QUETTA, Pakistan — Residents of Quetta, the capital of Balochistan, remain on high alert following a series of deadly attacks by separatist militants, with heightened security measures disrupting daily life and dampening Ramadan Eid shopping.
The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for a suicide attack in Noshki district on Sunday (March 16), in which a vehicle packed with explosives rammed into a paramilitary convoy, killing at least five people and wounding more than 30.
The attack came just days after BLA fighters hijacked the Jaffar Express train on March 11, detonating explosives on the tracks in an assault that killed 31 soldiers and civilians, according to the Pakistani military.
With tensions running high, many Quetta residents say they are avoiding public spaces, opting to stay indoors rather than risk violence during the busy holiday shopping season.
“Many people still have Eid shopping to do, but the worsening law-and-order situation makes it too dangerous,” said Navid Khan, a Quetta resident. “The fear of terrorist attacks, target killings, and other violent acts persists, despite heavy security measures. We feel safer at home.”
Security forces have established multiple checkpoints across the city, and the Zehri Flyover, located behind Quetta Cantonment, has been closed indefinitely due to security concerns.
Zmarak Khan Achakzai, a member of the Balochistan provincial assembly, warned that the security situation is rapidly deteriorating and urged the government to address underlying economic and social grievances that he said fuel extremism.
“The situation is spiraling out of control, getting worse by the day,” Achakzai said. “People must accept the state, and the state must empower its people. They need access to resources, equal rights, and jobs. But employment is scarce, and many young people have no future. Those living near the border can’t even feed their children. What choices do they have? They turn to drugs, crime, or extremist groups.”
In response to the escalating violence, Pakistan’s parliamentary committee on national security is set to hold a closed-door session on Tuesday (March 18). Military leaders will brief lawmakers on the security situation, as the government looks to contain a surge in militant activity across the country.
