What does a “normal day” look like in Balochistan anymore?
On one of the bloodiest days the province has seen in years, coordinated gun and bomb attacks ripped through south-western Pakistan.
They killed 18 civilians and 15 members of the security forces, according to the military.
The violence spanned at least a dozen towns and cities. Grenades. Gunfire. Chaos.
Police stations, paramilitary posts, prisons and government buildings were all hit.
As panic spread, roads around Quetta were sealed, mobile networks jammed, and train services brought to a halt.
The military says its forces killed at least 92 attackers in counter-operations.
The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility, saying dozens of soldiers were dead.
Balochistan Conflict Endures
Islamabad, meanwhile, accused India of backing the group—an allegation New Delhi has repeatedly denied.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised security forces and vowed to press on.
“We will continue the war against terrorism until its complete eradication,” he said.
But the roots of the conflict run deep. The BLA says the state exploits Balochistan’s vast gas and mineral wealth while locals remain poor.
Activists also accuse security forces of enforced disappearances—claims the government rejects.
Balochistan makes up nearly half of Pakistan’s landmass, yet holds just 5% of its population.
Rich in resources, poor in peace. And decades after the insurgency began in 1948, one question still lingers.
How many more lives before the cycle finally breaks?
