Militants Kill Seven Paramilitary Troops in Balochistan, Pakistan

On Saturday, November 16, a militant attack on a paramilitary checkpoint in the Kalat district of Balochistan, Pakistan, resulted in the deaths of seven troops and left 18 others injured, some critically, Reuters reported.

The early-morning assault, claimed by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), lasted several hours and targeted a checkpoint approximately 150 km south of Quetta.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack, which follows a recent escalation in violence by separatist insurgents in the region. The BLA has intensified its operations, including a suicide bombing last week that killed 27 people, including 19 soldiers. Balochistan, rich in minerals and resources, has been the center of a long-standing separatist movement seeking greater autonomy and control over local resources. The area is also strategically significant due to Gwadar Port, part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative.