A brutal wave of violence has engulfed Pakistan’s Balochistan province, leaving over 60 people dead in what is being described as one of the deadliest insurgent attacks in recent years. The coordinated assaults, carried out by separatist militants believed to be affiliated with the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), have targeted civilians, security forces, and infrastructure across multiple districts in the troubled region.

Balochistan under siege: separatists strike with deadly force

The violence began late on August 25, 2024, when militants ambushed vehicles on a major highway in Musakhail district, pulling passengers out and executing them based on their ethnic identity. Reports indicate that over 23 people, predominantly of Punjabi origin, were brutally shot after being forced off their vehicles. The attackers, numbering between 30 and 40, then set fire to at least ten vehicles, creating widespread panic and leaving a trail of destruction along the highway.

By early August 26, the violence had spread to other parts of Balochistan. In Qalat district, gunmen killed nine more people, including four police officers, in a brazen attack that underscored the militants’ resolve to destabilize the region. Simultaneously, bomb blasts were reported on railway tracks in Bolan district, and further attacks targeted police stations in Mastung and Gwadar, although these later incidents did not result in additional casualties​.

Government vows retaliation as Balochistan burns

The escalating violence in Balochistan has drawn swift and severe responses from Pakistan’s top officials. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attacks as “barbaric” and vowed that the terrorists responsible would face the full force of the law. President Asif Ali Zardari echoed these sentiments, describing the killings as “an assault on all of humanity” and calling for immediate action to bring the perpetrators to justice.

In the wake of the attacks, Balochistan’s Chief Minister, Ali Mardan Khan Domki, issued a stern warning to the militants, pledging to continue military operations until every last insurgent is brought to justice. The Pakistani military has already responded with force, killing at least 12 insurgents in ongoing operations​.

The underlying conflict: Balochistan’s long struggle for autonomy

Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest but least populated province, has been the epicenter of a decades-long insurgency, driven by ethnic Baloch separatists who accuse the central government of neglect and exploitation. Rich in natural resources but plagued by poverty, the province has seen repeated cycles of violence, with militants targeting security forces, infrastructure, and ethnic minorities perceived as aligned with the Pakistani state.

The BLA, which has claimed responsibility for similar attacks in the past, has been designated a terrorist organization by multiple countries, including the United Kingdom and the United States. The group’s latest assault appears to be part of a broader strategy to disrupt the Pakistani state’s control over Balochistan, particularly in areas of strategic importance such as highways and infrastructure projects linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

A new phase in the insurgency?

Security experts warn that the recent attacks signal a new phase in the Balochistan insurgency, marked by increasingly bold and coordinated assaults on state institutions and civilians. As Pakistan gears up for general elections, the BLA and other separatist groups may intensify their efforts to undermine the state’s authority in the region, posing a significant challenge to national security.

  Asif Ali Zardari, Balochistan, Balochistan Liberation Army, China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, Gwadar district, Mastung district, Musakhail district, Pakistan, Qalat district, Shehbaz Sharif