A Pakistan Army major was among two soldiers killed in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast during an operation in Balochistan’s Harnai, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Thursday evening. According to the military’s media wing, security forces were immediately mobilised to sanitise the area on reported presence of Baloch rebels in the area.
During the operation, three Baloch rebels were killed during the encounter. “However, during the operation, an IED exploded on the leading vehicle of security forces, resultantly, Major Muhammad Haseeb (age: 28 years, resident of district Multan), along with Havildar Noor Ahmed (age: 38 years, resident of District Barkhan), were killed’’.
According to a report of The Balochistan Post, more than 38 attacks were targeted at Pakistani security forces by the Baloch nationalists on Wednesday and Thursday. These attacks were aimed at Pakistani forces, gas pipelines and mineral transport vehicles across Balochistan.
On Wednesday night, armed groups blocked three points along the Coastal Highway between Ormara and Pasni: Jafri Kaur, Khwari Checkpoint, and Chai. Similar attacks were reported in areas of Mastung, Turbat, Kharan, Gwarkop, Hoshap, Dera Bugti, Mashkay, Bolan, Buleda, Zamuran, Hironk, Panjgur, Barkhan, Awaran, Dukki, Kohlu, Tump, and Gwadar.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attacks, although it is likely that “pro-independence” Baloch armed groups may have coordinated these operations. In August, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) launched “Operation Herof” targeting military posts, railway tracks, bridges, and mineral transport vehicles across 13 districts. These coordinated attacks had led to heavy casualties among the security forces.
Last week, a Baloch suicide bomber named Muhammad Rafiq Bizenjo blew himself up at a railway station in Quetta, killing at least 27 people and injuring over 60 others. At least 20 among those who died were Army personnel from the Infantry School, according to one report.
As per a report issued by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), third quarter (July-September) of 2024 has seen a sharp increase in fatalities with a 90% surge in violence. A total of 722 people were killed, including civilians, security personnel, and outlaws, while 615 others were wounded in as many as 328 incidents recorded during the period under review.
Nearly 97% of these fatalities occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan, marking the highest percentage in a decade, and over 92% of these attacks and security forces’ operations were recorded in the same provinces.
In the KP, most of the attacks have been carried out by Tehreek Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and in Balochistan, several Baloch nationalist groups, prominent among them Majeed Brigade of Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), has become known for its deadly strikes. TTP and Baloch rebels are keeping all security forces on their toes.
Repeated attacks and high casualties now threaten to sore bilateral ties between China and Pakistan as Chinese citizens remain targets of the Baloch rebels. An indication to this effect was provided by Chinese ambassador to Pakistan who had remarked some days ago that “Pakistan is unique to the Chinese in that they are willing to invest here, despite the security risks their personnel faced’’.
The Chinese are now, more than ever before, worried about their investments as well as citizens working in Pakistan. Many times, official Chinese announcements have made their displeasure with the security situation explicit, and generally downplayed other aspects of the relationship. This can have serious repercussions for the Pakistan government as it tries to attract more investments from Gulf nations like Saudi Arabia, UAE and others.
Some reports have suggested that the Chinese are now putting pressure on the Pakistani government to allow it to have Chinese soldiers provide security to its citizens. So far, Pakistan has resisted this but how long can it hold out against Beijing remains to be seen.
