Militants launched a coordinated assault on a paramilitary checkpoint in southwestern Pakistan on Saturday, resulting in the death of seven troops, according to police. This attack is part of a series of recent strikes by separatist insurgents.
The early-morning raid occurred in the mountainous Kalat district, approximately 150 kilometers south of Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province. The confrontation lasted several hours, as reported by police officer Habib-ur-Rehman.
In addition to the fatalities, 18 paramilitary soldiers were injured, some critically, and were transported to nearby hospitals for treatment. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif publicly denounced the attack.
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist militant group, claimed responsibility for the assault in an email sent to a Reuters reporter. The BLA has intensified its activities, including a suicide bombing last week that targeted Pakistani army troops at a railway station, killing 27, including 19 soldiers.
The group also took credit for a suicide bombing last month near the southern Karachi international airport, which resulted in the deaths of two Chinese engineers. The BLA and other militant factions have been advocating for a separate homeland in Balochistan for decades, aiming to secure a larger share of the province's mineral and resource wealth.
Balochistan, which borders Afghanistan and Iran, is home to Gwadar Port, a key component of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). This $65 billion investment is part of President Xi Jinping's Belt and Road Initiative, aimed at expanding China's global influence through enhanced road, rail, and sea connectivity.
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