Key facts
- Nine police officers were killed and others wounded in a militant attack on a remote police post in Pakistan's Balochistan province.
- Security forces killed 15 militants and recovered eight abducted officers.
- The attack occurred in the Ziarat district of Balochistan.
- No group immediately claimed responsibility, but the Baloch Liberation Army is suspected.
- The Pakistani Taliban also operate in the region.
Nine police officers were killed and others wounded in a militant attack on a remote police post in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province. The assault, which took place in the Ziarat district, triggered an intense gunbattle. Security forces later killed 15 militants and recovered eight police officers who had been abducted during the incident.
No group has immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but suspicion is likely to fall on the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), which has been active in the region and claimed a recent suicide attack. The Pakistani Taliban (TTP) also maintain a presence in Balochistan and have conducted attacks there.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi attributed the latest violence to Indian-backed militants, an accusation India has repeatedly denied. He vowed decisive action against those targeting security forces. In response to the weekend's violence, villagers near Quetta have staged a sit-in, demanding improved security.