At least eight police officers have been reported killed in a series of coordinated attacks across Pakistan’s volatile southwestern province of Balochistan.
According to police reports, militants from separatist groups seeking an independent Baloch state launched simultaneous assaults on multiple police stations in Quetta, the provincial capital, during the early hours of the morning.
The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), an armed separatist group claiming to fight for the rights of the Baloch people, has claimed responsibility for these attacks.
A Pakistani security official told Reuters that the assaults were largely repelled, attributing the outcome to a lack of strategic coordination among the militants.
While some media reports suggest that several security personnel were taken hostage following the clashes, neither the Pakistani government nor the military has issued an official statement regarding these claims.
This latest surge in violence by the BLA follows a recent military operation in the region, during which the Pakistani army reportedly killed 41 militants.
The BLA continues to target security forces and critical infrastructure across the province. Notably, last year, the group seized a train carrying 450 passengers, resulting in a violent standoff with security forces that led to numerous casualties.
