On Tuesday, a series of explosions were reported in Balochistan’s capital city of Quetta as Pakistan prepared for its Independence Day celebrations. According to reports, an explosion occurred at a flag stall in Quetta.
In the China Market, Liaquat Bazaar, a bomb explosion injured seven people, one of whom later succumbed to their injuries in the hospital. Meanwhile, at least two explosions were heard in the Satellite Town area of Quetta city; however, details regarding the nature of these explosions are still awaited.
At the Sariab Railway Crossing, armed individuals attacked a Frontier Corps (FC) checkpoint with a hand grenade. Heavy gunfire was exchanged following the incident, but no details about casualties have been provided. Earlier today, at Munir Ahmed Road in the Sariab area, Nawab Ghaus Bakhsh School was targeted in an explosion where a ceremony was expected to take place in connection with the 14th of August, Pakistan’s National Day. No casualties were reported in this explosion.
Reports from Balochistan’s Kharan indicate that armed individuals attacked an FC post, during which heavy gunfire and explosions were heard.
It should be noted that yesterday, an explosion occurred at Sariab Mill Girls College during preparations for the 14th of August ceremony. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for this attack.
In a statement issued to the media on Monday, Jeeyand Baloch, the spokesperson for the BLA, said that “BLA fighters targeted the occupying Pakistani military and the supply routes of exploitative projects in five different operations in Quetta, Khuzdar, Turbat, and Kalat. BLA fighters also visited educational institutions to cancel the Pakistani Independence Day celebrations.”
Jeeyand Baloch stated that BLA fighters visited a school on Brewery Road in Quetta on Monday, where preparations for an Independence Day ceremony were underway under the directions of the occupying Pakistani military. The spokesperson mentioned that the fighters met with teachers and students at the school to discuss the state’s conspiracies in organizing Independence Day celebrations and informed them about the war-torn conditions in Balochistan. The teachers at the school reportedly agreed with the fighters and canceled the event, he added.
He said that at around 9:15 PM on Monday, BLA fighters targeted the preparations for an Independence Day celebration under the supervision of the Pakistani military with a hand grenade attack at Girls College in the Sariab Mill area of Quetta.
He further stated that on Sunday night, “BLA fighters targeted two foot soldiers of the occupying Pakistani military in the Bazgir area of Khuzdar with a hand grenade attack while they were patrolling near their camp, resulting in injuries to both enemy soldiers.”
The BLA spokesperson said that in another operation on Sunday night, BLA fighters targeted a checkpoint of the occupying Pakistani military on Airport Road in Turbat city by firing shells from a grenade launcher, inflicting casualties on the enemy forces. BLA fighters also targeted a trailer vehicle carrying supplies for the Saindak project in Manguchar, Kalat, at Badrang on Monday, destroying all the vehicle’s tyres in the armed attack. During the operation, one driver was injured, he said.
The spokesperson stated: “Our attacks on the occupying Pakistani military and its partners will continue until Balochistan’s Independence from Pakistani occupation.”
On Tuesday, in anticipation of potential attacks on Pakistan’s Independence Day celebrations, security was put on high alert in Quetta and several other cities. Strict checkpoints and snap-checking are being conducted on various roads in Quetta city, while the FC and other law enforcement agencies are patrolling the streets jointly. People are being searched on several roads.
In Kachhi, Balochistan, security measures have been implemented to maintain law and order in connection with the 14th of August celebrations. All recreational spots in the Bolan area of Balochistan have been temporarily closed from August 13 until further notice. According to the local administration, there is a temporary ban on passenger transport operations in Bolan from 6 PM to 6 AM until further notice. The entry of passenger buses and wagons in Bolan will only be allowed during daylight hours.
In Gwadar, Lasbela, and Kalat districts of Balochistan, the military, FC, and police conducted joint patrols and flag marches on the roads.
Meanwhile, another Baloch armed group, the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF), claimed responsibility for several attacks in different areas of Balochistan. Major Gwahram Baloch, the spokesperson for the BLF, stated in a media release that their fighters targeted the “occupying Pakistani military” in two different attacks in Awaran and Kech, causing both human and material losses. Additionally, the fighters visited various schools in Balochistan.
He said that in the first attack, a BLF sniper team targeted and killed an “enemy soldier” standing outside a military checkpoint in the Nundra Dal area of Awaran at 4 PM on August 12. After the attack, the occupying forces deployed surveillance drone cameras to pursue the fighters he said. “When the fighters fired at the drone to target it, the enemy withdrew the drone and attempted to chase the fighters with an armored vehicle. The fighters targeted the armored vehicle, forcing it to retreat to the camp, although it was also hit by the fighters’ gunfire,” the BLF spokesperson added.
The spokesperson stated that in the second attack, at 9 PM on August 12, the fighters targeted the protective bunker of an “enemy military” checkpoint in the Buleda Suraap area of Kech from close range. At the time of the attack, three “enemy soldiers” were present in the bunker. “The intense attack lasted for about half an hour, resulting in the death of two enemy soldiers and the injury of another. In this attack, the fighters used heavy and automatic weapons”, he said.
A separate statement released by the BLF on Monday claimed responsibility for four attacks in the Kech district of Balochistan.
In conclusion, the BLF said, “The group is determined to continue targeting the enemy forces and their collaborators until the liberation of Baloch land is achieved.”