Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited the headquarters of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), where he was given a detailed briefing on Pakistan’s security preparedness amid growing regional tensions, particularly with India.
Later the same day, at least seven security personnel were martyred in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in Balochistan’s Mach district.
The Prime Minister was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, and senior military leadership. According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the visit focused on Pakistan’s security posture in the context of India’s assertive behavior along the eastern border.
The high-level briefing covered conventional and non-conventional threats, including hybrid warfare and the use of proxy actors. Officials stressed the need for greater inter-agency coordination and operational readiness to protect national sovereignty.
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Prime Minister Shehbaz expressed confidence in the capabilities of Pakistan’s armed forces and appreciated the ISI’s role in national defense. “The nation stands firmly behind its defenders,” he said, reaffirming the state’s resolve to respond to any form of aggression or destabilization efforts.
Later the same day, tragedy struck in Balochistan when a security forces’ vehicle was targeted by an IED in the Mach area of Kachhi District. According to a press release from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the attack was carried out by militants affiliated with the Indian-backed Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a designated terrorist group.
The blast claimed the lives of seven brave personnel, including:
Subedar Umar Farooq (Karachi)
Naik Asif Khan (Karak)
Naik Mashkoor Ali (Orakzai)
Sepoy Tariq Nawaz (Lakki Marwat)
Sepoy Wajid Ahmed Faiz (Bagh)
Sepoy Muhammad Asim (Karak)
Sepoy Muhammad Kashif Khan (Kohat)
The ISPR stated that a clearance operation was underway to eliminate any remaining terrorists in the area. “Security forces of Pakistan, in step with the nation, remain determined to thwart attempts at sabotaging peace, stability and progress of Balochistan,” it said.
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The statement also underscored that India and its proxies, operating through groups like the BLA, will not succeed in destabilizing Pakistan. “Such cowardly acts only strengthen our resolve,” the military’s media wing added.
The attack in Balochistan comes at a time of strained relations between Pakistan and India. The April 22 terrorist attack in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam area, which killed 26 people, has become a flashpoint, with India blaming Pakistan without presenting evidence—allegations Islamabad has strongly denied.
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In retaliation, India announced several punitive actions, including suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, revoking visa categories for Pakistani nationals, and shutting down the Wagah-Attari land crossing. Pakistan responded by expelling Indian diplomats and closing its side of the border, while urging for a credible international investigation into the Pahalgam incident.
Reports from Pakistani intelligence, cited by The News, claim that India’s RAW has activated proxy networks in Balochistan and other regions, allegedly using groups such as the BLA and Fitna-ul-Khawarij to carry out attacks aimed at destabilizing Pakistan.
