Pakistani Forces Kill 17 Militants In Balochistan Operations After Quetta Train Suicide Attack

Pakistani security forces have killed at least 17 suspected militants in coordinated intelligence-based operations (IBOs) across Balochistan, following a deadly suicide-style attack on a train in Quetta last month, officials said.

The operations were launched after the May 24 attack near Chaman Phatak railway crossing in Quetta , where an explosives-laden vehicle struck a shuttle train carrying security personnel and their families. The blast caused multiple carriages to overturn and catch fire, triggering heavy casualties.

Initial official estimates placed the death toll at around 16–24, while broader media reports later suggested it could exceed 30 killed and more than 70–100 injured , as rescue operations continued and victims were shifted to hospitals across Quetta.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) , security forces conducted sweeping raids in Mastung, Nushki, Zehri, Khuzdar, and Kech districts , targeting militant hideouts linked to the attack.

The military said the group involved was associated with Fitna-al-Hindostan , while independent and regional reporting has identified the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) as the group that claimed responsibility for the suicide attack.

Officials said the militants killed in the follow-up operations were involved in multiple terrorist incidents in the region. Weapons, ammunition, large quantities of explosives, and prepared Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) were also recovered during the raids.

Security forces have since expanded search-and-clearance operations across affected areas, as part of ongoing counterinsurgency efforts in the restive province bordering Iran and Afghanistan, where militant violence has surged in recent years.