A deadly militant assault on three Pakistani military outposts in Balochistan’s Panjgur district on Sunday night has once again thrown the spotlight on the simmering insurgency in the troubled province. The attack, which left eight soldiers dead and 11 others injured, was one of the most coordinated and deadly operations launched by suspected Baloch insurgents this year.
According to official sources, as quoted by CNN-News18, the attack unfolded late Sunday in the remote Gwargo area of Panjgur. More than 80 heavily armed militants arrived in a convoy of 11 vehicles and launched simultaneous attacks on three different military checkpoints. The attackers began by destroying communication infrastructure at the posts, severing the outposts’ link to reinforcements.
With communications cut, the militants ambushed a quick response team that was sent to the scene, intensifying the toll. Three personnel remain unaccounted for, and a manhunt is underway in the mountainous, rugged terrain near the Iranian border.
While no group has formally claimed responsibility yet, the attack's tactics -- coordinated strikes, destruction of comms, use of decoys -- mirror those used in past assaults by Baloch separatist outfits like the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and Baloch Raji Ajoi Sangar (BRAS).
This attack comes just weeks after one of the deadliest 24-hour periods for Pakistani troops in recent memory. In early July, 20 soldiers were killed in twin ambushes elsewhere in Balochistan, also involving disruption of communication systems and carefully coordinated strikes on convoys and posts.
These back-to-back attacks point to a sharp escalation in both the frequency and sophistication of Baloch separatist operations.
Why is Balochistan a hotbed of insurgency?
Balochistan is Pakistan’s largest but least populated province. Despite its rich reserves of natural gas, minerals, and a strategic coastline, it remains underdeveloped, with a long history of political neglect and economic exclusion.
For decades, Baloch nationalist groups have accused the Pakistani state of exploiting local resources without fairly compensating or empowering the local population. This grievance has fuelled multiple insurgencies since 1948, with the latest wave of violence gaining momentum since the early 2000s.
What role do China and CPEC play in the conflict?
The security crisis in Balochistan cannot be separated from geopolitical stakes. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) runs through the province and culminates in the deep-sea port of Gwadar, a critical project for both Islamabad and Beijing.
However, Baloch separatists view CPEC as a colonial-style land grab that benefits outsiders while further displacing and marginalising locals. In recent years, insurgent groups have expanded their target list to include Chinese nationals and infrastructure, escalating tensions with both Islamabad and Beijing.
What does this mean for Pakistan’s security forces?
The latest Panjgur assault is a major embarrassment for the Pakistani military. The destruction of communication systems and the ambush of a rapid-response team suggest that militants are improving both in terms of intelligence and operational execution.
The fact that multiple large-scale attacks have succeeded in quick succession raises troubling questions about Pakistan’s counterinsurgency strategy in the province, and whether it is equipped to deal with a reinvigorated insurgency.
The proximity to the Iran-Pakistan border adds another layer of complexity. There have been repeated allegations from Pakistan that insurgents use safe havens on the Iranian side, while Tehran has accused Pakistan of harbouring Sunni militants that attack Iranian forces. Cross-border tension and retaliatory strikes have added volatility to an already combustible region.
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