Baloch Army Attack Pakistan Second-Largest Naval Base: 6 Killed

Defense News ,Pakistan :- Armed Baloch Army attempted to attack a major naval air base in Balochistan, Pakistan, on March 26. Security forces successfully stopped the attack, resulting in the deaths of at least six Baloch Army.

The attack took place during the night in Turbat, a district known for unrest, according to reports from news agency PTI.

The targeted site was the PNS Siddique Naval Air Base. The militants tried to breach the airport's perimeter from three directions. Witnesses heard gunfire and explosions throughout the night. Fortunately, the security forces were able to prevent any damage to the airbase or aircraft.

The banned Balochistan Liberation Army's Majeed Brigade claimed responsibility for the attack. This is the third attack on security forces and installations attributed to the BLA this year.

Earlier attempts by the BLA to attack security forces were also thwarted. In one instance in Mach town, ten people were killed during an assault on security forces, but the attempt to breach the Mach jail was unsuccessful.

On March 24, the BLA claimed responsibility for an attack on the Gwadar Port Authority Complex, resulting in the deaths of eight militants.

Balochistan, located near Iran and Afghanistan, has been facing a prolonged violent insurgency. Various Baloch insurgent groups have targeted significant projects like CPEC, accusing China and Islamabad of exploiting the region's resources. However, authorities deny these claims.

The Majeed Brigade, established in 2011, is a highly skilled guerilla unit within the BLA known for targeting security forces and Chinese interests. The group reportedly operates bases along the Pakistan-Iran border. The brigade was responsible for the April 2022 suicide attack near the Karachi University's Confucius Institute.