Key Points:
- Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claims 90 Pakistani soldiers killed in convoy attack
- Official Pakistani sources confirm at least 7 deaths and over 20 injuries
- Attack involved suicide bombing and heavy gunfire on military buses in Noshki
- Incident follows recent hijacking of Jaffar Express train by BLA militants
- Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif condemns attack amid escalating regional violence
New Delhi: In a dramatic escalation of violence, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for a deadly attack on a Pakistani military convoy in Noshki district of restive Balochistan province on Sunday, March 16. The separatist group released dramatic footage showing the moment a suicide bomber rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into a bus carrying Pakistani soldiers, triggering a massive explosion followed by intense gunfire.
The attack occurred on the busy RCD Highway near Rakshan Mill area in Noshki, approximately 150 kilometers from Quetta. According to official Pakistani authorities, at least seven soldiers were killed and more than 20 others seriously injured when the explosive-packed vehicle struck one of eight buses transporting paramilitary personnel towards Taftan, near the Iranian border.
However, the BLA’s elite suicide unit “Majeed Brigade” has claimed responsibility for the deadly assault and stated that at least 90 Pakistani army personnel were killed. In an official statement, BLA spokesperson Ziand Baloch said, “Our fighters targeted an occupying Pakistani Army convoy. One bus was completely destroyed by our suicide bomber’s explosive-laden vehicle. Following the explosion, our Fateh Squad surrounded another bus and systematically eliminated all soldiers onboard.”
Pakistani authorities have disputed these casualty figures, officially confirming only seven fatalities and over 20 injuries among security personnel. Senior Superintendent of Police for Noshki district Hashim Momand confirmed that the blast was extremely powerful and caused significant damage to two buses in the convoy.
Immediately after the attack, emergency services rushed numerous ambulances to the scene, transporting injured soldiers to nearby hospitals where emergency protocols were activated. Authorities have heightened security measures across the region following this incident.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack in an official statement, calling it “a cowardly act” aimed at destabilizing peace efforts. He reiterated that such attacks would not weaken Pakistan’s resolve against terrorism.
This latest incident follows closely on the heels of another high-profile terror act involving BLA militants hijacking Pakistan’s Jaffar Express train earlier this month. On March 12, armed insurgents seized control of the passenger train traveling from Quetta to Peshawar with over 400 passengers onboard. The attackers demanded release of imprisoned Baloch leaders and removal of Pakistani officials from Balochistan within 48 hours.
Pakistani security forces launched a swift rescue operation near Bolan Pass, claiming they successfully freed all hostages after intense fighting lasting nearly 30 hours. Authorities later confirmed killing all 33 militants involved during this operation.
The recent escalation underscores growing unrest in resource-rich but volatile Balochistan province, where separatist groups like BLA have intensified their attacks against Pakistani security forces and government installations. The region has witnessed decades-long insurgency fueled by demands for greater autonomy and control over local resources.
Pakistani authorities continue their investigation into Sunday’s deadly convoy attack as they attempt to dismantle what appears to be a highly organized international network supporting insurgency activities within Pakistan’s largest province.
