Islamabad, 17 August (H.S.): The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), an armed organisation leading an insurgency for Balochistan’s independence from Pakistan, has claimed responsibility for a series of attacks that it says caused heavy casualties among Pakistani security forces.

In a statement sent to the media, BLA spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch said the group had carried out attacks at 22 different locations across Balochistan over an eight-day period and claimed that 26 Pakistani military officers were killed. The claims could not be independently verified.

According to a report by The Balochistan Post, the BLA alleged that Pakistani forces had carried out killings of civilians and prisoners in Sohrab and Panjgur in recent days. Referring to these incidents, Jeeyand Baloch said the attacks were carried out in retaliation.

According to the statement, the clashes took place between August 9 and August 16. The BLA claimed that its fighters targeted military positions and alleged death-squad hideouts, while also attacking police stations and security checkpoints.

The group further claimed that several bridges were destroyed in explosions and that nine government vehicles were also blown up. It said two of its commanders were killed during the clashes.

The BLA also claimed that its fighters seized hundreds of weapons from military installations and police stations during the attacks.

On August 12, the group claimed that its fighters destroyed the Chethar police station in Chagai in an explosion during the day. Later that night, it claimed that an attack on military vehicles in Rudinjo, Kalat, killed 17 military personnel, including officers and soldiers.

The report also said that Pakistani forces carried out helicopter strikes and deployed drones in Mastung and Khuzdar on the morning of August 17. A former commander of the Afghan Army was reportedly killed by gunfire in Quetta. Local sources cited in the report claimed that drones were deployed over residential areas.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar