In a deadly assault late Monday, nine police officers lost their lives and five others were abducted after armed militants attacked a police checkpoint in the Mangi area of Ziarat district, Balochistan. The incident triggered a fierce gunfight, resulting in the fatalities among the police personnel.
The bodies of the fallen officers were transported to the District Headquarters Hospital for further procedures. Meanwhile, the abducted officers were taken away by the assailants following the attack.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the assault, attributing it to India-backed terrorists. He paid homage to the officers who sacrificed their lives, describing them as the pride of the nation. Naqvi extended his condolences to the families of the martyrs, praying for their strength and patience during this difficult time. He emphasized that such cowardly acts would neither disrupt peace nor diminish Pakistan’s determination to combat terrorism.
This attack occurs amid a surge in militant activities across Pakistan, particularly in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, provinces bordering Afghanistan. On May 24, a blast near the railway track at Chaman Phatak in Quetta claimed at least 14 lives, including three Frontier Corps personnel, and injured several others.
In a significant development on June 25 and 26, security forces eliminated eight India-supported Fitna al-Hindustan terrorists during intelligence-driven operations in Balochistan’s Kharan and Mastung districts, as confirmed by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
Since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021, Pakistan has experienced a marked increase in militant attacks, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan being the most affected regions. In response, Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab lil-Haq, targeting terrorist strongholds across the border, reportedly killing numerous Afghan Taliban operatives and allied militants while injuring many more.
Border tensions escalated further in October 2025 when the Afghan Taliban and affiliated militants launched what Pakistan described as unprovoked attacks on its border posts. Despite several rounds of diplomatic talks, Islamabad and Kabul have yet to reach a consensus, with Pakistan asserting that the Afghan Taliban authorities have not taken sufficient action against terrorist groups operating from Afghan soil.
