At least six Pakistani armed forces personnel were reportedly killed when armed fighters attacked a convoy of trucks carrying gold and other minerals from Saindak. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack that took place on May 14 and led to the destruction of several trucks and trailers carrying gold and other minerals from Saindak.
Meanwhile, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for an attack in Chamalang on Wednesday in which it said eight army personnel, including Major Tauseef Ahmad Bhatti, were killed. In the Chamalang attack, Major Bhatti had died along with other soldiers when their convoy was attacked.
According to local sources, a large number of armed fighters attacked more than 20 trailers carrying minerals from Saindak, along with the security detail assigned to the convoy, using rockets and other weapons near Noshki. The rebels call the extraction of minerals in this manner exploitation of Balochistan as it gains nothing from the process.
Heavy clashes took place between the attackers and Pakistani forces during the assault. Sources said at least six military personnel were killed and several others injured. The exact toll beyond six will perhaps be cleared much later when the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) issues a statement giving true and accurate details.
Regarding the Chamalang attack, the ISPR had given a statement which BLA termed as misleading and factually incorrect. The ISPR official statement had claimed that the attack was initiated by the Pakistan Army and that seven armed rebels had died, besides five soldiers, including Major Bhatti. However, the BLA did not admit to loss of any of its fighters and put the number of soldiers killed at eight. It also said that it will release more details about Wednesday’s attack soon.
The BLA claimed that eight trucks loaded with minerals were destroyed in the attack, while several others were damaged. There were also reports that truck drivers were killed, but the number of driver casualties could not be immediately confirmed.
Following the attack, Pakistani forces began arriving in the area in large numbers, while police and ambulances were also dispatched to the site. Officials had not confirmed or denied the incident at the time of publication.
Separately, armed men set up a checkpoint near Dalbandin and searched vehicles, local sources said, adding that three members of the Siah Dik Copper Project were taken into custody during the operation, while a vehicle belonging to the Saindak Project was also seized. No group had claimed responsibility for the Noshki convoy attack or the Dalbandin checkpoint incident at the time of publication.
The attacks came as the BLA claimed responsibility for the Wednesday’s attack, saying its fighters had killed eight Pakistani army personnel, including Major Tauseef Bhatti, in the Bala Dak area. In a statement, BLA spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch said the group’s fighters targeted a Pakistani army convoy in what he described as a “coordinated attack” based on “precise intelligence” provided by “ZIRAB”, the group’s intelligence wing.
“During the operation, one vehicle was first blown up using a remote-controlled explosive device, followed by a heavy armed assault on the second vehicle,” the statement said.
The BLA claimed that eight Pakistani Army personnel, including Major Tauseef Bhatti, were killed in the attack, adding that further details would be released later.
