Pakistan naval air base in Balochistan comes under terrorist attack; 6 attackers killed

Armed Baloch militants made attempts to infiltrate one of the main naval air bases in Pakistan's Balochistan, reports said on March 26. Security forces thwarted the attack and killed at least six terrorists.

The attack occurred on Monday night took place in Turbat, a restive district, news agency PTI reported.

The armed attack took place at the PNS Siddique Naval Air Base. The assault was attempted from three sides of the airport boundary. Witnesses reported hearing gunfire and explosions overnight. Any harm on the airbase or aircraft was averted, securitymen said.


The banned Balochistan Liberation Army's Majeed Brigade claimed responsibility for the assault. This is the third assault on security forces and installations this year claimed by the BLA.

The BLA had previously attempted two attacks that were also repelled by security forces. In a prior incident in Mach town, at least ten individuals lost their lives in an assault on security forces, although the attempt to breach the Mach jail was thwarted.

On March 24, the BLA took responsibility for an assault on the Gwadar Port Authority Complex, resulting in the killing of eight militants.

Balochistan, situated near Iran and Afghanistan, has been plagued by a prolonged violent insurgency. Various Baloch insurgent factions have targeted the high-value CPEC projects, accusing China and Islamabad of exploiting the province's resources -- a claim authorities refute.

The BLA's Majeed Brigade, established in 2011, is a highly effective guerilla unit known for targeting security forces and Chinese interests. The group reportedly operates sanctuaries along the Pak-Iran border. The brigade, viewed as the BLA's suicide squad, was also behind the April 2022 suicide attack near the Karachi University's Confucius Institute.