GUWAHATI: Baloch separatists have reportedly taken responsibility for a lethal assault on a Pakistani military convoy, asserting that 90 soldiers were killed in the ambush. The attack was carried out on Sunday by the Fidayee unit of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) as the convoy was en route from Quetta to Taftan, as per reports on March 16.
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According to reports, at least seven soldiers lost their lives, while 21 others sustained injuries. However, the BLA has claimed a much higher casualty figure, insisting that 90 military personnel were killed. The militant group described the assault in a statement, saying it took place near Rakhshan Mill along the RCD Highway in Noshki.
A Pakistani security official reportedly confirmed that the convoy, consisting of seven buses and two vehicles, was ambushed. The attackers used a Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED), believed to be a suicide bombing, to strike one of the buses, while another was hit with Rocket-Propelled Grenades (RPGs). In response, Army Aviation helicopters were deployed to evacuate the wounded, and drones were sent to monitor the area.
The BLA reportedly claimed that its Majeed Brigade was responsible for the VBIED attack, which reportedly destroyed a bus. The group further alleged that its Fateh Squad then surrounded another bus and systematically eliminated all military personnel inside, significantly raising the death toll. The BLA stated that it would release more details about the operation soon.
This incident follows a recent escalation in violence in the region, occurring just days after Baloch insurgents hijacked a train carrying around 440 passengers.