Balochistan province in southwestern Pakistan recently experienced a series of tragic explosions, resulting in the deaths of at least 11 individuals.
This mineral-rich province, strategically located on the borders of Afghanistan and Iran, has seen a disturbing surge in militant activities, prompting a vigorous counter-terrorism response.
One particularly brutal attack involved a suicide bomber who detonated an explosive-laden vehicle near a paramilitary convoy in Dasht, a key area on Pakistan’s southwestern frontier close to Iran. This horrific incident claimed the lives of five people, including three soldiers. The responsibility for this attack was swiftly claimed by the Baloch Liberation Army, a prominent separatist group.
In a separate and equally devastating event, six laborers lost their lives in an explosion near an Afghan border crossing within the same province.
For decades, Baloch separatists have waged an insurgency against the Pakistani military, driven by grievances over perceived discrimination against the Baloch populace and demands for greater autonomy. However, human rights organizations have voiced concerns, citing reports of abuses during the counter-terrorism crackdown, including arbitrary detentions and arrests of local residents.
These recent incidents follow another deadly attack this month, where fifteen people perished in a suicide bombing at a political rally in Quetta, the provincial capital. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for that atrocity.