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On March 26, 2024, at 06:53 AM IST, the second-largest naval air station in Pakistan, PNS Siddique in Turbat, came under attack. The assault was reportedly carried out by the Majeed Brigade of the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).
Incident Details[edit]
According to local media reports, the BLA claimed responsibility for infiltrating the airbase. It was reported that Chinese drones are deployed at the facility, indicating potential foreign involvement.
Military Response[edit]
Following the attack, Turbat experienced a surge in military activity, with helicopters patrolling the skies and heavy gunfire and explosions lasting for over three hours. The Frontier Corps blocked major roads in Turbat, and a significant contingent of personnel was deployed towards the naval airbase.
Casualties and Impact[edit]
The BLA claimed to have killed “over a dozen” Pakistani personnel during the assault. Emergency measures were implemented at Teaching Hospital Turbat, with all doctors instructed to report for duty immediately.
Previous Attacks[edit]
This incident marks the second attack of the week and the third this year by the BLA Majeed Brigade in Turbat. Previous attacks targeted Mach city on January 29 and the Military Intelligence headquarters in Gwadar on March 20.
Background[edit]
The surge in terrorist activities in Pakistan, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, follows the termination of a ceasefire between the government and the banned militant group Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan in November 2022.
The Gwadar port, under Chinese control, holds strategic importance in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and is a crucial component of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
