At least 33 people were killed—15 security officials and 18 civilians—as armed men launched coordinated attacks across Pakistan's Balochistan province, targeting multiple police stations in what authorities described as a major security challenge.
The outlawed Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility, stating they targeted 'military installations and police and civil administration officials' across nine districts using gun attacks and suicide bombings. The attacks began approximately 3am local time Saturday in the provincial capital of Quetta.
Police stations in four districts reported ongoing attacks throughout the early morning hours. A deputy district commissioner was allegedly abducted during the violence. At least 30 inmates were freed from a district jail, with firearms and ammunition seized by attackers who demonstrated significant operational coordination.
Over 12 locations were hit in the coordinated strikes, revealing extensive planning and intelligence gathering by the separatist group. Pakistani officials stated the attacks were 'poorly executed' and failed due to ineffective planning, though the casualty toll and scope suggest otherwise.
According to government figures, 92 BLA fighters were also killed during the confrontations, bringing total deaths in 48 hours to 133. This casualty figure could not be independently verified. Internet and train services were suspended in affected areas, while mobile phone services were jammed as security forces responded.
The attacks represent one of the deadliest episodes in Balochistan's long-running insurgency. The resource-rich province has experienced separatist violence for decades, with groups demanding greater autonomy and a larger share of natural resource revenues. The scale and coordination of these latest attacks signal an escalation in the conflict.