Police and security forces thwarted a brazen attack on Wednesday as seven armed assailants stormed the Gwadar Port Authority Complex in Pakistan.
Officials reported that the assailants were shot dead during the intense confrontation, which also witnessed multiple explosions.
According to them, a clearance operation was swiftly initiated against the perpetrators.
The United Nations Department for Safety and Security released a statement, indicating that the complex, housing various government and paramilitary offices, was targeted in the attack. Thankfully, no casualties were reported among UN personnel, with all accounted for and safe.
The Majeed Brigade of the proscribed Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the assault. The BLA’s Majeed Brigade, renowned for its lethality, primarily targets security forces and Chinese interests in Pakistan. Formed in 2011, the brigade has been implicated in numerous attacks, including a suicide bombing outside Karachi University’s Confucius Institute in April 2022.
Pakistan has witnessed a surge in terrorist activities, particularly in regions like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, following the termination of the ceasefire between the government and the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan in November 2022. Recent incidents, including the martyrdom of 14 Pakistan Army soldiers in an attack in Gwadar, underscore the persistent security challenges faced by the country.
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti commended the swift response of security forces, emphasizing that violence would not be tolerated. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz also condemned the attack, expressing solidarity with the security forces.
