The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed that it has killed at least 90 Pakistani military personnel in a suicide bombing followed by an ambush on an Army convoy in Balochistan’s Noshki district on March 16. According to the BLA press statement, one bus was completely burnt down after it was targeted using a vehicle based Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED). In all, there were eight vehicles, including some buses, in the convoy that was targeted.
https://twitter.com/bahot_baluch/status/1901198206035480994
The statement quoted BLA spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch as saying that the group’s Majeed Brigade carried out a Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) “Fidayee” (suicide) attack near Rakhshan Mill on the RCD Highway, destroying at least one bus completely. He added that the Fateh Squad of the BLA “systematically eliminated” all personnel on board another bus. As such, the BLA statement has talked of at least two buses being targeted and all their passengers on board them being eliminated, according to The Balochistan Post.
“The convoy consisted of eight buses, one of which was completely destroyed in the explosion,” the BLA statement read. “Immediately after the attack, the Fateh Squad of the BLA advanced and completely surrounded another bus, systematically eliminating all military personnel on board, bringing the total number of enemy casualties to 90.”
The BLA spokesperson said that additional details about the operation would be released soon.
نوشکی میں پاکستانی فوج کے ایک قافلے پرحملے میں درجنوں ہلاکتوں کی اطلاعات
علاقائی ذرائع کے مطابق فورسز کے قافلے پر آر سی ڈی شاہراہ پر مِل کے مقام پر حملہ ہوا جہاں ایک زور دھماکے کے بعد مزید متعدد دھماکوں اور شدید فائرنگ کی آواز سنی گئی۔
واقعے کے بعد مذکورہ مقام کی جانب متعدد… pic.twitter.com/OwTaPCRFb5
— The Balochistan Post (@BalochistanPost) March 16, 2025
Meanwhile, Pakistani officials have confirmed the incident but offered different numbers, saying 12 military personnel were killed and 35 others were injured. Zafarullah Sumalani, Station House Officer (SHO) of Noshki City Police Station, told local media that the convoy, seven vehicles including buses, were travelling as part of a convoy going from Quetta toward Nokundi and Taftan when it came under attack.
“One bus was completely destroyed by the explosion,” Mr. Sumalani said, adding that some severely wounded personnel had been evacuated to hospitals. Following the attack, a state of emergency was declared at hospitals in Noshki and Quetta, with helicopters seen transporting injured security personnel to Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Quetta and the Frontier Corps (FC) Headquarters Hospital. Security forces have cordoned off the area surrounding the attack site near Noshki’s main road, restricting civilian movement.
Local hospital officials confirmed increased activity, stating that an influx of security personnel is being treated. Helicopters and rescue vehicles were observed heading into the district, including ambulances from nearby cities.
An initial report in The News International regarding the incident said that seven people died in a blast near a passenger bus on the Nushki-Dalbandin highway which also injured 35 others, of which several are in a critical condition, according to the police.
According to the hospital administration, an emergency has been declared at the Mir Gul Khan Naseer Teaching Hospital to handle the situation. Security forces have cordoned off the area, and investigations are underway.
Reacting to the incident, Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi expressed sorrow while condemning the targeting of innocent people, terming it as extreme brutality. He also wished for speedy recovery of the injured and expressed condolences for the families of those who have died in the BLA attack.
Speaking about the incident, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti expressed deep sorrow and regret over the loss of precious lives while condemning the blast. Reaffirming the government’s resolve to establish peace in Balochistan at all costs, Bugti said that every possible step would be taken to bring the enemies of peace to justice.
Balochistan is being ruled by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) headed by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, son of President Asif Zardari. Despite a significant rise in the number of violent incidents, the Federal government maintains a silence regarding CM Bugti. This is in sharp contrast to its stance towards violence perpetrated by Tehrik Taliban Pakistan (TTP) armed rebels in neighbouring Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province. KP is being ruled by former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek Insaaf (PTI).
The Federal government often targets KP Chief Minister Aman Ali Gandapur, a staunch loyalist of Imran Khan, accusing him of failing to maintain law and order in the province. This is also creating a rift between the KP government and the Federal government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif
