Armed fighters attacked a convoy carrying Pakistani military personnel in Balochistan’s Mastung district on Thursday, triggering clashes and forcing the closure of the main Quetta-Karachi highway, local sources said.
The convoy was targeted near Guro in the Khadkucha area, the sources said, adding that it included 10 buses carrying personnel travelling on leave, along with armoured and other vehicles.
Four buses and several other vehicles were directly targeted, while other buses were also damaged, according to the sources.
Local reports said a large number of personnel had been killed, with some accounts putting the toll at more than 50. The figure could not be independently verified, and there was no immediate confirmation from Pakistani authorities.
Reinforcements sent to the area were also attacked near the Madina Hotel on the highway, where two vehicles were reportedly targeted.
Clashes were continuing at the time of reporting, while additional movement of Pakistani forces and the arrival of gunship helicopters were reported in the area.
Authorities declared an emergency at the Nawab Ghous Bakhsh Raisani Memorial Hospital in Mastung and tightened security around the facility.