ISLAMABAD, May 6, 2025 — Seven Pakistani army soldiers were killed on Tuesday when their vehicle was targeted by an improvised explosive device (IED) in the southwestern province of Balochistan. The Pakistani military has attributed the attack to the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), labeling the group as an “Indian proxy,” though no concrete evidence was provided to support this claim.
The incident occurred as the soldiers were traveling in a convoy en route to a security operation. According to an unnamed senior local government official, five individuals were wounded in the blast and were airlifted to a military hospital in Quetta, the provincial capital.
This attack adds to the escalating violence in Balochistan, a region bordering Iran and Afghanistan, where more than 200 people, predominantly security personnel, have been killed in 2025 alone due to insurgent activities.
The bombing comes amid heightened tensions between Pakistan and India following a shooting attack in India-administered Kashmir’s Pahalgam region on April 22, which resulted in the deaths of 25 Indian tourists and one Nepalese citizen. India has accused Pakistan of supporting the group responsible for the attack, a charge that Islamabad has denied.
In the wake of these incidents, both countries have taken retaliatory measures, including suspending trade, closing land border crossings, shutting down airspace to each other’s flights, expelling diplomats, and, in India’s case, suspending a key water treaty.
On Tuesday, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, along with the deputy prime minister, foreign and defense ministers, and military chiefs, attended a security briefing at the Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence, the nation’s top spy agency.
Pakistan has conducted two missile tests within three days, while India has announced plans for civil defense drills across several states, including air raid sirens and evacuation exercises.
The United Nations has expressed concern over the escalating situation. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized the need to avoid military confrontation, stating, “Now is the time for maximum restraint and stepping back from the brink.”
The BLA, a separatist group seeking independence for Balochistan, has claimed responsibility for several attacks in the region, including the hijacking of a train in March that resulted in the deaths of at least 31 people, many of them soldiers.
The situation remains volatile, with both nations on high alert and the international community urging de-escalation to prevent further conflict.
Source; Al Jazeera
