New Delhi: Several Pakistani soldiers have been killed after their convoy was struck by an explosive-laden vehicle between Quetta and Taftan in the restive Balochistan Province of Pakistan, on Sunday morning. The Pakistani Army has confirmed the attack on two vehicles, out of seven. While one was hit by the Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED), the other was struck by a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG).
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed that 90 soldiers were killed in the strike, though authorities have confirmed seven deaths so far. Officials have said that at least 21 others have been seriously injured.
In a press release, issued by the BLA, the organisation’s spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch has claimed: “The Majeed Brigade, the Fidayee unit of the Baloch Liberation Army, targeted a convoy of the occupying Pakistani military a few hours ago in a VBIED Fidayee attack near Rakhshan Mill on the RCD Highway in Noshki. The convoy consisted of eight buses, one of which was completely destroyed in the explosion.”
“Immediately after the attack, the Fateh Squad of the BLA advanced and completely surrounded another bus, systematically eliminating all military personnel on board, bringing the total number of enemy casualties to 90,” it has been further claimed.
The incident is reminiscent of the 2019 Pulwama strike in India’s Jammu and Kashmir that led to the deaths of 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel. On February 14 that year, a bus in the 78-vehicle convoy was hit by a VBIED at Lethpora in Awantipora, Pulwama. Pakistani-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed took responsibility for the attack.
