Armed fighters blocked highways, set heavy vehicles ablaze and attacked Pakistani forces across several districts of Balochistan on Saturday, while two bridges were destroyed with explosives and casualties were reported in separate clashes and bombings.
In Mastung district, armed fighters attacked Pakistani forces near Khadkocha as they advanced into the area, local sources said, reporting casualties among the personnel without providing a toll.
The clash came a day after armoured and other vehicles belonging to Pakistani forces were targeted in the same area, while nine trailer trucks were seized during a blockade of the main highway.
A vehicle belonging to Pakistani forces was also reportedly targeted in a bombing on Sibi Road in Mastung’s Dasht area, damaging the vehicle and a nearby bridge.
In Chagai district, armed fighters blocked the highway between Khazangi and Lagap near Dalbandin overnight and set at least three heavy vehicles ablaze. Vehicles belonging to Pakistani forces were later attacked in the same area, local sources said.
Two major bridges near Pakistani forces’ checkpoints on the Noshki-Kharan highway were destroyed with planted explosives in the Reko area of Noshki, a day after a forces vehicle was targeted there in a bombing.
In Khuzdar district, fighters attacked Pakistani forces advancing into the Noughay area for an operation, forcing them to retreat, local sources said. The sources added that bloodstains were later seen at the site.
Authorities had not issued a statement regarding the reported clash or possible casualties.
Two Pakistani personnel were reported killed and two wounded in separate attacks in Kech district.
At Hothchat in the Balnigwar area, an improvised explosive device targeted Pakistani forces personnel on foot, killing one and seriously wounding another, local sources said. In Tump, fighters ambushed a Frontier Corps (FC) bomb disposal squad during a route-clearance operation, killing one personnel member and wounding another.
No group had claimed responsibility for the latest blockades, explosions or attacks at the time of publication.
The developments followed Friday evening’s attack on a Pakistan Coast Guards camp in Panwan, in the Jiwani area of Gwadar, where an explosives-laden Mazda vehicle was driven into the camp and detonated.
Pakistani authorities said five personnel were killed and 16 wounded. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), however, claimed more than 30 personnel were killed, saying the initial explosion was followed by an assault by fighters from its Fateh Squad.
The group also released a video of the attack through its media channel, Hakkal.