Over 300 terror incidents have struck Balochistan during last 25 years

LAHORE: Some 70 days after a passenger train, Jaffar Express, was hijacked by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), Indian terror proxies unleashed another barbaric attack, targeting innocent school kids in the far-flung Khuzdar district this time around.

Restive Balochistan has now been struck over 300 times by terrorism, sectarianism and linguistic violence during the last 25 years, research shows.

The Jaffar Express, travelling from Quetta to Peshawar with at least 380 passengers on board, was hijacked on March 11 this year.

While security officials managed to get 354 hostages released, the incident resulted in at least 64 deaths, including 33 insurgents armed with explosives and 18 soldiers.

Khuzdar has been on the terrorists’ radar for long.

In November 2016, just hours before the-then prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, was scheduled to inaugurate the Gwadar Port along with Army Chief of the time, General Raheel Sharif, and important Chinese guests, terrorists killed more than 30 people here.

Terrorism in Balochistan has till date claimed the lives of thousands of people, including the security personnel, media men, members of Shia-Hazara community, politicians, key government functionaries, judges, police high-ups, students, lawyers and doctors.

Here follow details of some major terror incidents in Balochistan:

In February 2024, twin bombings killed at least 30 people in Pishin.

The 2022 Panjgur and Naushki raids on Frontier Corps Balochistan led to killing of 20 militants and nine soldiers.

In January 2021, the brother of former caretaker chief minister, Nawab Barozai, was injured in Sibbi.

In January 2020, a suicide bombing inside a Quetta mosque claimed 16 lives.

In January 2019, some 10 humans lost lives when gunmen attacked GIG Loralai’s office.

The April 2019 Quetta bombing killed 21 people.

Same month, gunmen massacred 15 passengers travelling from Karachi to Gwadar on buses.

In July 2019, some 32 people lost lives during polling at Quetta.

In May 2018, an attack on JUIF leader, Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, led to 25 killings in Mastung.

Same month, 12 laborers were killed in Gwadar.

The June 2017 Quetta bombing claimed 16 lives.

The August 2017 Quetta blast targeting soldiers killed 15. In December 2017, at least nine people were killed in a suicide attack on a Quetta church. In October 2016, at least 60 cadets were killed after militants stormed Quetta police training centre.

In August 2016, terrorists attacked a Quetta hospital, killing between 70 and 95 people, including a large number of lawyers. Those who perished had assembled at the hospital where the body of Bilal Anwar Kasi, the president of Balochistan Bar Association, was brought after he was shot dead by an unknown gunman. In March 2016, an official announcement regarding the arrest of a RAW operative, Kulbhushan Yadav, was made.

In July 2010, gunmen assassinated Habib Jalib, a former senator of Balochistan National Party in Quetta.

In September 2010, 75 people were killed in an attack on a Shia rally in Quetta.

In November 2010, the convoy of the then Balochistan Governor, Nawab Zulfiqar Magsi, was attacked in Mungichar. However, Magsi escaped unhurt.

In December 2010, a suicide bomber had unsuccessfully attempted to assassinate the-then Balochistan chief minister, Aslam Raisani.

In September 2011, twin explosions in Quetta left 26 dead.

During the same month, 30 Shia pilgrims perished when armed militants attacked a bus in Mastung.

In December 2011, assailants killed police surgeon, Dr Baqir Shah, in Quetta.

In August 2012, a Shia sessions judge, Zulfiqar Naqvi, was killed.

In November 2012, a Shia leader, Agha Aftab Jafri, was killed in Quetta.

In January 2013, at least 105 persons were killed in two separate bomb blasts in Quetta. In February 2013, another 95 people lost lives after terror struck a Quetta market.

In April 2013, former chief minister, Sanaullah Zehri’s son, brother and nephew were killed in Khuzdar.

In May 2013, the then Balochistan IGP, Mushtaq Sukhera, narrowly defeated death in Quetta.

The-then CCPO Quetta Mir Zubair was also accompanying Sukhera.

In June 2013, at least 25 people – including Mansoor Kakar, Quetta deputy commissioner and 14 students of a Women University were killed when a bomb ripped through a bus. A gun battle followed in Bolan Medical College.

In August 2013, DIG Fayyaz Sumbal was fatally hit in Quetta.

In June 2014, some 25 people were killed when militants attacked a bus carrying Shia pilgrims from Iran to Quetta.

During the same month, a minority Balochistan Assembly member, Handery Masih, was killed in Quetta.

In June 2014, an environmental tribunal judge, Sakhi Sultan, was killed in Quetta.

In April 2015, militants gunned down 20 labourers in Turbat.

In May same year, two dozen bus passengers were killed in Mastung.

The October 2015 Jacobabad bombing had seen 24 killings.

Between 2002 and 2015, Balochistan had seen attacks on Chinese workers, high-profile politicians, mosques, markets and shrines etc.

Some important events also took place during this time period:

For example, in August 2006, Nawab Akbar Bugti was killed by forces. At least five soldiers and over 30 rebels were believed to have perished too. The-then Balochistan CM, Jam Yousaf, escaped unhurt in an attack August 2004.

In July 2007, Raziq Bugti, spokesman for Balochistan government, was shot dead in Quetta. In January 2009, Hussain Yousafi, chairman of the Hazara Democratic Party, was also killed in Quetta.

In October 2009, Balochistan’s Education Minister, Shafiq Khan, was killed in Quetta. In November 2009, the-then DIG Nizam Shahid Durrani, was wounded in a Quetta blast.