The Pakistani security forces were targeted in two separate attacks in Balochistan’s Awaran and Turbat. Several soldiers, including an officer, were killed in the attack and various others were critically wounded. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of Pakistan’s military, confirmed the Awaran attack and death of an Army major in a media statement.
According to reports, a checkpoint of the Pakistani forces was targeted in the Kahan area of district Awaran. ISPR confirmed the attack, saying that the security forces followed the attackers into the nearby mountains. A crossfire ensued and an officer of security forces, Major Shahid Basheer, was killed in the crossfire and a sepoy was also wounded.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack in a social media post. Taking to Twitter, the prime minister’s office of Pakistan said: “Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has strongly condemned the terrorist attack on security forces in Kahan, near Awaran, Balochistan. He prayed for the higher ranks of valiant son of the soil, Major Shahid Basheer who embraced Shahadat, and prayed for recovery of the injured.”
Independent sources have refuted the ISPR’s account of the attack, saying that security forces had sustained several fatalities in the attack.
Balochistan Liberation Front, a “pro-independence” group active in the region, has claimed responsibility for the attack. In a media statement, BLF said that its fighters attacked a security checkpoint of the Pakistani forces in the middle of the night. Several soldiers of the Pakistani forces, including a major, were killed in the attack, BLF said.
BLF said a convoy of the security forces coming to aid their fallen companions was ambushed along the way. Eight soldiers were killed on the spot and several others were wounded.
The forces were also targeted in a separate attack in Turbat on Friday. A convoy of the Pakistani forces was crossing the Aabsar Bridge when it was hit by an explosion. Local sources have reported that two vehicles of the security forces were caught in the explosion and the forces had to sustain material damage and a lot of casualties. The forces reportedly opened indiscriminate fire after the explosion.
Pakistani officials have not yet commented on the incident. While another “pro-independence” group, the Baloch Liberation Army has claimed responsibility for the attack.
BLA spokesperson claimed that three personnel of the Pakistani military were killed in the attack.