Pakistani security forces foil militant attacks in Balochistan’s Mach, says minister

The Pakistani army on Monday successfully foiled three simultaneous militant attacks in the Mach area of Balochistan, the provincial interim information minister, Jan Achakzai said in a social media post.

Achakzai, announced the successful operation on X, stating that the militants, linked to the separatist group Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) that used to be led by Aslam Baloch alias Achu, were forced to retreat without causing any casualties or damage to infrastructure.

Jan Achakzai wrote on X, “In Mach, the security forces have successfully thwarted three coordinated attacks carried out by terrorists affiliated with the Aslam Acho group. Fortunately, no damage was inflicted on any installations, and there were no casualties among our security forces. The terrorists have now retreated, and our security forces are currently in pursuit.”

At around midnight on Monday, Jan Achakzai had earlier stated that there were “reports of a few rockets fired from the hilly area in Macch, Balochistan.”

According to the Pakistani newspaper Dawn, the Mach Central Jail Superintendent, Saleem Tareen, confirmed the safety of the jail’s staff and inmates, asserting that the surrounding forces remained fully vigilant.

As per Dawn’s report, in response to the attacks, an emergency was declared in Quetta and Mach hospitals, with medical staff instructed to be ready for immediate duty and hospital security heightened.

Two individuals injured during the incidents were transported to a trauma centre in Quetta. Health Secretary Abdullah Khan Noorzai reported that ambulances from Quetta were dispatched to assist in Mach.

According to the report, the militant group Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attacks. The BLA has been actively seeking independence for Balochistan and has been involved in various violent acts against the state.

These events unfolded as Pakistan prepares for its general elections scheduled for February 8.

Earlier in January, Pakistan conducted cross-border strikes against “militant targets” in Iran, targeting hideouts of groups like the BLA, in an operation named ‘Marg Bar Sarmachar‘.

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