The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for an attack on a convoy carrying Pakistani military personnel in Balochistan’s Mastung district, claiming that more than 45 soldiers were killed and dozens wounded. Pakistani officials confirmed that the convoy had come under attack but did not release casualty figures.
The attack took place on Thursday near Khadkucha on the Quetta-Karachi highway.
In a statement issued to the media, BLA spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch said the attack targeted the convoy, its security detail and military reinforcements that later arrived at the scene.
The statement said the attack was carried out by the group’s Fateh Squad and described it as a “coordinated and intense” assault.
The BLA said intense clashes with Pakistani forces were still ongoing at the time the statement was issued, adding that the casualty toll could rise further because of the situation on the battlefield.
Government officials quoted by BBC Urdu, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that a convoy of Pakistani forces had been attacked in Mastung but provided no information about casualties.
Local sources said seven of the personnel killed had so far been identified as Sepoy Nematullah, Sepoy Nemat Khan, Sepoy Haroon, Naik Abid, Subedar Juned, Subedar Haider and Sepoy Sabir Hussain.
Those reported injured included Sepoy Shaukatullah, Naik Nadeem, Miraj Khan, Naik Inayat, Ijaz Ahmed, Roshni Gul, Babar and Javed. Further details about other dead and injured personnel were not immediately available.
Local sources said helicopter flights were continuing in the area after the attack and that the situation remained tense. They also reported civilian casualties in firing by Pakistani forces after the attack, although further details could not immediately be confirmed.
The BLA said a detailed statement containing the final operational details of what it called a major battle, along with its assessment of the personnel and material losses suffered by Pakistani forces, would be released to the media soon.