At least 10 security officials and 37 militants were killed in a “coordinated” attack in five districts in Pakistan’s Balochistan, carried out by the Baloch separatist militant group, Baloch Liberation Army. The attacks were carried out with guns and suicide bombings, according to the local security official.“The terrorists … launched coordinated attacks this morning at more than 12 locations. The coordinated gun and suicide attacks are being carried out across Balochistan, mainly in Quetta, Pasni, Mastung, Nushki and Gwadar districts,” news agency AFP reported, quoting a senior security official based in the provincial capital Quetta.The official talking about the death toll further added, “Thirty-seven terrorists have been eliminated… Ten security personnel were martyred while a few others were injured”, he spoke on the condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to the media. “At least four policemen were killed in Quetta alone.”According to the reports by the news agency AFP, the Baloch Liberation Army claimed responsibility for the attacks. The militant separatist group said that they aimed to target military installations and police and civil administration officials. With this attack, the group has declared the second phase of “Operation Herof”, news agency ANI reported, citing The Balochistan Post (TBP).BLA had earlier stated about their plans to launch a new phase to “protect the motherland.”Following the insurgent incident, security in the region has been ramped up. Emergency teams have been deployed in multiple cities.No reports of civilian casualties have been reported by the officials as of now.Confirming the attack, a senior official stated that the attack was “coordinated but poorly executed.” He also said that the insurgents could not inflict damage due to the swift security response.“The attacks failed due to poor planning and rapid collapse under an effective security response.”The situation is yet to get under control, as per the reports.For decades, Pakistan has faced a separatist insurgency in Balochistan, a mineral-rich southwestern province bordering Afghanistan and Iran, where militants have repeatedly targeted security forces, foreign nationals, and people from outside the region.
