Three terrorists killed as attack on N-25 in Mastung is foiled

Security forces foiled a Mastung attack on National Highway N-25 in Balochistan on Thursday, killing three terrorists who tried to strike with an explosives-laden vehicle. Two civilians were martyred and several other people were wounded.

A spokesperson for the Balochistan Police said the attackers, who belonged to Fitna al-Hindustan, targeted Kandawa Post on the highway. Police described the Mastung attack as a "cowardly attack" and said security forces repulsed it.

How the Mastung attack unfolded

According to the police statement, security forces repulsed the assault through "timely and effective action". In the retaliatory operation that followed, three of the terrorists were killed.

The attackers had come with an explosives-laden vehicle, and their target was Kandawa Post on N-25 in Mastung district. The police said the attempt was foiled by the response of the security forces.

The police added that the explosion damaged houses near the post as well as a mosque. No further details about the extent of the damage were given.

Operations against elements seeking to undermine peace, development, and prosperity in Balochistan will continue, and the protection of the lives and property of the people will be ensured under all circumstances,

Balochistan Police statement

Casualties after the Mastung attack

The police named the two martyred civilians as Kaleemullah and Bibi Laiba. Three Frontier Corps personnel were also injured in the incident.

Those wounded were shifted to medical centres for treatment. The statement did not give a total number of injured people, saying only that there were several.

In all, the Mastung attack claimed the lives of two civilians, while security forces killed three of the terrorists. The injured included three Frontier Corps personnel.

Police response to the Mastung attack

The police said the attack showed that the terrorists had no connection with the people of Balochistan. They pledged that action against elements seeking to damage peace, development and prosperity would go on.

The police also said that the protection of the lives and property of the people would be ensured under all circumstances. This pledge followed the Mastung attack and was part of the same statement.

The federal government last year officially designated all militant groups operating in Balochistan as Fitna al-Hindustan. It accuses India of sponsoring a proxy war through these outfits.

The Mastung attack explained

What happened: terrorists tried to attack Kandawa Post using an explosives-laden vehicle. Where: National Highway N-25 in Mastung district, Balochistan. When: Thursday. Who: the police said the attackers belonged to Fitna al-Hindustan.

The result, according to the police, was that three terrorists were killed, two civilians were martyred, and several people were injured. The explosion also damaged houses near the post and a mosque.

The Mastung attack was repulsed, the police said, through "timely and effective action" by security forces. The retaliatory operation that followed ended with three of the terrorists dead.

Police have not given a total for the injured in the Mastung attack. They named only the two civilians who died and said that three Frontier Corps personnel were among the wounded, who were shifted to medical centres.

Background: recent operations in Balochistan

The Mastung incident follows other security actions in the province. On November 3, a soldier was martyred while security forces killed 17 militants in two intelligence-based operations in the Kachhi and Kharan districts.

Earlier, on October 28, security forces killed nine terrorists belonging to Fitna al-Hindustan in two intelligence-based operations in Kachhi and Wadh districts.

According to a global conflict-monitoring organisation, the number of terrorist attacks in Pakistan has risen every year since 2022. Reports describe Balochistan as a major target, with militants frequently striking convoys, abducting security personnel and civilians, and attacking security and civilian installations.

Seen against this record, the Mastung attack is one more incident in a province that reports describe as a major target of militants.

Questions and answers about the Mastung attack

What happened in the Mastung attack?

Terrorists tried to attack Kandawa Post on National Highway N-25 using an explosives-laden vehicle. Security forces repulsed the attack and killed three of them.

Who were the civilian victims?

Balochistan Police identified the two martyred civilians as Kaleemullah and Bibi Laiba. Several others were injured, including three Frontier Corps personnel.

What damage did the explosion cause?

Police said the blast damaged nearby houses and a mosque. No further details about the extent of the damage were given.

How many terrorists were killed in the Mastung attack?

Three terrorists were killed in the retaliatory operation carried out by security forces after the assault on Kandawa Post.

Which group do the police blame?

The police said the attackers belonged to Fitna al-Hindustan. The federal government last year officially designated all militant groups operating in Balochistan under that name.

What have the police promised after the attack?

The police said operations against elements seeking to undermine peace, development and prosperity in Balochistan will continue. They said the protection of the lives and property of the people will be ensured under all circumstances.

Is the total number of injured known?

No. The statement said only that several people were injured. It named three Frontier Corps personnel among them, and the wounded were shifted to medical centres.

Which earlier operations were reported in Balochistan?

On October 28, security forces killed nine terrorists in Kachhi and Wadh. On November 3, a soldier was martyred and 17 militants were killed in Kachhi and Kharan.

Image: KAINAT KASI / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0