"Pakistan's security forces have intensified their operations against separatist militants in Balochistan province who launched a major assault on Saturday in which at least 31 civilians and 17 security personnel were killed. A day after the militants carried out suicide attacks in the heart of the provincial capital, Quetta, the chief minister of the south-western region, Sarfraz Bugti, said 145 people he described as militants had been killed in 40 hours and that their bodies were in the custody of the authorities."
"The attacks began before dawn on Saturday, when scores of insurgents attacked military installations, police stations and banks, blocked main roads, destroyed railway tracks and carried out suicide attacks in Quetta and the port of Gwadar. Balochistan's separatist insurgency is decades old, but it has gained a lethal momentum in recent years with attacks targeting security forces and civilians. Analysts described Saturday's attacks in more than 10 cities simultaneously as unprecedented."
Militants launched a coordinated assault across Balochistan, including suicide attacks in Quetta and Gwadar, killing at least 31 civilians and 17 security personnel. Attacks targeted military installations, police stations, banks, railway tracks and main roads, and involved suicide bombings and vehicle ramming. Chief minister Sarfraz Bugti reported 145 people described as militants killed in 40 hours with bodies held by authorities. The proscribed Baloch Liberation Army claimed responsibility, saying it killed 84 security personnel and took 18 officials prisoner; independent verification was not available. Videos showed insurgents firing rocket launchers, torching police stations and roaming Quetta freely. Interior minister Mohsin Naqvi accused India of backing the attackers, a claim denied by Delhi.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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