Pakistan army foils terrorist attack on Balochistan security post

Pakistan's army foiled a militant attack on a security post in southwestern Balochistan province, killing five attackers, including two suicide bombers, the military said Tuesday.

The attack occurred in Qila Abdullah district near the border with Afghanistan. An explosive-laden vehicle targeted the post but was intercepted before breaching it.

"The attempt to enter the post was effectively thwarted by our own troops," the military's media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said in a statement. It added that the attackers were forced to detonate the vehicle at the perimeter wall.

The Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack in a WhatsApp message shared with a Reuters reporter.

Two soldiers lost their lives in the assault. "During the intense fire exchange, two brave sons of soil, Naik Tahir Khan (39) of Tank District and Lance Naik Tahir Iqbal (26) of Karak District, embraced shahadat,” the ISPR stated.

A sanitization operation is underway in the area to apprehend any accomplices. "Security forces of Pakistan are determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism, and such sacrifices further strengthen our resolve," the statement added.

Balochistan, rich in minerals and bordering Iran and Afghanistan, has long faced violence from separatist groups and militants, including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Islamabad accuses Afghan soil of being used by militants for training and attacks, a claim the Taliban administration denies.

Relations between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban have soured since the latter’s return to power in 2021. Islamabad initially supported the Taliban’s rise during the U.S. withdrawal, anticipating a cooperative regime.

However, terrorist activities in Pakistan surged following the Taliban takeover. The TTP, which ended a ceasefire with the government in late 2022, has intensified attacks on security forces and civilians in border regions.

In July, Pakistan officially designated the group as "Fitna al-Khawarij," urging citizens to use the term "Khawarij" (outcasts) to describe the militants.

Amid frustration over the Afghan Taliban’s inaction against the TTP, Pakistan’s military has conducted airstrikes on militant hideouts in Afghanistan.

*With input from Reuters