Baloch Rebel Big Attack On Pak Forces: 9 Cops Killed, 8 Abducted, 15 Insurgents Neutralized In Ziarat Post Assault

An overnight assault by dozens of militants on a remote police post in southwestern Pakistan’s Ziarat district has triggered a fierce gunbattle, leaving nine police officers dead—including two Station House Officers (SHOs)—and wounding several others.

The incident, which occurred in Balochistan province, represents the latest escalation in a region where insurgents have increasingly targeted security forces. During the initial chaos, the assailants abducted eight police officers, all of whom were later rescued during a follow-up operation by security forces, according to Shahid Rind, a spokesman for the Balochistan government.

Security Forces Launch Retaliatory Operation

Following the assault on the Ziarat post, authorities executed a joint security clearance operation. Officials reported that 15 Fitna al-Khawarij terrorists were killed during the response. The term Fitna al-Khawarij is officially utilized by the Pakistani state to designate members of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Spokesman Shahid Rind emphasized that intelligence-based operations against militants will persist, promising that authorities will respond decisively to any future actions directed at security forces. Government officials added that the militants "paid a heavy price" for disrupting regional stability, asserting that there would be no safe havens left in the province and that every attack would encounter a "full and decisive response."

Suspicion Falls on Regional Militant Groups

While no group has formally claimed responsibility for the Ziarat post attack, suspicion is likely to fall on the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army (BLA). The BLA recently claimed responsibility for a weekend suicide attack on a security post in the coastal town of Jiwani, an incident the government has neither confirmed nor denied.

The TTP also maintains a notable presence in Balochistan and has regularly carried out operations there. Balochistan, which is Pakistan’s largest but least populous province, has faced a long-standing insurgency driven by separatist organizations alongside separate campaigns led by the Pakistani Taliban. The United States designated the BLA as a foreign terrorist organization in 2019 following a series of attacks on civilians and security personnel.

Rising Tensions and Geopolitical Blame

The latest violence follows another weekend incident where armed men targeted civilians on the outskirts of Quetta. In response, local villagers have organized a sit-in near the city, demanding heightened security and sustainable protection from the state.

Addressing the escalation, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi attributed the attack to what he characterized as Indian-backed militants, though he did not provide immediate evidence to substantiate the claim. India has consistently denied Pakistan's long-standing accusations regarding the backing of separatists or Taliban militants in Balochistan.

In an official statement, Naqvi paid tribute to the fallen officers and offered condolences to their families, maintaining that such acts "cannot sabotage peace."