The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for the deaths of 62 Pakistani military personnel and the capture of two others during blockades and attacks carried out under its ongoing “Operation Herof” across Balochistan.
In a statement released early Monday, BLA spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch said that “the majority of the slain personnel were traveling in civilian clothes on passenger buses when they were identified and killed by BLA fighters.”
As part of “Operation Herof,” the BLA’s elite unit, the Majeed Brigade, reportedly launched an attack on the Pakistani military’s Bela headquarters, killing 24 military personnel and capturing a significant portion of the camp.
The spokesperson added that the BLA’s Fateh Squad and STOS Unit have killed an additional 62 personnel during blockades and attacks across Balochistan.
The BLA claims to have set up blockades on key routes, including the Gwadar-Jiwani Coastal Highway, Mand-Turbat Road in the Hothabad area, Abdoi Road in Tagran, Turbat-Hironak CPEC Road, Quetta-Taftan Road, Noshki-Kharan Road, Mastung-Khaddkocha Road, Kalat-Karachi Road, and major roads in Bolan and Koh-e-Sulaiman, as well as the Balghatar-Panjgur Road and Sibi-Mithri Road.
According to the statement, BLA fighters targeted a military convoy in the Hothabad area on the Mand-Turbat Road, destroying a vehicle and killing five personnel.
In Kalat, the group claimed to have taken control of a toll plaza at the Garaari location, capturing the personnel stationed there. When a military convoy arrived to rescue the captured individuals, it was reportedly ambushed by BLA fighters, resulting in the deaths of at least 15 personnel.
The spokesperson further claimed that in Bolan, an FC convoy was attacked during a blockade, with 16 FC personnel killed and their weapons seized. Five Levies personnel were also reportedly captured during this incident but were later released with a warning due to their Baloch identity.
Additionally, Jeeyand Baloch stated that railway tracks passing through Bolan were destroyed in an explosion.
In Turbat, the BLA claimed that its fighters shot down a surveillance drone at the D-Baloch location. The group also claimed to have captured around 20 police and Levies personnel, along with two military personnel, from different locations, who remain in their custody.
Jeeyand Baloch stated that the BLA’s Majeed Brigade continues to hold a portion of the Bela Camp after maintaining control for over five hours, during which 24 Pakistani military personnel were reportedly killed. He indicated that more details on these operations would be released to the media soon.