KABUL: Zalmay Khalilzad, the former U.S. envoy for peace in Afghanistan, has stated that Pakistan’s strategy in Balochistan has failed and requires fundamental change. Khalilzad posted on the social media platform X, on Sunday morning, that recent coordinated attacks show Islamabad’s current approach has been ineffective and the crisis continues. He emphasized that instead of relying on military options, political solutions and dialogue should be pursued. He added that Pakistan, which used to encourage negotiations with others in the past, must now adopt this approach itself. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Army’s press office (ISPR) announced that in the coordinated attacks on Saturday, across 12 cities including Quetta, at least 15 security personnel and 18 civilians were killed, and at least 24 police officers were injured. Pakistani officials stated that in retaliatory operations, at least 67 armed attackers were killed. The Baloch Liberation Army claimed responsibility for these attacks. This group, along with its affiliated wing “Majid Brigade,” was designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department in August 2025. According to a Reuters, this group claimed to have killed 84 Pakistani security personnel, a claim that has not been independently verified. Also, Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Chief Minister of Balochistan Sarfaraz Bugti have stated that perpetrators of these attacks will be brought to justice. Mashal Radio indicate that internet and telecommunications services have been suspended in parts of Balochistan, including Quetta, and security forces have been deployed throughout the cities. Despite having abundant natural resources, Balochistan is considered the poorest province in Pakistan and has been plagued by widespread unrest for years. Pakistani officials claim that Indian-backed groups are involved in this unrest; a claim that New Delhi has denied.
