By Staff Reporter
QUETTA: A remote-controlled roadside bomb ripped through a military convoy in the restive southwestern Balochistan province on Monday, claiming the lives of five soldiers, including a captain, as they conducted a routine patrol near the Iranian border, the military said.
The attack, claimed by the banned Baloch Liberation Army, highlighted the persistent threat of separatist violence in a region critical to Pakistan’s security and economic ambitions. The explosion struck in the Sher Bandi area of Kech district, a remote desert expanse long plagued by insurgency and cross-border smuggling.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media arm, said the improvised explosive device (IED) targeted a convoy during a routine sanitization operation to clear militant hideouts. “At least five soldiers, including a captain, embraced martyrdom in an improvised explosive device attack in Balochistan’s Sher Bandi of Kech District on Tuesday,” the ISPR said in a statement on Monday.
The blast occurred as troops moved through the area. A follow-up operation killed five militants identified as members of Fitna Al Hindustan, a group Pakistan accuses of being an Indian proxy.
“Sanitization operation in the surroundings continues to eliminate any other Indian-sponsored terrorists left in the area,” the ISPR added.
The attack occurred in the Mand area, near the Pak-Iran border, where militants planted the IED along a route between tehsil Dashat and Mand, detonating it remotely, officials said. “The vehicle was blown up and all five security personnel were martyred,” a senior official said
The fallen were identified as Capt. Waqar Kakar, Naik Junaid, Naik Asmat, Lance Naik Khan Muhammad and Sepoy Zahoor Ahmed. Security forces rushed to the site, transferring the bodies to nearby medical facilities.
Hours later, the separatist BLA, seeking an independent Baloch homeland, claimed responsibility. The BLA, banned by Pakistan and several Western nations, often targets military and infrastructure assets, alleging exploitation of the province’s gas and mineral wealth.
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti paid tribute on X. “Another brave son of Balochistan, Captain Waqir Kakar, embraced martyrdom while defending the people and his beloved Pakistan. His sacrifice will forever remain a shining chapter of courage and honour. Balochistan and Pakistan will never forget you.”
The ISPR framed the losses as a call to action. “The sacrifices of brave officers and soldiers further strengthen our resolve, as the security forces of Pakistan, in step with the nation, remain steadfast to eradicate Indian-sponsored terrorism from the country.”
The attack followed a major operation Monday in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where troops killed 31 militants linked to Fitna al Khwarij, another group labeled an Indian proxy, in two clashes. The back-to-back incidents underscore Pakistan’s dual challenge: separatist unrest in Balochistan and Islamist militancy in the northwest.
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province by area, is a flashpoint for tensions over resource projects like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. The BLA and allied groups exploit local grievances, while Islamabad’s accusations of Indian interference fuel regional mistrust.
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