Seven Pakistani soldiers killed in restive southwestern province

Seven Pakistani soldiers were killed Tuesday when their vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb in the restive Balochistan province, the military said.

The attack took place in the Mach area of Kachhi District and was blamed on the Baloch Liberation Army, a separatist group Pakistan accuses of receiving support from India.

According to a military statement, the improvised explosive device (IED) detonated as the vehicle passed through the area, killing all on board.

The soldiers were identified as Subedar Umar Farooq, 42, from Karachi; Naik Asif Khan, 28, from Karak; Naik Mashkoor Ali, 28, from Orakzai; Sepoy Tariq Nawaz, 26, from Lakki Marwat; Sepoy Wajid Ahmed Faiz, 28, from Bagh; Sepoy Muhammad Asim, 22, from Karak; and Sepoy Muhammad Kashif Khan, 28, from Kohat.

The military said a clearance operation was underway and vowed to bring the attackers to justice.

“Security forces of Pakistan, in step with the nation, remain determined to thwart attempts at sabotaging peace, stability, and progress of Balochistan,” the statement said. “Such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve.”

The statement also pointed to India’s alleged involvement, accusing New Delhi of supporting militant proxies.

“Nefarious designs of India and its proxies operating on Pakistani soil will be defeated by the valiant security forces, law enforcement agencies, and the brave nation of Pakistan,” it said.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the terrorist attack and paid tribute to the fallen soldiers.

“The entire nation salutes these brave sons of the soil who laid down their lives in the line of duty,” the Prime Minister said in a statement, reaffirming that such sacrifices will not go in vain.

“These cowardly acts cannot shake our resolve in the war against terrorism. Our valiant soldiers stand fully prepared to defeat the enemy’s evil designs,” he added.

The attack took place the same day Prime Minister Sharif was visiting the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) headquarters in Islamabad. He was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, and the Services Chiefs.

During the visit, the Prime Minister received a detailed briefing on the prevailing security environment, with a particular focus on preparedness for conventional threats amid heightened tensions with India.

Sharif emphasized the importance of “heightened national vigilance, seamless inter-agency coordination, and reinforced operational readiness to deter and decisively respond to any violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

He expressed full confidence in the armed forces, saying: “The entire nation is behind our brave Armed Forces. Pakistan Army is one of the most professional and disciplined forces in the world.”

The 'Indian' factor

Last week, Pakistan’s military accused India of sponsoring terrorism inside Pakistan and claimed it had “irrefutable evidence” of a cross-border network directed by Indian army officers.

The announcement came just days after India blamed Pakistan for a deadly attack in the Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 tourists.

Lt-Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, the chief spokesperson for Pakistan’s military, said India was orchestrating attacks through a network of operatives and handlers inside Pakistan. He said Indian-trained and -sponsored terrorists were targeting civilians and security personnel inside Pakistan.

The spokesperson claimed that four Indian army officers had been identified in connection with a wider network behind “sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan.” He also played an audio clip, allegedly featuring a serving Indian major discussing how terror financing routes run from Balochistan to Lahore.

“Our armed forces and our resilient nation are standing tall in the face of these daily challenges,” he said.

Tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors have sharply escalated since the Kashmir attack earlier this month. India has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, a decades-old water-sharing agreement, citing Pakistan’s alleged support for terrorism.

Pakistan rejected the accusation and condemned the move as a breach of international law.