Terror in Balochistan: Coordinated Attacks Shake Pakistan’s Security

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In a coordinated assault on Pakistan’s volatile Balochistan province, heavily armed terrorists targeted multiple sites, including a high-security prison, resulting in the deaths of four law enforcement personnel and two civilians. The attacks occurred on January 29 in Mach town, approximately 70 km from Quetta.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported that law enforcement agencies effectively responded, killing nine militants and capturing three. The banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) Majeed group claimed responsibility.

After the attacks, security forces engaged in a prolonged gun battle with retreating militants. The caretaker Balochistan Information Minister confirmed ongoing clearance operations in Mach. This marks the deadliest militant attack in 2024, fueled by escalating tensions following Pakistani strikes on insurgent hideouts in Iran. The BLA’s threats to target security forces were in response to Pakistan’s January 18 strikes on their camps in Iran.

Balochistan and Sistan-Baluchistan provinces have endured a prolonged low-level insurgency, challenging government claims of containment. The shared, largely lawless border between Iran and Pakistan remains a hotspot for smugglers and militants.