Saturday, March 29, 2025
While Pakistan continues to sponsor terrorism in India — most recently linked to the attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir — the country is grappling with severe internal unrest. In a significant escalation, armed militants believed to be from the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) carried out a major attack in the Kalat district of Balochistan.
The attackers blocked the Quetta-Karachi Highway near Monguchar and began inspecting vehicles on the national highway. Eyewitnesses reported that passengers were forcibly removed from buses and cars for questioning. Several government buildings were set on fire, including the National Bank of Pakistan office, a local court, and multiple department offices. Reports suggest extensive damage to these buildings.
There are also unconfirmed reports of an attack on a nearby Pakistani military camp. Security forces responded to the scene but were unable to apprehend the perpetrators, who had already fled.
According to Pakistani news websites, the armed group halted traffic and conducted identity checks, allegedly aiming to target individuals of Punjabi origin. Such actions caused significant disruption on the highway and fear among travelers. The Quetta-Karachi Highway — a key route — was completely shut down during the incident.
In a related incident on Friday night, gunmen on motorcycles attacked a checkpoint. A toll collection worker named Haq Nawaz Langov was killed. Additionally, an explosive device destroyed a bridge, although no injuries were reported from that blast.
This attack is part of a growing pattern of violence attributed to the Baloch Liberation Army, which has been targeting people of Punjabi origin as part of its separatist agenda. The insurgent group has repeatedly expressed grievances over exploitation and underrepresentation by the central Pakistani government, which is heavily dominated by Punjabis.
After prolonged efforts by law enforcement, traffic was eventually restored on the blocked highway. However, the inability of the security forces to arrest any attackers has raised serious questions about the internal stability of the Pakistani state — even as it continues to provoke instability across its borders.
