Pakistan: BLA carries out first-ever attack on Coast Guard boat near Iran border, 3 killed

BLA claims responsibility, calls it ‘new phase’ of operations

Security heightened in coastal region

Three Pakistan Coast Guard personnel were killed on Sunday after Baloch fighters opened fire on a patrol boat in the Arabian Sea near the Iran border, marking the first-ever attack of its kind on a maritime security vessel, according to security officials.Intelligence and police officials said the boat was on a routine patrol in a coastal area close to the Pakistan–Iran border when it came under fire, killing all three personnel on board.The attack has intensified concerns over expanding militant activity in the restive Balochistan region.The banned separatist group Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack, describing it as an expansion of its operational scope.“Following the operations on land, the action in maritime boundaries marks a new development in the BLA’s military strategy,” the group said in a statement, as per Reuters.The attack comes amid a long-running insurgency in Balochistan, where armed groups have repeatedly targeted security forces, infrastructure, and state installations.Authorities have launched an investigation and increased security presence in the area, according to intelligence and police sources cited by Reuters.The incident occurred near Jiwani, a coastal town close to Gwadar, a strategically significant port district.Gwadar and surrounding areas have witnessed repeated militant attacks in recent years, with insurgents frequently targeting security forces and infrastructure linked to major development projects in the region.Balochistan continues to face parallel security challenges, including sectarian violence alongside separatist militancy.In a separate incident on Sunday, two members of the Hazara community were shot dead in Quetta, while three others were injured in what authorities described as a targeted attack.Police officials said unidentified gunmen on motorcycles opened fire on vegetable vendors, prompting protests and road blockades by members of the Hazara community.No group immediately claimed responsibility for that attack, as per Arab News.Balochistan home minister Ziaullah Langove said security forces and citizens were “jointly combating the menace of terrorism,” adding that “the killers of innocent citizens won’t be spared at any cost”.