At least two civilians were injured when Pakistani security forces opened fire after coming under grenade attack in Kalat district, while Baloch armed groups claimed responsibility for separate operations across Balochistan.
Levies officials said unidentified men hurled a grenade at security personnel near Johan Cross in Manguchar tehsil on Thursday.
Local sources said troops returned fire, injuring two passersby, Riaz Ahmed and Siraj Ahmed, as well as another unidentified man. They added that several soldiers were also injured in the blast. The attackers fled the scene.
In Kharan district, unidentified armed men raided the hideout of Hafiz Mumtaz, a controversial figure accused of leading a state-backed militia. Local sources said two of his associates were detained during the raid in Barshonki area and the hideout was set on fire.
Rights groups have long accused Mumtaz of involvement in human rights abuses while operating with the backing of Pakistani security forces.
Meanwhile, the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) said its fighters ambushed a Pakistani military convoy near Kunchati Cross in Kech’s Dasht area on 16 September. The group claimed at least four soldiers were killed in a 45-minute clash.
BLF spokesperson Major Gwahram Baloch said two of the group’s members, Captain Atiq alias Miran, and Shehak alias Ashob, were killed in the battle. He paid tribute to them for what he called their “supreme sacrifice,” saying their deaths would strengthen the group’s armed struggle.
Another armed group, the Baloch Republican Guards (BRG), said its fighters staged a roadblock on the Lakpass highway near Mastung, outside Quetta, on Thursday night.
BRG spokesperson Dostain Baloch said vehicles were stopped and searched for several hours and that trucks transporting minerals were fired on, causing heavy damage.
The group also claimed responsibility for blowing up a 36-inch gas pipeline near Kandhkot Malheer, saying explosives destroyed part of the line running from Sui to Punjab.
The BRG said such operations would continue until the “freedom of Balochistan” was achieved.