US Charge de’ Affaires Natalie Baker on Sunday strongly condemned the recent terrorist attacks in Balochistan and affirmed that the United States remained a “steadfast partner” of Pakistan in efforts to ensure peace.
“The United States strongly condemns January 31 attacks and acts of terrorist violence against security personnel and civilians in Balochistan, claimed by the Balochistan Liberation Army, a US-designated Foreign Terrorist Organisation,” Baker said on X.
On behalf of the US, she extended condolences to the victims of terrorism, their families and all those affected. “The Pakistani people deserve to live free from violence and fear,” she said.
Baker added: “The United States remains a steadfast partner of Pakistan in its efforts to ensure peace and stability. We stand in solidarity with Pakistan during this difficult time.”
The US envoy’s statement comes after terrorists of Fitna-al-Hindustan carried out a spate of attacks across Balochistan on Saturday, responding to which the security forces killed 92 terrorists.
The state has designated Balochistan-based terrorist groups as Fitna-al-Hindustan to highlight India’s alleged role in terrorism and destabilisation across Pakistan.
Besides the US, the British High Commission, Qatar and Saudi Arabia had also condemned the latest terrorist activities.
The proscribed so-called Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) has carried out frequent attacks in Balochistan, specifically targeting security forces and law enforcement agencies.
In August 2025, the US also designated the BLA and its Majeed Brigade squad as foreign terrorist organisations (FTOs).
Despite record militant deaths, Pakistan saw a sharp escalation in militant violence in 2025, with terrorist attacks rising by 34 per cent and terrorism-related fatalities increasing by 21pc year-on-year, according to data released by the Islamabad-based Pak Institute for Peace Studies.
In 2024, the BLA emerged as a key perpetrator of terrorist violence in Pakistan.
We had intelligence reports: CM Bugti
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti also addressed a press conference in Quetta, sharing details of Saturday’s attacks.
Stating that the state shared their grief, CM Bugti assured the bereaved families that the welfare of the martyrs’ children was the government’s responsibility.
“We had intelligence reports that this kind of operation is being planned, and as a result of those, we had already started pre-operations a day before, in which around 40 terrorists were killed in Shaban and Panjgur,” he detailed.
The chief minister noted that the terrorists had planned to attack Quetta from Shaban, adding that the forces were “very vigilant”.
He highlighted that 145 terrorists were killed in 40 hours, adding that their bodies were with the authorities. “This is the highest number since Pakistan is facing this war on terror,” he said.
‘Mopping-up’ operation underway: defence minister
Separately, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said peace has been established in Balochistan after yesterday’s attacks and security forces were now “engaged in a mopping-up operation”.
“At this moment in time, peace has been established, and the coordinated attack has been repulsed completely, and they (terrorists) have retreated,” Asif said while addressing the media in Sialkot.
The defence minister further said that attempts were made to target the FC headquarters in Nushki and Dalbadin, adding that all attacks were foiled.
“They attempted to carry out a suicide attack in Dalbadin,” he said, adding that “all targets have been neutralised”.
Echoing Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s statements, Asif blamed the incidents on neighbouring India, adding that the attacks aimed to “destabilise the country at a time when it is on the path to progress”.
“Our intelligence and the confessional statements by terrorists all prove linkages to India,” the defence minister said.
Pointing out that the BLA was now making use of female bombers, Asif said two of Saturday’s attacks involved women perpetrators.
“The minds of young women are being polluted,” he said, adding that the BLA was now targeting “labourers and poor people struggling to survive”.
Balochistan attacks
On Saturday, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said Fitna-al-Hindustan terrorists “attempted to disturb peace of Balochistan” by conducting multiple terrorist activities around Quetta, Mastung, Nushki, Dalbandin, Kharan, Panjgur, Tump, Gwadar and Pasni.
During the operations, 15 personnel embraced martyrdom, the military’s media affairs wing added.
Eighteen others, including children, also died as terrorists targeted civilians in Gwadar and Kharan, the ISPR said.
Among the attacks, a bomb blast was reported in Quetta, where Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti visited later to review the security situation.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi held India responsible for the series of attacks, asserting that the authorities would go after every single one of those involved and the “masters behind them”.
