The Baloch Liberation Army on Sunday claimed responsibility for an armed attack near Turbat in which Lieutenant Colonel (retd) Arsalan Haleem and three others were killed, while BRAS and the Baloch Republican Guards claimed separate attacks on Pakistani forces in Zehri and Kachhi.
The attack took place near Kalatuk, about 25 kilometres west of Turbat city, on Saturday when armed men ambushed one of three vehicles travelling in the area, sources told The Balochistan Post.
According to sources, those killed included Lieutenant Colonel (retd) Arsalan Haleem, a resident of Karachi, Naoman Kazmi, a resident of Rawalpindi, Mohammad Asif and Kaleemullah.
Sources said Kaleemullah, who had been injured in the attack, later died of his wounds.
Local sources said the personnel were linked to the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) and were being provided security by members of what they described as a state-backed armed group locally referred to as a “death squad” when they came under attack.
In a statement on Sunday, BLA spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch said the group’s fighters had killed Lieutenant Colonel (retd) Arsalan Haleem, whom it described as a senior officer of the Pakistani military’s Military Intelligence, along with three other personnel in Kalatuk.
According to the BLA, the operation was carried out on the basis of “confidential and verified intelligence” provided by “ZIRAB,” the group’s intelligence wing.
The BLA said further details regarding the operation would be released to the media later.
Separately, the Baloch Raji Aajoi Sangar (BRAS) said its fighters carried out attacks against Pakistani forces in the BalBal area of Zehri in Khuzdar district, claiming that eight military personnel were killed.
In a statement, BRAS spokesperson Baloch Khan said fighters ambushed a convoy of several military vehicles at around 7am on Tuesday, 2 June, as it was advancing into the area.
The group said the convoy was attacked from multiple directions, killing eight personnel and destroying one vehicle, after which the forces were “forced to retreat.”
BRAS said Pakistani forces later attempted to advance again in the afternoon using tanks, armoured vehicles and other military vehicles.
The group said its fighters launched another attack during the second advance, claiming that one armoured vehicle was severely damaged and that the military suffered further casualties.
In another statement, the Baloch Republican Guards (BRG) claimed responsibility for an attack on what it described as the main camp of Pakistani forces in the Sanni area of Kachhi.
BRG spokesperson Dostain Baloch said the attack took place on the night of 2 June, when the group’s fighters surrounded the camp “from all sides” and attacked it with rocket launchers, LMGs and other heavy weapons.
The group claimed that several personnel were killed and injured in the assault.
“Our organization, the Baloch Republican Guards, accepts responsibility for this attack, and such operations will continue until the independence of Balochistan,” the statement said.