India slams Pakistan's 'baseless' claims on Balochistan attacks, calls it a 'usual tactic' to deflect attention

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu) : Pakistan, a country that sponsors terrorism, has accused India of being responsible for the recent attacks in Balochistan. India on Sunday issued a befitting reply to Pakistan. India criticized Pakistan's recent statement against New Delhi regarding the attacks in Balochistan, calling it baseless and a common tactic by Islamabad to divert attention from its internal shortcomings.

The Ministry of External Affairs advised Pakistan to stop making baseless claims and focus on meeting the demands of the people of the region. The MEA said, "We completely reject Pakistan's baseless allegations, which are its usual tactic to divert attention from its own internal shortcomings. Instead of making baseless claims every time a violent incident occurs, it should focus on meeting the long-standing demands of the people of the region. Its record of repression, brutality and human rights violations is well known."

Information about the attack in Balochistan emerged on Saturday. Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi accused India of involvement in the attacks. Terrorist activities in Pakistan have increased since the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) ended its ceasefire with the Pakistani government in November 2022. The number of attacks has risen sharply, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

Meanwhile, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for several attacks in Balochistan province. It claims that more than 80 people, including members of the Pakistani army, police, intelligence agencies, and counter-terrorism units, were killed in these attacks. The militant group described the attacks as "Operation Hero Phase 2." BLA spokesman Jiand Baloch said in a statement that the attacks lasted for about ten hours and were carried out in several districts of Balochistan. The operations targeted what the group described as vital security, military, and administrative locations. The BLA claimed that its fighters carried out attacks in Quetta, Noshki, Mastung, Dalbandin, Kalat, and several other cities.

According to The Balochistan Post, these areas are considered vital military and administrative centers of the Pakistani government. At least 84 members of the Pakistani security forces were killed during the operation, while many others were injured. The group further claimed that 18 security personnel were taken captive during the attacks. The organization also claimed that more than 30 government properties were either seized or destroyed, including government offices, banks, and prisons. Furthermore, the group claimed that more than 20 vehicles were set on fire as part of the well-organized attack.

The BLA stated that its fighters were able to temporarily halt the activities of Pakistani security forces in several areas and briefly claimed control of certain zones during the operation. Balochistan continues to suffer from relentless abuses at the hands of Pakistani authorities, who support death squads in the region to enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and unlawful detention of Baloch people.