A Baloch armed group said on Sunday it had carried out an attack on a Pakistani patrol boat off the coast of Gwadar in Balochistan, while security officials said three Coast Guards personnel were killed in what they described as the first such attack in the region.
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) said in a statement that it had targeted a vessel near Jiwani, describing the operation as an “expansion of its operational reach into maritime areas”.
Security and local government officials in the Makran division said the attack took place during a routine patrol within Jiwani’s maritime limits. They said three Pakistan Coast Guards personnel were killed and that an investigation had been launched.
In the statement, BLA spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch described the move as a “new and critical development” in the group’s strategy following operations on land.
He said the objective was “to halt the plunder of Baloch resources through sea routes and to inflict losses upon the enemy on every front,” adding that further details regarding the attack would be released to the media shortly.
Expanding operational domains
The reported maritime attack comes amid a broader pattern of evolving tactics by Baloch armed groups, particularly the BLA, which has in recent months expanded operations beyond conventional ground engagements.
Earlier this year, the BLA announced the launch of its aerial unit “QAHR” (Qazi Aero Hive Rangers) during what it described as the second phase of “Operation Herof”, saying the unit had carried out drone attacks on targets including Gwadar Port.
In a statement issued at the time, Jeeyand Baloch said the unit had “successfully completed its initial operations” and that drone technology enabled the group to conduct long-range strikes and reach “sensitive locations” at “unexpected moments”.
He added that modern warfare was no longer confined to the ground, describing “QAHR” as the organisation’s “initial but significant presence” in air and other domains.
The reported use of drone strikes during “Operation Herof”, and now an attack on a patrol vessel in open waters, marks an apparent expansion of the group’s operational scope, which security analysts say could significantly add to security challenges for Pakistan in Balochistan.