On Sunday night, a fierce hour-long firefight in the Bolan district ended with security forces killing three militants who had blocked the Quetta-Sibi highway at Pir-Ghaib and Aab-i-Gum. The clash led to the highway’s reopening after a four-hour closure.
Officials reported that passengers travelling between Pir-Ghaib and Aab-i-Gum were freed after being held hostage by the armed groups. The militants, equipped with advanced weapons, had halted traffic, stranding numerous vehicles returning from a three-day religious event in Sibi. Security forces acted swiftly, foiling the militants’ plans and rescuing those detained.
The armed groups also stopped the convoy of Balochistan Parliamentary Secretary Mir Liaquat Ali Lehri, disarming his guards. “They demanded our weapons,” Lehri said. “I instructed compliance to avoid harm, given the tense situation.” He reached home safely. Officials debunked rumours of tribal elder Fareed Raisani’s death, confirming his safety in Quetta.
Security forces cordoned off the area and launched an offensive, resulting in three militant deaths. Damaged security vehicles forced the remaining attackers to flee into the mountains, where pursuit continues. At District Hospital Mach, one casualty, Nabi Dad, and four injured—Safiullah, Amanullah, Ghulam Rasool, and Aminullah—were reported.
