In Karachi, heavily armed militants belonging to the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) initiated a bold assault in an attempt to breach the Gwadar Port Authority complex situated in the volatile province of Balochistan, resulting in the demise of two Pakistani Army personnel.
However, the Pakistani military thwarted the incursion, eliminating eight BLA insurgents. The port compound houses various governmental and paramilitary establishments, with the strategically significant Gwadar Port remaining a key node of the multibillion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) initiative. According to a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the armed forces’ media branch, a faction of terrorists endeavored to infiltrate the Port Authority Colony but was effectively repelled by security personnel on Wednesday.
“Our own forces swiftly responded to ensure security and effectively neutralized the terrorists, resulting in the demise of all eight assailants,” the statement issued on Wednesday night disclosed. The statement also lamented the loss of two soldiers during the exchange of fire.
Additionally, a substantial cache of weaponry, ammunition, and explosives was seized from the possession of militants affiliated with the separatist Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA). Balochistan, which shares borders with Iran and Afghanistan, has been plagued by a prolonged and violent insurgency. Various Baloch insurgent factions have previously conducted numerous assaults targeting the USD 60 billion CPEC projects.
The BLA vehemently opposes China’s investments in Balochistan, leveling accusations of exploitation against Beijing and Islamabad, allegations that authorities vehemently deny. Thousands of Chinese workers are currently engaged in Pakistan across multiple projects under the auspices of the CPEC. The BLA’s Majeed Brigade, established in 2011, represents a particularly formidable guerrilla unit within the BLA and has long harbored intentions of launching an offensive in the Gwadar port vicinity.
This brigade, colloquially known as the BLA’s suicide squadron, primarily targets security forces and Chinese interests within Pakistan. The group also claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing outside the Karachi University’s Confucius Institute in April 2022. Moreover, it asserted its involvement in three coordinated assaults utilizing rockets and sophisticated weaponry in Mach town, Balochistan, in January, approximately 70 kilometers from the provincial capital, Quetta.
This assault coincides with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s assertion that his administration will not tolerate any instances of cross-border terrorism. Gwadar Senior Superintendent of Police, Captain (Retired) Zohaib Mohsin, reassured that the situation is now under control. He added that a substantial deployment of law enforcement and security personnel had arrived at the scene during the intense gunfire.
A statement issued by the United Nations Department for Safety and Security reported several explosions followed by sustained gunfire during the attack on the complex. The statement affirmed the absence of immediate reports of civilian casualties and confirmed the safety and whereabouts of seven personnel from three UN agencies stationed in Gwadar, along with two UN agency representatives on missions.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, while commending the security forces for thwarting the assault, lauded the valor and professionalism exhibited by police and security personnel. The PM Office Media Wing, in a press release, conveyed his tribute to the soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice during the operation.
Shehbaz further emphasized that those targeting Gwadar and Balochistan seek to impede the nation’s economic prosperity and vowed to counter all internal and external conspiracies with the support of the populace. Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti applauded the prompt response of security and law enforcement agencies against the attackers, sending a clear message that perpetrators of violence will find no clemency from the state.
Pakistan has experienced a surge in terrorist activities over the past year, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, following the cessation of a ceasefire between the banned militant outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the government in November 2022. Balochistan confronts a dual threat from both the outlawed TTP and Baloch insurgents.
Terrorism incidents have escalated in Pakistan since the Taliban assumed power in Kabul, dashing hopes in Islamabad that a friendly government in Afghanistan would assist in combating militancy. Wednesday’s assault comes after a period of relative calm in violence and terrorist activities in Balochistan since the general elections on February 8.
According to an annual security report issued by the Centre for Research and Security Studies, Pakistan recorded 1,524 fatalities related to violence and 1,463 injuries stemming from 789 terror attacks and counter-terror operations in 2023, marking a six-year high.