Desk: Pakistan, which has long been accused of fomenting terrorism in India, is currently grappling with its own internal turmoil. Recently, a terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, revealed links to Pakistan. However, Pakistan itself is in disarray due to rising internal conflicts. In Sindh, chaos has erupted over water distribution, prompting locals to block highways in protest.
Meanwhile, a major violent incident occurred in Kalat, Balochistan. Armed militants blocked the Quetta-Karachi highway in large numbers, damaging vehicles passing through the area. The attack took place in the Mangochar region of Kalat district. Several government buildings were set ablaze, including the National Bank of Pakistan office, a local court, and offices of various government departments. Eyewitnesses reported widespread destruction caused by the fires.
There are also unconfirmed reports that an army camp located nearby was attacked during the unrest.
According to Pakistani news websites, the militants stopped vehicles on the national highway and interrogated passengers. Many were pulled from buses and cars and questioned. The highway remained blocked for a considerable time. The complete shutdown of a vital route connecting Karachi to Quetta is being seen as a major incident. It is believed that the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) was behind the attack. The group is suspected of targeting people of Punjabi origin, identifying passengers and potentially endangering their lives if they were from Punjab. Such incidents of targeted killings by the BLA have become increasingly common.
Sources said the armed group held control over several buildings for an extended period. By the time security forces arrived, the attackers had already fled. Pakistani forces failed to apprehend any of the perpetrators, and it took considerable time and effort to reopen the highway.
In another separate incident on Friday night, armed men on motorcycles attacked a checkpoint. They killed toll booth worker Haq Nawaz Langove and destroyed a bridge with an explosion. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in the bridge blast.