Two Baloch “pro-independence” armed groups, the United Baloch Army (UBA) and Baloch Republican Guards (BRG), claimed responsibility for separate attacks in Balochistan’s Kachhi district on Wednesday, as local sources said intermittent clashes between Pakistani forces and armed fighters were continuing in the area.
Local sources earlier said a vehicle belonging to Pakistani forces was targeted in an explosion in the Sanni area of Kachhi, while armed clashes were reported in nearby areas.
In a statement, UBA spokesperson Mazar Baloch said the group targeted a vehicle in a seven-vehicle convoy of Pakistani forces with a remote-controlled bomb at around 8:30am in the Chighardi area between Dhadar and Sanni.
The convoy was travelling towards a military checkpoint when the attack took place, the spokesperson said.
He claimed eight personnel were killed at the scene and two others seriously injured, adding that UBA fighters later engaged forces accompanying the convoy in a brief clash and withdrew from the area.
“Our organisation, the UBA, claims responsibility for the attack,” Mazar Baloch said, adding that such attacks would continue until the establishment of an “independent Balochistan.”
Meanwhile, the BRG said its fighters had been attacking two separate convoys of Pakistani forces since 7:00am on Wednesday and that clashes were still continuing when the statement was issued.
The group said a detailed statement regarding the clashes would be released later.
In another statement, BRG spokesperson Dostain Baloch said the group targeted a government irrigation office in the Dhadar area of Kachhi by planting explosives at the site.
He claimed government personnel present at the office suffered casualties and material losses, while the building was “severely damaged” in the explosion.
The spokesperson said the BRG claimed responsibility for the attack, adding that such operations would continue until the “complete independence of Balochistan”.
The casualty figures claimed by the groups could not be independently verified, while Pakistani authorities had not issued any statement regarding the attacks or clashes at the time of reporting.