Reports of armed clashes, explosions and attacks on military installations emerged from multiple districts of Balochistan early Saturday, shortly after the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) announced it had launched the second phase of “Operation Herof.”
The group had earlier said in a brief statement that the new phase was being initiated to “defend the motherland.”
Residents and local sources described the security situation as highly tense in Quetta, Nushki, Kalat, Mastung, Dalbandin, Kharan, Gwadar, Pasni, Tump, Buleda and Dhadar, with reports of heavy gunfire, explosions and attacks on police and military sites.
In Quetta, residents reported gunfire and explosions in several areas, including the highly sensitive Red Zone. On Sariab Road, armed men attacked a police mobile, killing two personnel and setting the vehicle on fire, residents said. Gunfire was also reported from the direction of the railway station.
Videos received by The Balochistan Post appeared to show smoke rising from parts of the city.
Separate visuals circulating from Quetta showed a Pakistani forces’ vehicle completely destroyed.
In Nushki, heavy gunfire was heard near the Central Jail. Some unverified local reports claimed BLA fighters had taken control of parts of the facility.
Clashes were also reported near the Frontier Corps headquarters in Nushki, where residents described hours of sustained firing and explosions. Sources said the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) office had also been overtaken and several personnel detained.
Dozens of armed individuals reportedly entered Dhadar city and attacked police positions, setting several police vehicles on fire. Local sources said multiple officers were injured.
In Kalat, an explosion struck the main gate of a forces’ camp. Residents said a vehicle laden with explosives was used to breach the facility, adding that armed clashes were ongoing.
Gunfire and explosions were also reported in Dalbandin, where locals said clashes took place near military installations.
Similar accounts of armed activity and explosions were received from Kharan, Pasni, Gwadar, Tump and Buleda. The extent of the clashes remained unclear at the time of publication.
BLA says coordinated attacks carried out in ten cities
In a new statement sent to media outlets, the BLA said it had launched “simultaneous, coordinated attacks” in Quetta, Nushki, Mastung, Dalbandin, Kalat, Kharan, Gwadar, Pasni, Tump and Buleda as part of the second phase of “Operation Herof.”
BLA spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch said the group had targeted “military and administrative structures,” restricted the movement of “enemy forces” and “pushed back” troops in several areas.
The statement said “Fidayeen attacks” were carried out against army and ISI camps in Quetta, Pasni, Gwadar, Noshki and Dalbandin, claiming that the group’s Majeed Brigade had “successfully entered army camps and captured large sections of them,” with “fierce fighting” continuing.
It said attacks along the Coastal Highway had disrupted military logistics, adding that BLA units including the Fateh Squad, the Majeed Brigade, the intelligence wing ZIRAB and the Special Tactical Operations Squad (STOS) were operating jointly across different districts.
The BLA said “dozens” of military personnel had been “neutralised” so far, adding that more details would be released to the media soon.
In a separate message released through the BLA’s media wing, Hakkal, the group’s commander-in-chief Bashir Zeb Baloch urged the Baloch public to “come out of their homes and fight against Pakistani forces.”
“This struggle does not belong to any single individual but to collective consciousness,” he said. “When a nation stands united, the enemy cannot avoid defeat despite its power. The Baloch nation is urged to step out and become part of Operation Herof.”