Balochistan’s breaking point? Militants strike at heart of Kalat’s civil infrastructure

What Happened in Kalat’s Mongochar Region on May 2, 2025?

On the night of May 2, 2025, a group of armed militants carried out a series of targeted attacks in Mongochar, a town situated in Kalat district, Balochistan. According to local administration reports and multiple eyewitness accounts, the attackers blocked the Quetta-Karachi Highway—a strategic route for commercial traffic—and torched several government facilities. Among the structures set ablaze were the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) office, the Judicial Complex, and a branch of the National Bank of Pakistan.

The coordinated violence began with militants establishing roadblocks on the highway, halting and inspecting vehicles in a bid to assert control over the area. They then advanced into the local market area and set fire to government buildings using incendiary materials. The fires caused extensive infrastructural damage and temporarily suspended all administrative operations in Mongochar.

Were Civilians or Law Enforcement Targeted During the Assault?

In a related development, officials confirmed that a Levies constable was killed in a separate gun attack at a check-post in Kot Langove, also within Kalat district. The incident is being viewed as part of the broader wave of violence engulfing the region that night. Additionally, in the Mastung district near Khad Kocha, gunmen opened fire on a passenger bus travelling from Quetta to Karachi. Six civilians, including a woman and two children, were injured. Authorities believe this could be part of the same militant offensive aimed at disrupting inter-city transportation and instilling fear across Balochistan’s transport corridors.

Has Any Group Claimed Responsibility for the Mongochar Attack?

As of this update, no group has publicly taken responsibility for the attacks. However, security analysts have pointed to the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a banned separatist organisation with a long track record of targeting government installations in Balochistan. The BLA and allied factions have been engaged in a decades-long insurgency demanding greater political autonomy and control over Balochistan’s natural resources, including mineral wealth and energy infrastructure.

The nature of the Mongochar assault—particularly the torching of administrative buildings and the blocking of a critical highway—mirrors tactics previously used by BLA militants. Officials have not ruled out their involvement, but an official attribution is pending ongoing investigations.

Why Is the Quetta-Karachi Highway a Frequent Militant Target?

The Quetta-Karachi Highway, formally designated as National Highway 25 (N-25), is one of Pakistan’s most vital logistical routes. It connects Karachi, the financial and port capital, with Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan, and also supports overland trade with Afghanistan and Iran.

The highway is integral to the success of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which includes several development projects across Balochistan. Any obstruction or damage to the N-25 disrupts not only local supply chains but also national and international freight movement, thus serving the strategic objectives of separatist groups aiming to destabilise the federal presence in the region.

What Is the Government’s Response to the Kalat Attack?

Security forces responded to the Mongochar incident by launching a combing operation in the area. By late night, local authorities confirmed that traffic on the Quetta-Karachi Highway had been restored. Although no arrests have been made yet, law enforcement agencies have sealed off entry and exit routes around Kalat district as part of their pursuit of the attackers.

Officials from Pakistan’s Interior Ministry have yet to release a formal statement on the Mongochar attack. However, sources within the provincial security apparatus indicated that paramilitary forces, including the Frontier Corps, have been deployed to prevent further escalations.

What Is the Broader Context Behind Rising Violence in Balochistan?

Balochistan has remained a hotspot for separatist insurgency since the early 2000s, although the roots of discontent trace back to the early years of Pakistan’s independence. The province is rich in natural resources but continues to face widespread underdevelopment, unemployment, and political marginalisation.

Militant groups like the Baloch Liberation Army, Baloch Republican Army, and United Baloch Army often target state installations to signal defiance and to protest what they perceive as exploitative federal policies. Past peace efforts, including amnesty schemes and economic integration initiatives, have yielded limited success. The repeated targeting of security forces, civilians, and infrastructure suggests a need for renewed political dialogue and strategic reassessment.

Has the Security Situation in Kalat Worsened Recently?

The Kalat region, while not as frequently hit as southern districts like Kech or Gwadar, has witnessed a surge in attacks over the past year. Insurgents have increasingly moved inland from coastal areas to hit administrative and law enforcement targets, according to intelligence assessments.

The attack on Mongochar aligns with this trend and could signal a tactical shift in insurgent priorities, focusing on paralyzing district-level governance and undermining state presence in mid-tier population centres. This strategy complicates counter-insurgency efforts that have largely focused on border regions and tribal belts.

Are Economic and Foreign Investments at Risk?

Frequent disruptions on the Quetta-Karachi corridor and high-profile assaults on government infrastructure could deter private and foreign investment in Balochistan. This comes at a time when Pakistan is trying to revive stalled CPEC projects and attract global partners in energy, mining, and logistics sectors within the province.

Analysts note that instability in Kalat and surrounding districts may create security perception issues among foreign stakeholders, including Chinese infrastructure companies, Middle Eastern investors, and even regional trading partners like Iran. The longer these incidents go unaddressed, the more difficult it becomes for Pakistan to project Balochistan as a secure and viable investment destination.

What Are the Next Steps for Authorities and Policymakers?

The government is expected to increase military and paramilitary deployments across southern and central Balochistan in the short term. However, experts continue to caution against relying solely on force-based responses. Institutional reforms, provincial autonomy measures, and dialogue with non-violent nationalist factions are being re-emphasised as long-term solutions to counter the insurgency.

Security officials have also indicated that intelligence-based operations will be intensified in the region, focusing on dismantling supply chains and sleeper cells that support militant activity in areas like Kalat and Mastung.

With mounting geopolitical and economic stakes, especially under the CPEC framework, the need for a comprehensive and inclusive Balochistan policy is becoming more urgent than ever.