Chilling Visuals Emerge: Baloch Army Releases First Footage Of Deadly Attack On Pakistani Military Convoy- wna24

Balochistan: Hours after the deadly attack on the Pakistani military convoy in Balochistan’s Noshki, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has released chilling first visual of the attack. The BLA’s special forces unit, the Majeed Brigade, released the horrific visuals of the attack, which targeted a convoy of eight buses. The BLA claimed that around 90 personnel of the Pakistan Army were killed in the attack. The Pakistani army, however, contested the BLA’s claims, stating that only seven soldiers were killed and 21 injured in the attack.

According to the BLA, the Majeed Brigade, in tandem with the Fateh Squad, orchestrated the assault, which resulted in the complete destruction of one bus. The BLA claimed that the Fateh Squad “systematically eliminated all military personnel on board” following the explosion. On the other hand, the Pakistani army attributed the attack to a “suicide bombing” involving an IED-laden vehicle, which hit one of the buses, and Rocket-Propelled Grenades (RPGs) targeting another bus.

Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest and least populated province, has long been a hotbed of separatist tensions. The BLA, a prominent separatist group, has been waging a protracted insurgency against the Pakistani state, seeking independence for the region. The group has claimed responsibility for numerous attacks on Pakistani security forces and infrastructure, including a recent attack and hijacking of a passenger train that resulted in the deaths of several people including the soldiers, railway staff, and civilians.

The Pakistani government has responded to the insurgency with force, launching military operations against suspected separatist strongholds. However, human rights groups have accused the Pakistani military of committing atrocities against civilians, including enforced disappearances, torture, and extrajudicial killings. The region remains on edge, with tensions simmering just below the surface.

The convoy attack is merely the latest in a series of incidents that have rocked Balochistan in recent weeks. On January 6, the BLA claimed responsibility for an attack on a Pakistani army convoy in Turbat, which resulted in the deaths of 47 personnel and injured 30 others. Just days earlier, a blast from an improvised explosive device killed one person and wounded 35 others in the southwestern city of Turbat.

The Pakistani government has condemned the attacks, labeling them as “terrorist” incidents. However, the BLA and other separatist groups argue that they are fighting against a repressive state that has denied the Baloch people their right to self-determination. As the conflict escalates, civilians are increasingly caught in the crossfire, with many forced to flee their homes or live in constant fear of violence.

The Jaffar Express hijack and attack incident occurred on March 11, when the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) hijacked a Pakistani passenger train travelling from Quetta to Peshawar. The attackers detonated explosives on the train tracks, causing the train to halt and four coaches to derail. They then opened fire on the train, killing and injuring several people.

The BLA rebels took hundreds of hostages, including women and children, and demanded the release of Baloch political prisoners within 48 hours. The Pakistan government claimed that the Pakistani security forces launched a counter-operation, codenamed Operation Green Bolan, and rescued 354 hostages on the second day of hijack. As per the Pakistan administration, the security forces operation resulted in the deaths of 33 BLA separatists and several security personnel.

The convoy attack and its aftermath have raised questions about the Pakistani government’s strategy in Balochistan. Several argued that the government’s reliance on military force has only exacerbated the conflict, driving more young Baloch men into the arms of separatist groups. Others contended that the government must take a more nuanced approach, addressing the underlying grievances of the Baloch people and engaging in meaningful dialogue with separatist groups.