QUETTA/ISLAMABAD: Dozens of militants and security personnel and policemen were killed as Pakistani security forces repulsed coordinated attacks by separatist militants in the southwestern Balochistan province, officials said on Saturday, in the latest incident of violence in the insurgency-hit region.
Separatist militants, affiliated with the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), launched “coordinated” attacks in several cities of Balochistan early Saturday, according to a senior police official, who requested anonymity.
The attacks in the provincial capital of Quetta began at around 6am with a powerful explosion, followed by intense gunfire that lasted for two hours along with multiple explosions. Residents of Dalbandin and Nuhski said they heard explosions and gunfire, while similar attacks were launched in Mastung, Gwadar, Pasni and Turbat.
A security official said Pakistani forces had repulsed the attacks and killed 37 “Indian-backed militants,” who were in continuous contact with “their handlers in Afghanistan.” Islamabad has frequently blamed such attacks on India and Afghanistan, an allegation consistently denied by Kabul and New Delhi.
“The terrorists of Fitna Al-Hindustan (Indian-backed Baloch separatist groups) launched coordinated attacks this morning at more than 12 locations, including Quetta, Noshki, Dalbandin, Pasni, and Gwadar,” the security official said.
