Context: Thirty-nine people were killed in a series of coordinated attacks by Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) terrorists in Balochistan province. The separatist assaults took place in Musakhel and Qalat/Kalat districts. Beyond these attacks, insurgents also targeted regional infrastructure and security, striking in Bolan, Mastung, and Gwadar. Balochistan has been the epicentre of a prolonged insurgency in Pakistan, where various separatist groups have launched frequent attacks, mainly against security forces, in their pursuit of independence from the central government in Islamabad.
About Balochistan
- Balochistan is Pakistan's largest province by land area, located in the southwestern part of the country.
- It borders Iran to the west, Afghanistan to the north, and the Arabian Sea to the south.
- It is home to the world's largest deep-sea port, the Port of Gwadar, located on the Arabian Sea.
- Although Balochistan accounts for approximately 44% of Pakistan's land area, only 5% of its land is arable, and the region is known for its extremely dry desert climate.
- One of the earliest pre-Indus Valley Civilisation settlements, Mehrgarh, dating back to around 7000 BCE is located in Balochistan.