Rebels from the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) killed a total of 7 Pakistan army soldiers in two separate attacks according to reports by Indian News Agency – ANI.
The attacks took place in Jhaoo and Mackay on Friday. The attack by the Baloch rebels also left three soldiers critically injured. A statement issued by BLF spokesman Gwahram Baloch confirmed that rebels attacked the Manguli check post in Mashkay Valley with snipers and heavy weapons, killing three personnel and injuring one.
Accepting responsibility for another attack, he said a Pakistani army patrol team was ambushed with automatic heavy weapons by Baloch guerilla fighters at Nondara area of Jhaoo at 8 am on Friday.
The attack took place as a group of 10 on-foot occupying army personnel were advancing towards Daraj Kaur (river). In the fierce ambush, four Pakistan army personnel were killed on the spot and two others were injured.
In the same statement, Baloch vowed that attacks on the Pakistan army would continue till the independence of Balochistan.
Violence in Balochistan has increased in recent months with continued attacks from both sides. Recently, the BLF, Baloch Republican Army (BRA), Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), Baloch Republican Guard (BRG) have reportedly joined hands with the Sindhi Republican Army (SRA) to fight the common enemy Pakistan.
Pakistan Thwarts Attack
Pakistan’s security forces on Friday shot dead five militants of the BRA and claimed to have thwarted a terrorist attack in the country’s Punjab province. The militants were also involved in the killing of five personnel of the law enforcement agencies in 2019.
The intelligence-based operation, jointly conducted by the counter-terrorism department of Punjab and intelligence agency ISI in Rajanpur, some 400 km from Lahore, led to the killing of five terrorists of the Balochistan Republican Army, counter-terrorism officials said in a statement.
The security forces received a tip-off that eight heavily-armed militants were present at Arbi Tibba road in Rajanpur and were planning to attack government installations and law enforcement agencies in the province.
Five terrorists were killed in the shootout while three managed to escape, they said. One improvised explosive device, three submachine guns, two pistols, four kgs explosives, four detonators and ammunition have been recovered from their possession.
Pakistan blames India for supporting Baloch militants and believes New Delhi is involved in destabilizing the region. India denies any involvement with Baloch militants and has labelled Pakistani accusations as ‘false’.
