ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (Diya TV) — Pakistan’s military said Wednesday that militants killed 42 police officers, soldiers and civilians in three separate attacks across the southwestern province of Balochistan since July 6. In response, security forces launched several operations and killed 54 militants, according to military officials.
The latest violence highlights the long-running insurgency in Balochistan, a mineral-rich province that borders Afghanistan and Iran. The region has witnessed repeated attacks by separatist groups and militant organizations for years. As a result, security remains one of Pakistan’s biggest challenges.
Military spokesperson Lt. Gen. Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry shared the latest figures during a televised news conference in Islamabad. He said the dead included 18 police officers, 20 soldiers, and four civilians. He also warned that Pakistan’s security forces would continue operations against militant groups across the country.
“We will chase you, we will hurt you,” Chaudhry said while addressing those behind the attacks. He also claimed that many Afghans took part in the recent violence. However, he did not provide evidence to support the claim.
According to the military, the deadliest incident happened on Monday in Balochistan’s Ziarat district. Dozens of militants attacked a police post that guarded the Mangi dam project. During the assault, the attackers abducted 18 police officers and killed nine others. The incident marked one of the worst attacks on police personnel in the province this year.
Then, on Wednesday, militants ambushed a military vehicle traveling along a highway in Balochistan. The attack killed 11 soldiers, Chaudhry said. Meanwhile, security forces carried out several operations across the province. Officials said those operations resulted in the deaths of 54 militants.
Pakistan has faced a separatist insurgency in Balochistan for decades. The province is the country’s largest by area, but it has the smallest population. It also holds significant reserves of natural resources, including minerals and gas. However, armed groups have continued to target security forces, government installations, and infrastructure projects.
Pakistani authorities blame several banned militant organizations for the violence. These include the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, also known as the Pakistan Taliban, and the Balochistan Liberation Army. Officials say the groups have attacked security personnel, foreign-backed development projects, and public infrastructure across the province.
At the same time, tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have continued to rise. Islamabad has repeatedly accused Afghanistan of allowing militant groups to operate from its territory. Afghan officials have denied those allegations and rejected claims that they support attacks inside Pakistan.
Earlier this month, Pakistan’s military said it intercepted four drones that it claimed the Afghan Taliban launched into Balochistan. The incident followed several months of growing cross-border tensions between the neighboring countries.
In late June, Pakistani security forces said they killed 29 fighters near the Afghan border after militants attacked a paramilitary compound in Karachi. The Pakistan Taliban claimed responsibility for that assault. However, Afghanistan’s Taliban government disputed Pakistan’s account. Afghan officials said the operation killed at least 36 civilians and injured 163 others instead of militant fighters.
Relations between Pakistan and India also remain strained. Pakistani officials have repeatedly accused India of supporting the banned Balochistan Liberation Army. They have not publicly presented evidence for those claims. India has consistently denied the allegations and says it does not back rebel groups operating inside Pakistan.
Earlier this year, Pakistan’s military announced that security forces killed at least 41 armed fighters during another operation. Officials claimed those militants had links to India. New Delhi rejected similar accusations in the past.
