Thu May 08 05:50:00 UTC 2025: ## Pakistan Blames India for Balochistan IED Attack Killing Seven Soldiers
**QUETTA, Pakistan –** Seven Pakistani soldiers were killed and five wounded on Tuesday when an improvised explosive device (IED) struck their vehicle in Balochistan province, the Pakistani military announced. The military attributed the attack to the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), labeling the group an “Indian proxy,” although no evidence was provided to support this claim. There was no immediate response from India or the BLA.
The attack, targeting a convoy en route to a security operation, occurred in a region bordering Iran and Afghanistan. A senior local government official, speaking to AFP, confirmed the incident and the casualties.
The bombing comes amid escalating tensions between Pakistan and India. Pakistan has accused India of supporting the BLA and other groups, a claim India denies. This recent incident follows a deadly shooting attack in India-administered Kashmir on April 22, which killed 25 Indian tourists and a Nepalese citizen, sparking a significant deterioration in relations. The two nuclear-armed nations have engaged in a series of retaliatory measures, including suspending trade, closing border crossings and airspace, expelling diplomats, and suspending a key water treaty. Both countries have also undertaken military exercises and missile tests.
Concerns over escalating conflict have prompted intervention from the United Nations. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged both nations to exercise maximum restraint and avoid military confrontation. The situation remains highly volatile, with the death toll from armed group activity in Balochistan and neighboring Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa exceeding 200 this year, according to AFP.
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