Balochistan is a grave challenge for Pakistan

Nawab Akbar Bugti, the Bugti tribal leader and prominent Baloch politician, was killed by the Pakistani military on 26 August 2006. This was the date when the latest coordinated attacks were carried out in Balochistan.

- AKANSHA SINHA

On Sunday night, the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) launched multiple attacks across Balochistan, which continued into Monday morning (26 August). These attacks resulted in the deaths of at least 70 people, including of both officials and militants, according to various media reports. The BLA has claimed responsibility for these attacks that were a part of "Operation Herof". One particularly shocking incident involved the killing of 23 civilians in the Musa Khel district of Balochistan. The victims were initially identified as being from Punjab before being targeted, and several buses and trucks along the highway were set on fire. Violence was also reported in districts such as Kalat, Lasbela, and Bolan, where roads and police posts were attacked. Notably, in Bolan, a colonial-era bridge that connected Balochistan with the rest of the country was attacked, leading to the suspension of rail traffic in Quetta. This rising violence is part of a broader rebellion by the people of Balochistan, a separatist insurrection with deep historical and contemporary roots.