At least eight soldiers and a civilian were killed in separate attacks in western Pakistan on Friday, as violence continues to rise near the Afghan border. The attacks, carried out by Taliban militants and separatist groups, took place in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, two provinces that have seen a surge in unrest in recent months.
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At least eight soldiers and a civilian were killed in western Pakistan on Friday in separate attacks near the Afghan border, AFP reported citing police officials. In the province of Kyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, violence has surged in recent months
Seven soldiers died during a security operation against armed Taliban fighters in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, a police source said to AFP.
Combat helicopters used by Pak army
The militants, hiding in a house, fired on security forces. The Pakistani military used combat helicopters in the hours-long battle, killing eight Taliban fighters. Six soldiers were wounded.
In Balochistan, a bomb planted on a motorbike by separatists killed a soldier and a civilian, police officer Mohsin Ali told AFP. The explosion occurred in Gwadar district as a military vehicle passed by, injuring three more soldiers and another civilian.
The region has seen increasing attacks, including a recent hostage crisis on a train that left dozens of off-duty soldiers dead. Since the start of the year, over 190 people, mostly soldiers, have been killed in attacks by armed groups in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, according to an AFP tally.
The Pakistani Taliban (TTP) announced a “spring campaign” against security forces in mid-March. Last year was the deadliest in nearly a decade, with over 1,600 people killed in attacks—almost half of them security personnel—according to the Center for Research and Security Studies in Islamabad.
Most of the violence remains concentrated in Pakistan’s border areas with Afghanistan.
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest yet least populated province, has long been a hotspot for insurgent activities and terrorist attacks. The region’s rich natural resources contrast with the grievances of its ethnic Baloch population, who allege economic marginalization and political disenfranchisement.
This discontent has fueled a persistent insurgency led by groups such as the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), which seeks greater autonomy or independence for the province.
In a significant escalation, BLA militants hijacked the Jaffar Express, a passenger train traveling from Quetta to Peshawar.
The attackers blew up the tracks and seized control of the train, taking hundreds of passengers hostage. Pakistani authorities claimed that the security forces intervened, resulting in the deaths of 21 passengers and all 50 militants involved. This incident underscores the increasing boldness and capability of insurgent groups in the region