2025 Kalat attack
Part of Insurgency in Balochistan
Date 1 February 2025 Location Kalat District, Balochistan, Pakistan, Pakistan[1] Result (see Aftermath)
Belligerents
Frontier Corps Frontier Corps Balochistan (South)	Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) Supported by :  Afghanistan
Commanders and leaders
Mohsin Naqvi	Azad Baloch (spokesperson)
Units involved
Frontier Corps Balochistan (South)	Baloch Liberation Army
Casualties and losses
18 soldiers killed[2]	23 militants killed[3]
The BLA claimed responsibility for the attack, highlighting strategic gains in Kalat.[4][5]

The 2025 Kalat Attack was a major militant assault that occurred on 1 February 2025 near Mangocher in the Kalat District of Balochistan, Pakistan.^[1] The attack resulted in the deaths of 18 soldiers from the Frontier Corps (FC) and 23 militants associated with the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).^[6] The incident marked one of the deadliest confrontations in the ongoing Balochistan insurgency.^{[7][8][9][10]}

Balochistan, Pakistan's largest and most resource-rich province, has been the center of a long-standing insurgency driven by demands for greater regional autonomy, political rights, and control over local resources. Several separatist groups, including the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), have been actively involved in armed conflict with Pakistani security forces. The province has also seen attacks targeting infrastructure projects and foreign nationals, particularly Chinese workers linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). In 2024, militant attacks in Pakistan increased by 40% compared to the previous year, highlighting the rising instability in the region.^[11][12][13]

On 1 February 2025, militants from the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) set up roadblocks along a key highway near Mangocher in Kalat District, Balochistan, Pakistan. The roadblocks were part of a broader strategy to disrupt security forces' movement and assert control over critical infrastructure routes.^[3][14]

Frontier Corps Balochistan (South), a branch of the Frontier Corps, a paramilitary force responsible for maintaining law and order in Balochistan, Pakistan, launched an operation to dismantle the barricades and confront the militants.^[15] This led to a fierce firefight between the two sides, resulting in 18 FC soldiers being killed. The BLA suffered significant casualties as well, with 23 militants reportedly killed during the engagement.^[16][17]

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack. In a statement issued following the confrontation, Azad Baloch, the group's spokesperson, declared that their fighters had successfully executed their mission objectives and inflicted heavy losses on the security forces.^[5] The BLA has previously targeted both military personnel and civilians, as well as foreign workers, in an effort to disrupt government operations and international development projects in the province.^[18][12][13]

The attack drew immediate condemnation from Pakistani leadership. President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed their condolences to the families of the slain soldiers and reaffirmed the government's commitment to combating terrorism and insurgency in Balochistan. Both leaders emphasized that military operations in the province would continue until militant groups were neutralized.^[19][20]

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistani military, also issued a statement highlighting the bravery of the FC personnel and promising intensified efforts to eliminate militant threats in the region.^[21][22][23]

Turkey condemneds the attack and states that Türkiye will continue to support Pakistan in its fight against terrorism.^[24]

The 2025 Kalat Attack underscores the persistent security challenges facing Balochistan. Despite numerous military operations and counterinsurgency efforts, separatist groups like the BLA continue to mount significant attacks against state forces.^[25] The attack reflects the broader instability in Pakistan, where militant violence has been on the rise, complicating the government's efforts to maintain control over restive regions. As of early 2025, military operations against insurgents in Balochistan are ongoing, with both sides sustaining casualties in the protracted conflict.^[23] The attack also raises concerns over the safety of foreign investment projects, particularly those linked to CPEC, which has become a frequent target of militant groups seeking to disrupt economic activities in the province.^[26][27]