Pakistan says death toll tops 250 as separatist violence rocks Balochistan

Pakistan’s security forces are battling a surge of separatist violence in Balochistan province, where coordinated militant attacks since Saturday have left more than 250 people dead, according to a senior security official, even as military operations against the attackers continue.

The official, who spoke to AFP on Wednesday on condition of anonymity, disclosed that security agencies have killed 197 militants amid ongoing counter-terrorism operations across the restive province.

“197 terrorists have been killed in the ongoing counter-terrorism operations,” the official said.

He added that the wave of attacks also claimed the lives of 36 civilians and 22 members of the security forces, underscoring the scale of the violence unleashed by the separatists.

Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest but least populated province, has long been the epicentre of a separatist insurgency, with armed groups frequently targeting security personnel, foreign interests and Pakistanis from other regions. The province is rich in minerals and borders both Afghanistan and Iran, making it strategically significant.

The latest violence saw militants launch coordinated assaults on banks, jails, police stations and military installations across multiple districts over the weekend. While authorities say most areas have been secured, sporadic clashes were still being reported in some locations as troops continued to hunt down fleeing fighters.

Speaking at a news conference in Quetta on Sunday, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti said government forces had regained control of all affected districts.

“We are chasing them, we will not let them go so easily,” he said.

Responsibility for the attacks was claimed by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), the most active separatist militant group in the province. In a statement sent to AFP, the group said it targeted military facilities as well as police and civil administration officials using gun attacks and suicide bombings.

The United States has designated the BLA a terrorist organisation, and the group has escalated its campaign in recent years, particularly against Pakistanis from other provinces working in Balochistan and foreign companies involved in energy and mining projects.

The province has witnessed a string of high-profile attacks, including last year’s assault on a passenger train carrying 450 people, which triggered a deadly two-day siege.

Reacting to the latest violence, the United Nations on Tuesday condemned the attacks, describing them as “heinous and cowardly,” as concerns mount over the deteriorating security situation in the region.

Security operations remain ongoing as authorities attempt to prevent further attacks and restore stability across Balochistan.