In a distressing incident, two police officers lost their lives and another sustained injuries in a grenade assault on a police vehicle in the Sui area of Balochistan’s Dera Bugti district.
According to police officials, unknown assailants launched a hand grenade at a police mobile unit on patrol in Tota Colony, Sui, triggering a powerful explosion. The blast tragically resulted in the martyrdom of officers Nasruddin and Rahim Ali, while Sub-Inspector Anwar was wounded and transported to Sui Hospital for medical attention.
Earlier on Saturday, unidentified individuals launched a rocket attack in the early hours on the residence of MNA Mubarak Zeb, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Tribal Affairs, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bajaur district. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif vehemently condemned the rocket attack on Zeb’s home and reaffirmed the government’s unwavering commitment to eradicating terrorism and safeguarding the security of public representatives and all citizens across the nation.
Terrorism in Balochistan and KP: An Evolving Landscape
Pakistan has been confronting a surge in violent attacks since the Taliban’s resurgence to power in Afghanistan in 2021, particularly impacting the bordering provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. However, the initial quarter of 2025 presented encouraging trends in Pakistan’s security landscape, with fatalities among militants and insurgents surpassing the combined losses of civilians and security forces personnel. Key findings from the Centre for Research and Security Studies indicated significantly fewer fatalities among civilians and security personnel compared to the fourth quarter of 2024, alongside an almost 13% reduction in overall violence, as reported by The News.
Despite this progress, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan continue to be hotspots of violence, accounting for 98% of all fatalities. Attacks are becoming bolder, and militant tactics are evolving, exemplified by the unprecedented hijacking of the Jaffar Express. Projections suggest that if current trends persist, there could be over 3,600 fatalities by year-end, potentially making 2025 one of Pakistan’s deadliest years. Balochistan alone contributed to 35% of all fatalities during the reviewed period and experienced a concerning 15% surge in violence compared to the preceding quarter.
The government has attributed several terror incidents in Balochistan to Indian-backed “Fitna al-Hindustan” terrorists, allegedly operating on behalf of India. The army has pledged to eliminate the threat of Indian-sponsored terrorism from the country and reiterated the nation’s unwavering resolve to bring the perpetrators of militancy and their facilitators to justice. Earlier this month, General Michael Kurilla, Chief of the US Central Command (Centcom), commended Pakistan as a “phenomenal partner” in global counter-terrorism efforts, highlighting its successful operations against Daesh-Khorasan and its ongoing fight against terrorism.
