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Pakistan Says 145 Militants Killed After Coordinated Balochistan Attacks

Officials imposed sweeping provincial restrictions following BLA-claimed assaults as casualty figures and external involvement accusations remained in dispute.

Overview

  • Authorities reported a 40-hour operation that killed 145 militants, with 92 slain on Saturday and 41 on Friday, and said some of the bodies in custody were Afghan nationals.
  • The coordinated assaults left 31 civilians and 17 security personnel dead, and the banned Baloch Liberation Army claimed responsibility under the banner of Operation Herof, or Black Storm.
  • Officials said attackers disguised themselves as civilians to enter hospitals, schools, banks and markets, with attempted suicide bombings across several districts and two female assailants cited by the defence minister.
  • Pakistan accused India and Afghanistan of backing the militants, both governments issued categorical denials, and several claims could not be independently verified; the United States condemned the attacks.
  • The Balochistan government enforced a month-long Section 144 order with bans on gatherings, weapons, pillion riding and face coverings, while mobile internet was cut, transport was disrupted and sanitisation operations continued.