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alochistan has seen a sharp increase in terrorist violence in the first half of 2025.
On July 16, three people were killed and seven others injured when terrorists attacked a passenger bus in Kalat. Police said unidentified gunmen fired at a Quetta-bound passenger coach from Karachi in Kalat’s Nemargh area. President Asif Ali Zardari has since ordered the provision of the best medical services to the injured. “Targeting innocent civilians is an extremely cruel and condemnable act. The terrorists aim to sabotage peace and stability. They are enemies of humanity and peace. With the support of the people, we will completely eradicate the scourge of terrorism. The state will continue to take action against terrorism with full force.”
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the shooting in Kalat in a statement from his office. He also extended condolences to the bereaved families and condemned the perpetrators. “The targeting of innocent passengers by Fitna-Al-Hindustan terrorists is a cowardly act,” he was quoted as saying. “These terrorists, as part of a heinous conspiracy, are trying to sabotage peace. They are targeting soft targets. We will foil these conspiracies by Indian-sponsored terrorists with the support of the people.”
“The attack on the passenger coach in Kalat is a cowardly and despicable act of terrorism. The loss of lives is truly irreparable. The terrorist organisations of Fitna-Al-Hindustan have previously carried out attacks based on identity. Now they are indiscriminately shooting at civilians. This clearly shows that theirs is war against ordinary Pakistanis. We will defeat them,” Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti said.
National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and Senator Sherry Rehman, the PPP vice president, also condemned the attack.
Also on July 16, the Inter Services Public Relations said security forces had conducted an intelligence-based operation in Awaran district. “The troops effectively engaged the terrorists. Resultantly, three Indian-sponsored terrorists were killed.” The ISPR said Major Syed Rab Nawaz Tariq, 34, from Muzaffarabad district was martyred in the exchange of fire while leading his troops from the front.
“The sanitisation operation is being conducted to eliminate the terrorist in the area. The security forces are determined to wipe out the menace of Indian-sponsored terrorism from the country. Sacrifices by our brave men further strengthen our resolve,” the ISPR said.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif commended the security forces for the successful operation. The president and the prime minister praised the professionalism of the soldiers. They also paid tribute to Major Tariq. They prayed for the elevation of the martyr’s ranks and the grant of fortitude to the bereaved family. The president said that the nation would always remember the sacrifices of its martyrs and reiterated a firm resolve to complete the elimination of terrorists.
Home Department officials say that 501 incidents of terrorism, bomb blasts and target killings have been recorded since January 1. There were 344 such incidents during the same period last year.
During the corps commanders’ meeting on July 10, the military top brass had said that decisive actions at all levels were imperative to combat Indian-backed and sponsored terrorists. Field Marshal Asim Munir, the chief of army staff, had chaired the 271st Corps Commanders’ Conference at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi.
According to the ISPR, the corps commanders stated that, following its manifest defeat in direct aggression against Pakistan after the Pahalgam incident, India was now using its proxies to attack Pakistan. “Invoking third parties in what is unmistakably a bilateral military confrontation reflects a disingenuous attempt at bloc politics aimed at falsely projecting India’s self-assigned role as a net security provider to accrue benefits in a region that is visibly growing disillusioned with Indian hegemonic ambitions and Hindutva-driven extremism,” Field Marshal Munir said.
Last week, nine people travelling on two Punjab-bound coaches were abducted and killed by unidentified armed men in the Sur-Dakai area, near the border between Zhob and Loralai districts. The authorities said that terrorists had carried out attacks at three places — Kakat, Mastung and Sur-Dakai. The banned Balochistan Liberation Front had claimed responsibility for the attack. The two passenger coaches were stopped in the Sur-Dakai area near the N-70 highway. Unidentified gunmen had then boarded the buses and checked the identity cards of the passengers. Nine of them, who hailed from the Punjab, had been taken away.
Earlier, in March, five people were killed by armed men who blocked the highway in the Kalmat area of Gwadar district. Three trailer trucks carrying urea from Gwadar port were set on fire in the Tajaban area. Also in March, terrorists had ambushed and hijacked Jaffar Express with around 450 passengers aboard.
Home Department officials say 501 incidents of terrorism, bomb blasts and target killings have been recorded since January 1. Last year there had been 344 such incidents during the same period. This represents a 45.63 percent increase in terrorist activities.
Most of these incidents were reported from Kalat, Mastung, Bolan and Khuzdar. The security forces have launching counter-terrorism operations following the incidents.
According to the Home Department data, 52 people were killed and 11 injured in 14 attacks in different parts of the province in the first six months of 2025. The first half of the last year saw seven such incidents, which had claimed the lives of 22 people.
There were 81 incidents of bomb blasts, use of hand grenades, improvised explosive devices, landmines and rockets. These attacks left 26 people dead and 112 injured.
The writer is thebureau chief of Geo News, Quetta.He tweets ejazkan