Two Pakistani military personnel were killed in an armed attack in Chagai, officials confirmed on Monday, as attacks and highway blockades continued to be reported across several districts of Balochistan.
Armed fighters targeted commercial vehicles and Pakistani forces at Charsar in the Dalbandin area of Chagai on Sunday, along the Quetta-Taftan trade route.
A video circulating on social media shows a convoy of vehicles halted on the highway, while a driver can be heard saying that intense gunfire and explosions were continuing.
The two personnel killed in the attack were later identified by officials as Naik Akhtar and Sepoy Waqas. Both belonged to the Pakistani military’s 35 Frontier Force unit.
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) later claimed responsibility for the attack.
In a statement, BLA spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch said the group’s policy of an “economic blockade” against what it described as the “plundering of Balochistan’s natural resources”, “colonial exploitative projects” and the military movement of the “occupying forces” would remain strictly enforced.
Jeeyand said highway blockades along Balochistan’s main commercial routes would be expanded further, adding that vehicles and projects protecting what the group described as the Pakistani military’s economic interests would continue to be targeted.
Meanwhile, a Pakistani military camp in the Albat area of Kharan came under gunfire overnight into Sunday, according to local sources. No information was immediately available about casualties or material losses.
A Pakistani soldier was also killed in Hairabad, Kech, after armed fighters targeted him as he moved into position for picket duty. Sources said the fighters subsequently attacked a military convoy in the area.
Another armed attack targeted Pakistani forces in the Hurmagay area of Washuk. However, no further details had emerged about the incident or any casualties.
Pakistani military personnel travelling on foot were separately targeted in an explosion in the Balbal area of Zehri, according to local sources. No casualty figures were immediately available.
Armed fighters also seized control of a police checkpost in Awaran’s Jhao area after overpowering the personnel stationed there, local sources said, adding that the attackers seized weapons and other equipment and set fire to a vehicle and several motorcycles at the post.
The fighters subsequently established a blockade in the area, during which two men identified as Zafar and Faiz were reportedly shot dead. Local sources alleged that the two were affiliated with a “death squad”, adding that their weapons were also taken away.
Armed fighters separately detained Levies personnel engaged in collecting taxes in Washuk and seized their weapons and vehicles. The number of personnel detained and their current whereabouts were not immediately known.