Pakistan’s security forces successfully regained control of the desert town of Nushki after a fierce three-day battle with Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) rebels. The military deployed attack helicopters and drones to neutralize the insurgents, marking a significant escalation in the use of airpower within the mineral-rich province. This operation was part of a massive counter-offensive following “Operation Herof 2.0,” a series of coordinated BLA attacks launched on January 31 that targeted 12 locations, including banks, schools, and paramilitary outposts.
Pakistan deploys helicopters and drones to end standoff with rebels in the Balochistan province amid ongoing fighting https://t.co/91sA0PyN4H pic.twitter.com/1ez4jTzM7q
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) February 4, 2026
The human cost of the latest wave of violence is staggering. A senior security official confirmed on Wednesday that 197 terrorists have been killed over the past four days. However, the fighting also claimed the lives of 22 security personnel and 36 civilians, including women and children. In the provincial capital of Quetta, powerful blasts near administrative buildings shattered the morning calm earlier this week, leading to a province-wide ban on public gatherings. Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti vowed to continue the “relentless campaign” until the menace of foreign-sponsored terrorism is wiped out.
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The surge in violence comes at a sensitive time for Islamabad, as the province is a key hub for CPEC projects and was recently pitched to U.S. President Donald Trump as a prime site for mineral investment. With mobile and internet services still suspended in several districts and funerals taking place this afternoon, the province remains under a tense high-security lockdown.
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