The Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF), a “pro-independence” armed group, said on Monday its fighters killed eight Pakistani military and Frontier Corps personnel in coordinated attacks in the Mashkay and Panjgur areas of Balochistan on Nov. 24.
Major Gwahram Baloch, the group’s spokesperson, said in a statement that BLF fighters first attacked a construction company’s camp in the Proar area of Mashkay on Monday morning. He said the company was working on a road project under army supervision intended to support military movement. According to the group, four vehicles and all machinery at the site were set on fire, while another vehicle was seized.
The BLF said that after the attack, a convoy of six military vehicles, nine motorcycles and accompanying troops pursued the fighters. The group said its fighters ambushed the pursuing units in the Charchari area using “modern and heavy weapons,” killing eight soldiers and injuring several others. The group claimed its fighters withdrew safely after the attack.
In a separate incident the same day, the BLF said fighters set up a blockade on the highway in the Washbud area of Panjgur and inspected vehicles. The group said a second BLF unit attacked the Washbud Customs checkpost, detained the personnel and seized government weapons, military equipment and three official vehicles. It said the detained officials were later released “on humanitarian grounds.”
The BLF said it accepted responsibility for the attacks in Mashkay and Panjgur and reiterated that its operations would continue until “the achievement of a free Balochistan.”
Pakistani authorities had not issued a statement responding to the claims at the time of publication.