Quetta, Balochistan , August 13(HS):In a dramatic escalation of unrest in Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province, suspected Baloch insurgents mounted coordinated highway blockades and staged armed ambushes on military convoys, posing a fresh security challenge to the Pakistan Army.

According to local sources cited by The Balochistan Post, heavily armed fighters blocked multiple key roadways near Zehri town in Khuzdar district on Tuesday, destroying stretches of the Sunni–Noorgama road with heavy machinery and bulldozers to halt troop movements. Fierce attacks were reported in the Gazan and Mashk regions, with unconfirmed reports of security force casualties.

In another high-intensity strike, militants intercepted eight military vehicles in Zulfiqarabad’s Kucho area of Gazan. Three vehicles were reportedly destroyed, two seized along with their weapons, and several soldiers trapped after the assault. For the past 24 hours, security personnel have been surrounded in some locations, with troops advancing from Jhalkaan on foot allegedly pinned down along a riverbank in the Spedik area. Attempts to airlift them using drones and helicopters earlier Tuesday reportedly failed.

Meanwhile, eyewitnesses say the military stopped dozens of passenger buses traveling from Karachi to Makran at Uthal Zero Point. Hundreds of men, women, children, and elderly passengers—some reportedly sick—were left stranded for hours in sweltering heat. Officials cited “non-compliance with official travel schedules” as the cause, but locals allege a growing pattern of harassment through repeated security checks and travel restrictions that worsen civilian hardships.

The violent flare-up underscores the deepening security and political crisis in Balochistan, where separatist groups like the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) have long waged an armed campaign against the state. It comes just days after nine Pakistani soldiers were killed in another insurgent attack in the province, further highlighting the volatile situation facing Islamabad’s security apparatus.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar