March 16, 2025: A roadside bomb blast struck a security forces’ bus in Naushki, Balochistan, on Sunday, killing five personnel and injuring 10 others. The attack has intensified concerns over growing militant activities in the volatile southwestern region of Pakistan.

According to local police chief Zafar Zamanani, the blast occurred while the bus was transporting security forces. Emergency teams quickly arrived at the scene, and the wounded were transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.

Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti condemned the attack, calling it a cowardly act of terrorism aimed at destabilizing the region. Security forces have since launched a search operation in Naushki to track down potential perpetrators.

BLA Suspected Behind the Attack

Although no group has claimed responsibility for the bombing, authorities suspect the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist militant group active in Balochistan.

This attack comes days after the BLA ambushed a train in the region, taking 400 passengers hostage and executing 26 captives before Pakistani security forces intervened and killed all 33 attackers.

The BLA has been engaged in an insurgency against the Pakistani government for decades, demanding independence for Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest but least populated province, which is rich in oil and minerals. Baloch nationalists have long accused the central government of discrimination and resource exploitation—claims Islamabad has repeatedly denied.

Growing Violence in Pakistan’s Tribal Regions

Pakistan has been grappling with an increase in terrorist activities in the past two years, particularly in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, following the breakdown of a ceasefire with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in 2022.

Security Operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

In a separate development, the Pakistani military conducted two security operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, resulting in the deaths of nine militants and two security personnel.

1. Mohmand District Raid: Seven terrorists were killed in a Friday night intelligence-based operation by security forces. However, the intense firefight led to the deaths of two Pakistani soldiers.
2. Dera Ismail Khan Encounter: In the Maddi area, Pakistani forces eliminated two more militants in an exchange of fire.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing, confirmed that weapons and ammunition were recovered from the slain militants. These insurgents were actively involved in terror attacks across the province.

Pakistan’s Struggle Against Militancy

Since the TTP ended its ceasefire in November 2022, Pakistan has witnessed a resurgence of militant attacks, particularly in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Both regions remain hotbeds of separatist and extremist activities, posing serious challenges to national security.

As security forces continue counter-terrorism operations, the government faces mounting pressure to curb escalating violence, especially in strategic regions like Balochistan, which hosts major Chinese-backed infrastructure projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant as the threat of further attacks looms in the region.

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