Pakistan: 18 soldiers among 30 killed in Balochistan terror attack
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Security forces in on the move in Quetta, the capital of Pakistan's volatile Balochistan Province. (file photo)
Islamabad: At least 18 soldiers from Pakistan's Frontier Corps (FC) were killed in a counter-terrorism operation in Mangocher, a city in Kalat district, Balochistan, the Pakistani military confirmed on Saturday. The operation was launched after terrorists attempted to set up roadblocks in the area on the night of January 31 and February 1.
Pakistan's Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) issued a statement revealing that security forces and law enforcement agencies swiftly mobilized to thwart the militants’ plans, resulting in the death of 12 terrorists. However, the military also confirmed the loss of 18 soldiers during the operation.
“The area is being cleared, and the facilitators of this heinous and cowardly act will be brought to justice,” the ISPR said in its statement.
The attack occurred less than 24 hours after security forces killed 10 terrorists in five separate intelligence-based counterterrorism operations across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province.
Pakistan has long accused the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and separatist groups from Balochistan, including the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), of receiving support from Afghanistan. The government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has urged the Afghan Taliban to take stronger actions against these groups operating from Afghan soil.
Islamabad claims these terror groups are aiming to destabilize the region by targeting civilians and security forces. The ISPR statement emphasized Pakistan’s determination to thwart attempts to disrupt peace and progress in Balochistan. “The sacrifices of our brave soldiers strengthen our resolve,” the statement added.
The attack is part of an ongoing surge in terrorism across Pakistan, especially in Balochistan and KP. Since the return of the Afghan Taliban to power in 2021, Pakistan has experienced a significant rise in terrorist activity. In 2024, one of the deadliest years on record, 685 security personnel were killed in 444 terror attacks. Additionally, there were 1,612 combined civilian and security personnel casualties in the same year.
Balochistan and KP have been particularly affected, with the two provinces suffering 1,166 attacks and counter-terrorism operations in 2024. The escalating violence continues to pose a serious challenge to Pakistan’s security forces as they struggle to combat the growing threat in 2025.
With IANS inputs