A military base in Pakistan was attacked by an armed group, resulting in the deaths of seven soldiers. Pakistan military officials said Thursday troops had engaged with the attackers during the sudden raid, killing 13 of them.
The attack is the latest violent incident in southwestern Balochistan province, which has been under siege by ethnic Baloch guerrilla groups. The attack came just hours before Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan arrived in China for the opening of the Winter Olympics. Khan is also expected to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visit.
Army officials said the attack on the military base was well coordinated, but troops were quick to respond and immediately fought back. The attackers were reportedly armed with high-powered weapons and bombs. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack, claiming that one of its suicide bombers had managed to detonate a car bomb at the entrance of the base.
The group claimed that it had killed more than 100 soldiers during the attack. Military officials dismissed the claims, stating that the figure was "utterly rubbish.
Last week, another armed group had attacked a military post near the port of Gwadar. The attack was the deadliest in the Balochistan insurgency, with 10 Pakistani soldiers killed.
Pakistan officials have blamed India for funding and supporting the insurgency groups. Officials claimed that they had intercepted communications between the groups and their handlers in India and Afghanistan. India had repeatedly denied the accusations. The Taliban government in Afghanistan also denied their involvement, stating that whatever is happening in Pakistan is "their internal issue."
Pakistani officials said the attack had raised new questions about who is actually providing the guerilla groups support. The attackers were reportedly armed with sophisticated weapons, including M16s, 7D rifles, and even night-vision goggles. Officials said the coordination of the attacks was likely only possible with foreign logistical support.
Baloch insurgents typically attack gas pipelines, infrastructure, and security personnel. They also target Chinese projects, killing Chinese employees on occasion, despite Pakistani promises that it is doing everything possible to secure the projects and safeguard Chinese workers.
The Gwadar port and other projects in the Balochistan province are being developed by China as part of the $60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which is part of Beijing's massive Belt and Road program. The Pakistani government is heavily supporting Chinese investments in the country. Khan and his delegation in China will reportedly be attempting to persuade more Chinese companies to invest in Pakistan.
