Pakistan's military says it has killed at least 92 militants blamed for deadly co-ordinated attacks in the south-western Balochistan province on Saturday.
The military stated that 15 security service personnel and 18 civilians were also killed, while it accused India of supporting the militants. India has repeatedly denied such accusations.
The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) rebel group claimed responsibility for the attacks, asserting that dozens of soldiers were killed. These claims from both sides remain unverified. This escalation signals one of the bloodiest days of violence in the impoverished province, where Pakistan's government has been combating an ethnic insurgency for decades.
In a statement late on Saturday, the military attributed the militant actions to multiple attacks targeting civilians around the provincial capital Quetta and in other cities. In retaliation, it conducted 'clearance' operations across Balochistan to combat the insurgents.
Key administrative buildings in Quetta were sealed off and mobile phone services were temporarily suspended as precautionary measures following the unrest.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the military's actions and asserted that the government will persist in its fight against terrorism until complete eradication.
The militants executed armed attacks across 12 cities and towns in the province, targeting police, paramilitary installations, prisons, and government facilities.
The BLA has accused the federal government of exploiting Balochistan's rich mineral resources without benefiting the local populace, while local activists allege enforced disappearances by security forces—claims denied by Islamabad.
The long-standing resistance against the Pakistani government and the militant insurgency advocating for an independent Baloch state began in 1948, shortly after Pakistan's independence from British rule.
Balochistan, sharing borders with Iran and Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, is also strategically located along the Arabian Sea. Although it constitutes nearly 44% of Pakistan's total land area, it only supports about 5% of the country's population, making it the richest province in terms of natural resources.
