A series of coordinated militant attacks across Balochistan on March 29–30 were largely foiled by security forces, though several incidents resulted in civilian casualties and damage to homes and infrastructure.
In District Sorab, security forces averted what officials described as a potentially catastrophic attack. A bomb disposal unit of the Frontier Corps recovered and defused a massive improvised explosive device (IED) weighing approximately 320 kilograms. The device had been planted beneath a bridge along the main national highway near a customs checkpost in the Gurgut area. Authorities said the explosives were packed into eight drums, indicating the scale of the planned attack, which could have caused heavy casualties and disrupted a major transport route used by civilian traffic.
Around Quetta, militants launched multiple attacks on the city’s outskirts. In Nohsar’s Aghbarg area, armed men opened fire on a police checkpoint. Police returned fire immediately, forcing the attackers to retreat. In Mianghundi, militants used long-range weapons and under-barrel grenade launchers in another attempted assault, but security personnel responded swiftly, preventing any damage. A separate attempt to target a police patrol on Quetta’s Western Bypass was also neutralized without casualties.
Frontier Corps posts in Mastung’s Splinji area and in Litr, Kharan, were also targeted with long-range fire. However, prompt retaliation by security forces forced the attackers to flee, and no losses were reported.
The situation escalated in Panjgur, where militants linked to the banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) carried out coordinated attacks across multiple areas, including Khuzabadan, Garmkan, Chitkan, Tasp, and Washbod. According to officials, the attackers targeted both security installations and civilians, and also attempted to ambush military convoys at locations such as Football Chowk. All such attempts were ultimately foiled.
However, in attacks on civilian populations in Panjgur, BLA militants killed at least five people. Among the victims were Baloch youths identified as Burhan, Farhan, Aziz, and Imdad. Police said armed men stormed homes, looted property, assaulted women and children, and caused widespread destruction.
In the Khuda-Bandan area, militants attacked the house of Arshad Baloch, hurling hand grenades and opening indiscriminate fire, killing three people inside. The attackers set three rooms on fire and damaged the property. Simultaneous attacks on houses in Sarawan and Garmakan left two more people dead and two injured. At least six vehicles parked outside homes were also set ablaze.
Deputy Inspector General of Police, Makran Range, Imran Qureshi, confirmed that multiple coordinated attacks took place across Panjgur. He said five people were killed and two injured, while security forces, in retaliation, killed six terrorists. The bodies of the attackers were shifted to the district hospital.
Local residents also mounted resistance during the attacks. Security forces later cordoned off the area and launched clearance operations, including an intelligence-based operation targeting a key BLA cell. During this operation, seven militants, including a commander identified as Nazir alias “Chakar,” were killed. Officials said the group was involved in planning subversive activities and may have had cross-border links.
On March 30, BLA militants attacked Police Station Kotra in District Jhal Magsi. Police personnel, led by the station house officer and supported by local residents, responded swiftly, forcing the attackers to flee. Two militants were killed and four injured.
During this attack, BLA militants killed an 11-year-old boy, Fayyaz Hussain, who had gone to collect water.
Militants also targeted critical infrastructure, attacking the main electricity transmission line in Balochistan at Sibi and Dera Murad Jamali. The line supplied power to Sibi city and surrounding areas. According to officials, a 132 kV transmission tower in Kachhi, Naseerabad, and Sibi districts was damaged, disrupting electricity supply to local residents.
Balochistan Home Minister Mir Zia Langove said the attacks reflected a shift toward targeting soft and civilian infrastructure after failing to achieve objectives on the ground. He said militants were attempting to disrupt daily life and development in the province, adding that such groups were backed by foreign elements.
”They want to keep Balochistan in darkness… no light, no electricity, no power, no communication, no wi-fi, no infrastructure… while the world gallops ahead, Balochistan is hostage to regressive terrorists funded by foreign powers”, he said
Following the attacks, security forces launched clearance and intelligence-based operations in affected areas. Officials say the situation is now under control.
