said fighters stopped vehicles and conducted snap checks.
The blockade began on Monday afternoon and was ongoing into the evening at the time of publication. According to local sources, three vehicles of the Pakistani military were attacked while attempting to reach the blockade site. At least 11 personnel were reported killed or injured. However, authorities have not issued an official statement.
No group has so far claimed responsibility for the blockade. However, Baloch armed groups have previously used such tactics to assert territorial control and demonstrate resistance to the Pakistani state.
Meanwhile, in the Zamuran region of Kech district, two separate attacks were reported targeting Pakistani military checkpoints.
According to local sources, the most recent attack took place on Monday morning around 10:30 AM, when unknown assailants launched an armed assault on a checkpoint in the Narmuk area of Zamuran.
A day earlier, unknown assailants launched an armed assault on a checkpoint in the Kotan area. Sources said heavy weaponry was used and gunfire lasted several minutes. The attackers reportedly fled after the assault. While casualties were reported, there has been no official confirmation.
Separately, the Baloch Liberation Army said it had carried out a targeted killing in the same district.
In a statement released on Sunday, BLA spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch said the group had “neutralised Muhammad Ameen,” a man it accused of leading a “death squad” under the protection of the Pakistani military.
The group said Ameen and his son, Naveed Ameen, were killed in a remote-controlled IED blast that destroyed their vehicle. According to the BLA, Ameen was involved in enforced disappearances and the targeted killing of Baloch fighters in Zamuran and surrounding areas.
The statement claimed that Ameen’s squad was responsible for the deaths of several members of the Baloch Raaji Aajoi Sangar (BRAS) coalition, including fighters killed in Jalagi in 2018 and in Naag in 2020.
“Due to these actions, Muhammad Ameen had been on the hit list of the Baloch Liberation Army for a long time,” the BLA said. “Now he has been brought to his logical conclusion.”
The group added that two bystanders were injured in the explosion and urged the public to avoid individuals accused of collaborating with state forces.
The latest incidents come amid a noticeable escalation in armed activity across Balochistan.
On 6 June, the BLA claimed responsibility for a deadly IED blast near the RCD Highway in the Do Saye area of Nushki, saying nine Pakistani soldiers were killed when a military vehicle was destroyed.
On 30 May, the group said it had seized control of Surab city, storming the Levies and police headquarters, the Deputy Commissioner’s office, banks, and highways. Video footage released later showed armed fighters setting government buildings on fire and establishing checkpoints.
Earlier in May, the BLA said it had captured Manguchar in Kalat district, blocked the Karachi–Quetta highway, and torched state infrastructure. The group also said it carried out 71 attacks across 51 locations between 8 and 10 May, targeting convoys, intelligence offices, and state-linked assets.
Balochistan has long been the centre of an insurgency led by Baloch nationalist groups demanding independence from Pakistan. In recent years, however, the frequency and coordination of attacks have intensified, with analysts suggesting the conflict has entered a more dangerous and organised phase.
Security experts warn that sustained escalation could pose serious challenges to the Pakistani state and disrupt major infrastructure projects, including the multi-billion-dollar China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).