30 killed, including 18 soldiers, in violent clashes in Pakistan’s Balochistan

At least 18 soldiers of Pakistan’s Frontier Corps (FC) were killed during an operation in Mangocher, a city in Balochistan’s Kalat district, the country’s military confirmed on Saturday.

According to a statement by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Pakistan’s military media wing, the attack took place on the night of January 31 and February 1, when terrorists attempted to establish roadblocks in Mangocher.

“Security forces and law enforcement agencies were immediately mobilized and successfully thwarted the attack, killing 12 terrorists and ensuring the security of the local population,” the ISPR statement read. However, 18 soldiers also lost their lives in the operation.

The military has since launched a clearance operation in the region, with ISPR assuring that all “facilitators and abettors” of the attack will be brought to justice.

Rising terror attacks in Pakistan

The deadly incident comes less than 24 hours after security forces killed 10 terrorists in five counterterrorism operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province.

Pakistan has consistently blamed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Baloch separatist groups, including the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), for ongoing attacks, alleging they receive support from Afghanistan. The Shehbaz Sharif government has urged the Afghan Taliban regime to take decisive action against these groups.

“Security forces remain determined to thwart attempts to sabotage peace, stability, and progress in Balochistan. Such sacrifices by our brave soldiers only strengthen our resolve,” the ISPR statement added.

Escalating violence in 2024 and beyond

Pakistan has witnessed a major surge in terror attacks targeting security forces and foreign nationals, particularly in Balochistan and KP, since the Afghan Taliban’s return to power in 2021.

According to the Centre for Security and Strategic Studies (CRSS):

• 2024 was one of Pakistan’s deadliest years, with at least 685 security personnel killed in 444 terror attacks.
• There were 1,612 casualties of civilians and security forces combined, while 934 terrorists were eliminated.
• KP and Balochistan suffered the highest casualties, with 1,601 deaths in KP and 782 in Balochistan from a total of 1,166 terror-related incidents.

With 2025 already witnessing a series of deadly attacks, the challenge for Pakistani security forces continues to grow as they intensify counterterrorism operations.