Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 06:42am on 04 Feb 2026,Wednesday International
Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif admitted security forces are "handicapped" against Baloch rebels due to Balochistan's massive size, constituting over 40 percent of Pakistan geographically. His remarks followed coordinated attacks across 12 locations killing at least 80 security personnel and destroying 30+ government properties. Authorities reported 177 insurgents killed in counter-operations, with 33 civilians and 17 security members dead. Asif ruled out negotiations with Baloch Liberation Army, calling them "terrorists," and claimed criminal-separatist nexus protects smugglers earning 4 billion rupees daily from oil smuggling. The decades-long insurgency stems from Balochistan's economic marginalization despite rich mineral resources, natural gas, and strategic Gwadar port. Separatists target CPEC infrastructure, opposing projects they consider extractive and non-inclusive.
