2026 Balochistan attacks

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2026 Balochistan attacks
Part of the insurgency in Balochistan
Date29 January 2026 (2026-01-29) – 2 February 2026 (2026-02-02)
Location
Balochistan
Belligerents
Balochistan flag.svg Balochistan Liberation Army Flag of Pakistan.svg Pakistan
Commanders and leaders
Balochistan flag.svg Bashir Zeb Flag of Pakistan.svg Asif Ali Zardari
Flag of the Pakistani Army.svg General Asim Munir
Units involved
Casualties and losses
177 militants [2] [3] [4] 17 security personnel [2] [3] [4]
31 civilians [2] [3] [4]

On 29 and 30 January 2026, Pakistani military operations killed 41 Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) militants. These occured amid an ongoing insurgency in Balochistan, in which separatist groups are seeking greater autonomy or independence from Pakistan. On 31 January 2026, in a series of coordinated attacks across multiple districts in Balochistan, BLA militants engaged in armed assaults and suicide bombings targeting security installations, police stations, a high-security prison, and civilian areas. BLA stated that the attacks were in retaliation for security force actions against the murder of their members. Pakistani security forces responded with counter-operations and said that the operation resulted in 225 deaths, including 17 security personnel, 31 civilians, and 177 militants in the following days. It was one of the deadliest attacks in Balochistan in recent years. [2] [3] [4]

Contents

Background

Balochistan has been the site of a protracted insurgency since the 1940s, [5] with Baloch groups accusing the Pakistani government of exploiting the province's natural resources while marginalising local populations. [4] The Balochistan Liberation Army, designated as a terrorist organisation by Pakistan, the United States, and the European Union, has conducted numerous attacks on security forces and infrastructure projects — including those linked to the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor. [6]

Attacks

The militant attacks of 30 January 2026, began around 03:00 PKT and spanned at least nine districts, including Quetta, Gwadar, Mastung, Nushki, Pasni, and Kharan. [4] [7] Militants used guns, grenades, and suicide vests to target police stations, paramilitary outposts, a high-security prison in Quetta, and civilian vehicles. [8] In Quetta, militants stormed multiple police facilities, leading to prolonged gun battles. [6] Suicide bombings were reported in Mastung, Gwadar, Kharan, and Nushki. In Gwadar and Kharan, civilians were among those killed during the clashes. [9]

The BLA labelled the attacks "Operation Herof 2.0", as a follow up to the August 2024 Balochistan attacks (which it labels Operation Herof), and described the operations as simultaneous strikes on military and administrative targets, with videos released by the group showing female fighters participating. [6] Pakistani officials reported that security forces had thwarted most attempts, engaging in clearance operations that lasted into the following day on 1 February. [7]

Casualties and aftermath

Initial reports varied, but by 1 February, official figures confirmed 17 security personnel and 31 civilians killed, with an unspecified number injured. [4] [9] 177 militants were killed during the counter-operations, bringing the total death toll to 225. [2] [8] [7] [1] BLA claimed to have killed 200 security personnel and taken 18 security personnel prisoner. It also claimed that 18 of its fighters were killed. Khuzdar residents claimed to have witnessed BLA capturing seven members of the security forces. [10] The group later released Nushki Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Hussain Hazara and Assistant Commissioner Maria Shamaoon, who had been taken into custody earlier. [11]

In Pasni, five militants and at least one maritime security official were killed. [10]

In Mastung, at least 30 prisoners were freed from a prison. [10]

In Quetta's red zone, police personnel including a deputy superintendent were killed. [10]

Section 144 was imposed across Balochistan for one month, citing the overall "law-and-order situation." Authorities banned vehicles with tinted windows and prohibited gatherings of five or more people, including political or religious processions without approval from the relevant district administration. A notification warned that violators would face legal action under Section 188 including imprisonment of up to six months. [12] Mobile internet services across the province were suspended. [13]

Reactions

Pakistan's military condemned the attacks as attempts to undermine stability in Balochistan. [7]

International statements included condemnation of terrorism and solidarity with Pakistan from Turkey, [14] Qatar, [15] United States, [16] France [17] and China. [18] [2] [19]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Kumar, Subodh (2 February 2026). "Baloch militant group releases photos of two suicide attackers. Both are women". India Today. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Shahid, Abdullah Zehri (2 February 2026). "Security forces kill 22 more terrorists in Balochistan, taking 48-hour total tally to 177". Dawn. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Lukiv, Jaroslaw (2 February 2026). "Deadly gun and bomb attacks hit Pakistan's Balochistan province". BBC News. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "At least 33 dead in coordinated attacks by alleged separatists in Pakistan". Al Jazeera. 31 January 2026. Retrieved 1 February 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ↑ Javed, Farhat (19 January 2024). "Pakistan-Iran strikes: Where is Balochistan and why is it being targeted?". BBC . Retrieved 3 February 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 Emmy Sasipornkarn (31 January 2026). "Pakistan: Dozens killed in 'coordinated' Balochistan attacks". Deutsche Welle. Archived from the original on 1 February 2026. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Pakistan says 92 militants killed after attacks in Balochistan". Reuters. 31 January 2026. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  8. 1 2 Abdul Sattar; Munir Ahmed (31 January 2026). "Militants kill 33 people in multiple attacks in southwest Pakistan; 92 assailants also killed". The Washington Post. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  9. 1 2 "More than 120 dead after multiple suicide and gun attacks in Pakistan, officials say". The Guardian. 1 February 2026. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Baloch, Shah Meer (1 February 2026). "Pakistan targets Balochistan separatists after 'unprecedented' assaults". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  11. ↑ Shahid, Saleem (2 February 2026). "No quarter for terrorists ruining Balochistan peace". Dawn. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  12. ↑ Khan, Sardar Hameed (1 February 2026). "Balochistan imposes month-long Section 144". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  13. ↑ "Pakistan combing for perpetrators after deadly Balochistan attacks". Arab News. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  14. ↑ "Türkiye condemns deadly terrorist attacks in Pakistan's Balochistan province". Anadolu Agency. 31 January 2026. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  15. ↑ "Qatar Condemns Attacks in Pakistan's Balochistan Province". Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Qatar). 31 January 2026. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  16. ↑ Charge d’Affaires Natalie Baker Condemns Terrorist Attacks in Balochistan
  17. ↑ France condemns Balochistan attacks, expresses solidarity with Pakistan
  18. ↑ "Pakistani troops kill 92 terrorists in Balochistan province". China Daily. 1 February 2026. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  19. ↑ "Defence Minister Khawaja Asif Reveals BLA Funding from India, Vows to Eliminate Terrorists". dailyindependent. 2 February 2026. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
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