Saindak project convoy ambushed amid ongoing attacks on Balochistan highways

A convoy transporting minerals from the Saindak project was heavily attacked in the Mangochar area of Kalat district, Balochistan, on Monday. Local sources reported that the convoy, consisting of around 30 vehicles, was ambushed on the Quetta-Karachi National Highway following an explosion from an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) that targeted a security forces vehicle providing escort.

The assault lasted approximately 30 minutes and featured both explosions and intense gunfire, resulting in considerable damage to security forces, convoy personnel, and supply vehicles. Officials state that at least eight security personnel sustained injuries during the attack. An emergency was subsequently declared at the Shaheed Nawab Ghous Bakhsh Raisani Memorial Hospital in Mastung.

As of now, no group has claimed responsibility for the ambush in Kalat. However, this incident follows another significant attack on Balochistan’s highways within a 24-hour timeframe. On Sunday evening, armed assailants reportedly created blockades in Bolan, disarmed the guards of a Balochistan Assembly member, and engaged in a clash with Pakistani security forces.

The Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) took credit for the operations in Bolan, with spokesperson Major Gwahram Baloch stating that their fighters set up checkpoints on the Bolan-Sibi highway, targeting locations including the Aab-e-Gum Green Hotel and Pir Ghaib Cross. Major Baloch highlighted that BLF guerrilla fighters are strategically engaging in multiple fronts for what they consider national liberation. Although the assembly member was allowed to leave unharmed, they claimed to have seized government-issued weapons from the member’s security team.

During this altercation, BLF fighters allegedly targeted a Pakistani military armored vehicle, igniting it and injuring several soldiers. They accused the army of firing upon civilian vehicles, resulting in one passerby’s death and several injuries. The BLF claimed to have controlled the Bolan-Sibi highway from 5 PM to midnight before retreating.

In recent months, Balochistan has seen a surge in attacks on major highways, with armed groups establishing roadblocks and ambushing convoys. A week earlier, seven travelers headed to Punjab were reportedly executed at a roadblock in Barkhan district, with the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) later claiming responsibility for the killings, asserting that the victims were affiliated with the military and intelligence.

In light of this rising violence, Pakistani authorities have implemented new regulations on national highways, mandating security escorts, banning night travel, and requiring armed protection for convoys. Despite these measures, the frequency of armed attacks appears to be increasing, leading observers to question the state’s control over Balochistan’s major routes.

Additionally, the United Baloch Army (UBA) claimed responsibility for another attack in Bolan on the same day. UBA spokesperson Mazar Baloch announced that their group executed a “severe attack” on a pivotal military checkpoint at Bibi Nani, resulting in significant casualties and damage. They also reportedly detonated explosives on a gas pipeline in the area, causing extensive damage to nearby infrastructure. Mazar Baloch affirmed that attacks would persist “until the complete liberation of occupied Balochistan.”