At least seven Pakistani soldiers were killed, and 18 others injured in an attack on a security forces camp in Balochistan’s Kalat district late on Friday night. According to reports, the attack targeted the main camp of Pakistani forces near the Shah Mardan area in Johan, approximately 60 kilometers north-east of Kalat city. Police said the assault began around 9 PM and lasted for several hours, The Balochistan Post has reported. As has happened in the recent past for some months, the Baloch rebels targeted a check-post and nearby camp of the security personnel.
Assistant Commissioner of Mangocher, Ali Gull Baloch, confirmed the casualties. He said the injured personnel were airlifted to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Quetta after receiving initial medical treatment. Levies officials said that the bodies of the deceased were also transported to Quetta for post-mortem examinations.
Kalat was briefly independent from August 1947 to March 1948 when its ruler Ahmad Yar Khan acceded to Pakistan. However, it is also said that Pakistan had annexed Kalat, a principlality ruled by Brahui chieftains from 1666 to March 1948, by force. The latest attacks carried in and around Kalat are orchestrated by the Baloch who are working for an independent Balochistan.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) have announced that mobile internet services stand temporarily suspended in certain areas of Balochistan, citing public safety concerns amidst a recent surge in attacks. The PTA statement explained that the decision followed directives from higher authorities and was implemented to “ensure public safety given the security situation in these areas.”
Kalat City SHO Habib Rehman was quoted as saying the attackers launched a coordinated strike under the cover of darkness. “The attack involved a heavy exchange of fire, causing significant casualties,” he said.
The deceased personnel were identified as Naik Bakht Zameen, Lance Naik Ghulam Ishaq, Lance Naik Abdul Qadeer, Lance Naik Rizwan, Sepoy Waqas, Sepoy Ali Abbas, and Sepoy Saqib Rehman. The injured personnel include Subedar Allah Nawaz, Naik Ismail, Lance Naik Akhtar Abbas, and others.
The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), which usually releases statements in case of casualties of the Army personnel, maintained silence on the attack. Till 10 pm on Saturday, no statement had been released by the ISPR regarding the number of dead and the injured. It is likely that more soldiers among the injured may have succumbed to their injuries as some of them were critical.
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a “pro-independence” armed group, working or a sovereign Balochistan free from Pakistan control, claimed responsibility for the attack. In a statement, spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch said their fighters had targeted the camp of Pakistani forces.
“Fighters of the Baloch Liberation Army attacked the camp of the occupying Pakistani army in Kalat. We accept responsibility for this attack. Details will be released in the media soon,” the statement said.
The Kalat attack is the latest in a series of assaults targeting Pakistani forces in Balochistan. On November 9, a suicide bombing at Quetta Railway Station killed 31 non-commissioned officers and injured over 60. The BLA’s Majeed Brigade claimed responsibility for that attack.
Separately, the Baloch Raaji Ajoi Sangar (BRAS), a coalition of Baloch armed groups, claimed responsibility for 45 coordinated attacks across Balochistan in the past two weeks. In a statement on Friday, BRAS said these operations targeted military personnel and infrastructure, resulting in the deaths of 20 soldiers, including Major Haseeb of the Loralai Scouts.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the Kalat attack in a statement posted on X. He expressed his “heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families” and directed authorities to provide the injured with the best possible medical care. “Such cowardly acts cannot deter our resolve — together with our nation and security forces, we will eliminate this menace,” he said.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also condemned the attack, offering prayers for the victims and their families. He called for enhanced security measures in the region.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif described the attack as a “tragic loss” and extended her condolences to the families of the deceased.
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