BLA says 90 soldiers killed in suicide bombing, while Pakistani officials report 5 dead; recent train hijacking adds to tensions

A separatist group in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), has claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on a Pakistani military convoy on Sunday. The BLA stated that its fighters killed 90 soldiers in the assault near the Noshki highway. The group said the attack targeted eight military vehicles traveling from Quetta to Kharan, using a suicide bomber from its Majid Brigade who crashed an explosives-laden vehicle into the convoy. This was followed by an armed assault from the Fateh Brigade, which the BLA claims destroyed one of the vehicles completely.

However, Pakistani authorities have provided a different account. Noshki’s Station House Officer (SHO), Zafarullah Sulemani, confirmed the attack but said it was caused by a roadside bomb that exploded near a bus carrying soldiers. According to the police, only five soldiers were killed, and ten others were injured. The wounded were quickly taken to a hospital in Noshki, where an emergency was declared.

Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti condemned the attack and promised a strong response. “Those who disturb the peace of Balochistan will face destruction,” he said. “We will keep fighting until the last terrorist is gone.”

This attack follows another bold move by the BLA just five days earlier. On March 11, the group hijacked the Jafar Express, a passenger train traveling from Quetta to Peshawar. The attack took place in the Mashkaf area of Bolan district, a mountainous region where the train’s slow speed made it an easy target. The BLA first blew up the railway track, derailing the train, and then opened fire on security personnel onboard. Several Pakistani security forces were killed in the gunfight. The army responded with ground and air operations, but the BLA managed to hold its ground initially.

The train hijacking came after a similar incident in August 2024, when the BLA destroyed a bridge on the same route, stopping train services until October 11, 2024.

The conflicting reports about the convoy attack highlight the ongoing conflict in Balochistan, a resource-rich but troubled province. The BLA, which wants independence for the region, has repeatedly targeted security forces and infrastructure. These recent attacks show the group’s ability to carry out large-scale operations, posing a serious challenge to Pakistani authorities working to restore peace.