Wed Nov 20 11:58:00 UTC 2024: ## Pakistan Launches Major Military Operation in Balochistan After Deadly Attacks

**ISLAMABAD** – Pakistan has launched a large-scale military operation targeting separatist groups in the troubled southwestern province of Balochistan, following a recent surge in deadly attacks. The operation, announced Tuesday after a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, aims to quell the violence perpetrated by groups like the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA). While the government cited the BLA and other outlawed groups as targets, specifics regarding the operation’s scope – including ground and air components, and potential collaboration with China and Iran – remain undisclosed.

The decision comes in the wake of a series of devastating attacks, including a November 9th suicide bombing in Quetta that claimed 26 lives. These attacks, along with others targeting military bases and energy projects, have fueled concerns about regional stability and the safety of foreign nationals, particularly those working on China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Thousands of Chinese citizens are employed in Pakistan, making them a key concern for Beijing, which has been pushing for enhanced counterterrorism cooperation.

While Chinese officials have expressed a willingness to deepen cooperation with Pakistan, they have not confirmed direct involvement in the current military operation. Meanwhile, Iran, which has been conducting its own extensive operations against separatist fighters in its bordering Sistan and Baluchestan province, recently collaborated with Pakistan on airstrikes against the Jaish al-Adl group.

The escalating violence also saw 12 Pakistani soldiers killed in an attack on a military base in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, claimed by a faction of the Pakistani Taliban. A separate attack in the same province resulted in eight more deaths. In total, at least 36 people died in armed attacks across Pakistan within a 24-hour period. The government blames these attacks on separatist groups attempting to destabilize Pakistan’s economy. Balochistan, the country’s largest and poorest province, is rich in resources, fueling resentment among separatist groups who accuse the government of exploiting the region’s wealth without fairly benefiting the local population.

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