Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for a coordinated attack on a Pakistani military convoy in the Khad Koocha area of Mastung district, claiming 45 Pakistani soldiers were killed and a number injured. The separatist group has been claimed to be responsible but the casualties are not officially confirmed by the Pakistan government.
The attack apparently targeted buses carrying Pakistani Army personnel and has further fueled the insurgency in Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province, where separatists have been stepping up attacks on security forces in recent years.
BLA Claims Coordinated Ambush
The BLA said its elite Fatah Squad carried out a planned assault on a convoy of Pakistani military personnel traveling through Khad Koocha in Mastung, its statement said.
According to the group, the operation began with an ambush on buses that were transporting soldiers and their security escort. The BLA claimed Pakistani reinforcements rushed to the area soon after the initial attack, leading to a long exchange of gunfire.
"The Baloch Liberation Army takes responsibility for the coordinated and intense attack carried out in the Khad Koocha area of Mastung," the group said in its statement.
The separatist organisation also claimed that the fighting continued even after the first phase of the attack and added that the final casualties could rise. It also announced that it would issue a more detailed statement later on in the day describing the Pakistani military personnel and equipment losses.
However, these claims remain independently unverified and no official confirmation has been provided by Pakistan's military yet.
Reports of Heavy Fighting
Several local sources had said that dozens of heavily armed militants attacked a Pakistani military convoy moving along the Quetta-Karachi Highway.
The convoy was transporting soldiers who were on leave when it came under attack. Witnesses reported heavy exchanges of fire between the attackers and security personnel escorting the military vehicles.
Some unverified reports also claimed that one of the military buses caught fire during the assault.
Following the incident, Pakistani security forces are believed to have launched a large search and clearance operation in the vicinity of the spot and strengthened security in Mastung district. Part of the Quetta-Karachi Highway was shut down as military operations continued.
Civilian Casualties Reported
In addition to the reported military casualties, rescue officials said that the violence also affected civilians.
According to initial emergency response reports, three civilians were killed and 11 more—including four children—were injured during the attack and subsequent exchange of fire.
Several of the wounded were admitted to nearby hospitals and those in critical condition were transferred to medical facilities in Quetta for further treatment.
According to local reports, at least three Pakistani security personnel were killed in the initial attack, but other unofficial estimates placed the military death toll much higher.
No Official Confirmation Yet
The Pakistani military has not released an official statement to confirm the BLA’s claim of responsibility or the casualties reported by separatist groups.
Mastung is tense and security forces are still conducting operations there, the report said.
Balochistan has seen decades of insurgency by separatists who want autonomy or independence. Thanks to the BLA, which has claimed responsibility for some recent attacks on Pakistani security forces and infrastructure, it is still one of the most active armed groups in the region.
Until official investigations are completed, the exact number of military casualties and the full sequence of events surrounding the Mastung attack remain unclear.
