The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a “pro-independence” armed group, said on Sunday that its fighters killed 12 Pakistani Army personnel and injured six others during hours-long clashes in Balochistan’s Panjgur district.
In a statement, BLA spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch said the group targeted Pakistani soldiers and what it described as members of “state-backed death squads” as they attempted to advance in large numbers in the Soorap area on Saturday.
The group said the clashes began at around 1 p.m. and continued until 8 p.m. It claimed that additional troops attempted to move into the area using armoured vehicles and other transport but were “repelled” by another BLA unit. It added that one military vehicle was destroyed and that members of the “so-called death squad” also suffered losses.
Jeeyand Baloch said the group would continue to target Pakistani forces, describing the attack as part of its ongoing armed struggle for the “liberation of the Baloch nation.” He said the BLA would “carry out more deadly attacks” and that Pakistani forces would “have to face failure and defeat on every front.”
BLF claims attack in Tump
Meanwhile, the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) said it carried out an attack on a Pakistani military camp in the Balichah area of Tump on Saturday.
In a statement, BLF spokesperson Major Gwahram Baloch said fighters fired multiple grenade-launcher rounds at the camp, which he said “successfully struck the intended targets and caused casualties and material damage.”
He said the attack took place while a meeting was under way inside the camp, led by military officials and attended by vehicle owners linked to the local oil trade. According to the statement, the army was attempting to persuade the attendees to supply rations and other support to military camps.
Major Gwahram reiterated the group’s earlier warning that anyone facilitating Pakistani forces “will be solely responsible for their loss of life and property.”