Four injured in blast as Levies post goes up in flames in Mastung

On January 11, 2025, a series of violent incidents occurred in Balochistan, Pakistan, resulting in injuries and significant damage. In Chaman, a powerful improvised explosive device (IED) detonated on Station Road as a Frontier Corps truck passed by. The explosion, which was remotely triggered, injured four civilians, one of whom is in critical condition and needed to be transferred to Quetta for emergency treatment. The IED was planted on a motorcycle, indicating a planned attack targeting security forces. The area near the Afghan border has seen an increase in such attacks. In another incident in the Dasht area of Mastung district, armed men set fire to a Levies post and stole official weapons. These attackers had previously blocked the Quetta-Sibi Highway, screening vehicles and passengers before moving to assault the Levies personnel. Only three members of the Levies were present during this attack, which allowed the armed men to easily overpower them. Following the assault, they also vandalized a nearby cement factory, further escalating concerns about safety and law enforcement in the region. Additionally, an attempted assassination occurred in the Zehri area of Khuzdar district, targeting the vehicle of an assistant commissioner. While the vehicle was hit by an IED explosion, the commissioner escaped unharmed. This incident raises alarms about the increasing audacity of attackers in the region, particularly those affiliated with banned groups like the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan. The incidents illustrate a growing trend of violence and targeted attacks against law enforcement and government officials, challenging the region's security responses. This spate of violent actions highlights the growing security challenges in Balochistan, where both militant groups and criminal elements pose significant threats to stability. Authorities are on high alert, but the repeated attacks underscore a need for enhanced intelligence and preventive measures to protect civilians and security personnel alike. As security agencies investigate these events, the local population remains concerned about their safety in the face of escalating hostilities associated with extremist groups operating in the area.