Pakistani military forces were targeted in an IED blast in Balochistan’s Kech district on Monday — Baloch armed group claimed responsibility for the attack
According to reports, at least two Pakistani soldiers were killed and two others injured on the spot when an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) hit their vehicle in the Gilly Buleda area of Kech district.
Sources confirmed that two more Pakistan army personnel succumbed to injuries while being shifted to the hospital.
Soon after the blast, Pakistani military forces reached the spot and cordoned off the area. However government officials have not confirmed or denied the blast yet.
Later a Baloch “pro-independence” armed group, Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) in a media statement claimed responsibility for the attack. “Four enemy personnel were eliminated and two were injured in this attack,” BLA spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch stated.
In the same press release by BLA, the group claimed another attack saying: “In a separate attack on 19th March, an agent of Pakistani military agencies and the former director of Radio Pakistan, Sultan Ahmed Shahwani was targeted with a hand grenade. This person is on the payroll of Pakistani military intelligence and is furthering their agenda through different events,” statement read.
BLA statement further said that this attack was a warning, and BLA fighters refrained from inflicting physical damage to the said person. “However, we want to clarify to Sultan Shawani and his collaborators that they should immediately halt their anti-Baloch activities or our future attacks will be severe,” the group warned.
While on Sunday the BLA released a media statement in which it claimed a hand grenade attack on the Pakistan military’s camp in the Kalat district of Balochistan. As per the group, the attack took place in the Mangochar area of Kalat on Thursday, March 9. It further said that the blast resulted in the killing of one Pakistani army personnel while injuring two more.
“BLA will continue to target occupying Pakistani forces until their full withdrawal from Balochistan,” the group vowed.