New Delhi: The United States has expressed support for Pakistan following a wave of coordinated militant attacks in Balochistan, reaffirming Washington’s backing for efforts to bring those responsible to justice.
In a post on X, the US State Department’s Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs said: “We stand steadfast with Pakistan in the wake of recent militant attacks in Balochistan. The Balochistan Liberation Army remains a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, and we support efforts to hold the perpetrators of these horrific attacks accountable.”
We stand steadfast with Pakistan in the wake of recent militant attacks in Balochistan. The Balochistan Liberation Army remains a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, and we support efforts to hold the perpetrators of these horrific attacks accountable.
— Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs (SCA) (@State_SCA) February 5, 2026
The statement came after large-scale assaults carried out in late January across Pakistan’s restive southwestern province, where militants targeted security installations, police posts, banks and transport infrastructure at multiple locations. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist group banned by both Pakistan and the United States, claimed responsibility for the coordinated strikes spanning districts including Quetta, Gwadar, Mastung, Noshki and Panjgur.
Pakistan’s military reported intense clashes during follow-up clearance operations, saying dozens of militants were killed as security forces responded across affected areas. Authorities also confirmed casualties among civilians and security personnel. The BLA, however, asserted that it inflicted significant losses on government forces — claims that could not be independently verified.
Islamabad has pledged stepped-up counter-operations, with officials stating that ongoing campaigns have resulted in hundreds of insurgents being eliminated in recent weeks. Provincial leadership has vowed continued action against separatist groups, while defence officials have acknowledged that militants possess sophisticated weaponry and equipment.
Pakistani authorities have alleged external backing for the attacks, claims echoed by senior officials, while India has dismissed such accusations as baseless and diversionary. New Delhi has maintained that Pakistan should address internal grievances in the region rather than shift blame externally.
Balochistan — Pakistan’s largest but least developed province — has been the epicentre of a decades-long insurgency driven by disputes over political representation, resource distribution and security policies. Rich in natural gas and minerals and central to major infrastructure initiatives, the region continues to face instability despite its strategic and economic importance.
The latest escalation underscores the enduring volatility in Balochistan and the wider geopolitical sensitivities surrounding militancy, regional rivalries and development ambitions tied to the province.
