QUETTA: Social media accounts linked to the internationally designated terrorist group, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), are claiming that its militants attacked a security forces convoy in Mastung and killed 45 security personnel.
A review of the available information shows the claim is fabricated. The actual incident involved an attack on civilian passenger buses after an alleged extortion attempt failed. Security forces later responded to the scene, repelled a militant attack, and killed at least eight militants.
The Claim
Several social media accounts associated with the BLA claimed that the group ambushed a security forces convoy in Mastung, Balochistan, killing 45 security personnel.
The posts portrayed the alleged convoy attack as the main incident and claimed the militants had inflicted heavy casualties on security forces.
The Fact Check
The Buraq Baloch Fact Check Analysis wing checked the claims with the local authorities and law enforcement agencies found that the the claim does not match the sequence of events reported by authorities.
According to official accounts, Indian-backed terrorists of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) set civilian passenger buses on fire in the Khad Koocha area of Mastung after allegedly failing to extort money from transporters. The attack targeted civilians and public transport.
Five local civilians were killed and 11 others were injured in the attack.
Following the incident, a security forces convoy was dispatched to the area to respond to the emergency. The convoy subsequently came under attack by the militants.
Security forces repelled the assault and launched a clearance operation after an intense exchange of fire. Officials said at least eight militants belonging to Fitna al Hindustan—a term used by Pakistan for the India-backed, internationally designated terrorist group BLA—were killed during the operation.
No official statement has reported the deaths of 45 security personnel in the incident. The viral claim circulating on social media provides no credible evidence to support the alleged casualty figure.
Authorities say Balochistan has witnessed an increase in attacks by the BLA and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), referred to by Pakistan as Fitna al Hindustan and Fitna al Khawarij, respectively.
Earlier this month, at least 11 Pakistan Army soldiers were killed in Lasbela district, while 27 policemen lost their lives in Ziarat in separate coordinated attacks, prompting the launch of Operation Shaban on July 5. Officials say at least 130 militants have since been killed during the ongoing offensive and intelligence-based operations.
Verdict
The claim that BLA militants attacked a security forces convoy in Mastung and killed 45 security personnel is false and unsupported by credible evidence.
Available information and local authorities indicate that the incident began with an attack on civilian passenger buses following a failed extortion attempt.
Security forces later responded, came under militant attack, and conducted a clearance operation in which officials said at least eight BLA militants were killed.
No credible source has confirmed the casualty figure claimed in the viral posts.
