A major coordinated attack was carried out by the Fateh Squad of the banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) in the Mangocher area of Kalat district, resulting in the destruction of key government infrastructure and the temporary blockage of the strategic Quetta-Karachi highway.
According to security sources, heavily armed militants associated with the BLA blocked the Quetta-Karachi highway (National Highway N-25), halting traffic and inspecting vehicles, including passenger buses. The militants then advanced into the Mangocher market, where they took control of several government buildings, including offices of the National Database & Registration Authority (NADRA), the Judicial Complex, and the National Bank of Pakistan. The assailants set these buildings ablaze, causing extensive damage before fleeing the scene ahead of the arrival of security forces.
The BLA’s Fateh Squad has claimed responsibility for the attack, stating it was part of their continued campaign for what they describe as the “struggle for liberation.”
In a subsequent incident later the same day, militants intercepted a police vehicle transporting prisoners from Gadani Jail to Quetta. Sources revealed that the attackers freed at least ten prisoners and abducted five police personnel. Notably, the vehicle used for the prisoner transfer was a private van, which sources say was released along with the driver after the incident.
Security officials confirmed that the van was intercepted in the Mangocher area, where militants had established a blockade and were inspecting vehicles. Upon identifying the van transporting prisoners, the attackers freed the detainees and seized the official weapons of the police officers on board. Two plainclothes policemen remained unharmed during the attack.
Senior political analyst Kamran Yousaf stated that the nature of the assault suggests a targeted effort by the BLA to intercept the prison transfer. “They appeared to have intelligence regarding the movement of prisoners. When they couldn’t locate them among the halted traffic, they moved into the town and targeted government installations,” Yousaf explained.
He further noted that the incident underscores the growing operational capabilities of insurgent groups in Balochistan and the serious security challenges faced by Pakistani law enforcement. “These groups seem to have access to sensitive movement details of security personnel and prisoners, enabling them to execute precise and disruptive operations,” Yousaf added.
An operation has since been launched by security forces in the area, and traffic flow on the National Highway has reportedly been restored. However, the dual attacks highlight persistent vulnerabilities in Balochistan’s security infrastructure and the evolving threat posed by separatist militant factions.
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