5 Pakistani Soldiers Killed in Targeted IED Attack in Balochistan
Five Pakistani soldiers were killed on Monday when an improvised explosive device (IED) targeted their vehicle in the restive Balochistan province, officials confirmed.
The incident took place in the Shand area of Mand, near the Pakistan-Iran border. Security officials said the military vehicle was on a routine patrol when it was struck by the roadside bomb. All five personnel on board died instantly.
The soldiers were identified as Captain Waqar Kakar, Naik Junaid, Naik Ismat, Lance Naik Khan Muhammad, and Sepoy Zahoor. Their bodies were later shifted to a military facility, while security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation.
Escalating Violence Across Pakistan
The Mand attack comes amid a wave of violent incidents across the country in recent weeks. On September 6, at least one person was killed and several injured in a suspected terror blast during a cricket match in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Police said the explosion, caused by an IED, appeared to be a targeted attack.
Just days earlier, militants used a quadcopter to attack a police station in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, injuring a constable and a civilian. No group has claimed responsibility for either incident.
Security officials believe the uptick in attacks could be linked to Operation Sarbakaf, an ongoing counterterrorism campaign launched by Pakistani forces.
Last month, on Pakistan’s Independence Day, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) carried out coordinated gun and grenade assaults across seven districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, killing six police officers.
The fresh wave of attacks underscores the fragile security situation in Pakistan, particularly in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where militant groups remain active despite intensified military operations.
