Baloch separatists, armed with guns and explosives, launched a daring assault on Pakistan’s strategically significant Gwadar port on Wednesday, resulting in a deadly clash with security forces. Reports indicate that seven militants were neutralized by security personnel after the militants forcibly entered the Gwadar Port Authority Complex and initiated gunfire. The Baloch Liberation Army’s Majeed Brigade has claimed responsibility for this brazen attack, targeting the offices of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and military intelligence. This incident marks the second major strike by the Majeed Brigade within a two-month period, highlighting the escalating security threats faced in the region.
Situated in Balochistan province on the Arabian Sea, the Gwadar port holds immense importance as a linchpin of the multi-billion dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Despite enduring a prolonged insurgency, the region has attracted substantial investments from Beijing due to its mineral-rich resources. Makran Commissioner Saeed Ahmed Umrani reported multiple explosions during the attack, prompting security forces to conduct clearance operations against the assailants.
Initial accounts from Gwadar Senior Superintendent of Police Captain Zohaib Mohsin indicated that eight armed assailants were initially reported dead, a toll that was later revised as the situation unfolded. Mohsin later confirmed that the gunfire had ceased, signaling a temporary halt in hostilities. Government Commissioner Saeed Ahmed Umrani emphasized that the targeted complex housed various government offices, intelligence agencies, and paramilitary forces, underscoring the broad impact of the assault.
The United Nations Department for Safety and Security described the attack as a series of explosions followed by sustained gunfire, yet fortunately, no casualties have been reported thus far. This latest incident adds to a string of attacks by the BLA on Pakistani and Chinese interests in the region, with previous assaults targeting Chinese assets in the area.