Mastung Attack: Two Civilians Killed as Post Assault Repelled

The Mastung attack on a security post on the N-25 highway was repelled by security forces on Thursday, but the blast killed two civilians and injured 16 other people.

The Mastung attack targeted Kandawa Post using an explosives laden vehicle, a spokesperson for Balochistan Police said. The police account was carried by Radio Pakistan, the state broadcaster, on Thursday.

Three terrorists were killed in the retaliatory operation that followed the failed assault. Three Frontier Corps personnel were among those injured in the Mastung attack, the police statement added.

The attack was the latest militant strike in Balochistan this year. It came even as official data showed a sharp fall in attacks during October.

Mastung attack: what police say happened

According to the spokesperson, terrorists belonging to Fitna al Hindustan attempted a cowardly attack at Kandawa Post. They used a vehicle loaded with explosives against the post on the national highway.

Security forces repulsed the attack through timely and effective action, the police statement said. In the ensuing retaliatory operation, three terrorists were killed.

The explosion was strong enough to damage nearby houses and a mosque. The injured people were taken to medical centres for treatment, police said.

The two civilians who lost their lives were caught in the blast near the post. The Express Tribune reported that the martyred civilians were identified as Kaleemullah and Bibi Laiba.

At least 13 civilians were injured in the Mastung attack, according to a list of names included in the police statement. Three Frontier Corps personnel were also injured in the incident.

The highway the attackers targeted

Kandawa Post stands on National Highway N-25 in Mastung district. The highway is the main road link between Karachi, Quetta and the border town of Chaman.

Security posts along the route guard traffic moving through a district that has seen repeated militant activity. An attack on the post also threatens the traffic that depends on this route.

What is Fitna al Hindustan?

Fitna al Hindustan is an official designation used by the Pakistani state for militant groups in Balochistan. Dawn explained that the name is used to highlight India's alleged role in terrorism and destabilisation across Pakistan.

The federal government formally designated all militant groups operating in Balochistan under this name last year, The Express Tribune reported. Pakistan accuses India of sponsoring a proxy war through these outfits.

Police stressed that the attack demonstrated that the terrorists had no connection with the people of Balochistan. They said the attackers sought to undermine peace, development and prosperity in the province.

After the Mastung attack, police said operations against such elements would continue. The statement said the protection of the lives and property of the people would be ensured under all circumstances.

Mastung attack and the wider security picture

Balochistan has witnessed an increase in terrorist activities in recent years, Dawn reported. Security forces have intensified counter terrorism operations across the province in response.

Terrorism has been a growing problem for Pakistan, with the number of attacks rising every year since 2022. That assessment comes from data compiled by ACLED, a global monitoring organisation, The Express Tribune reported.

Balochistan has remained a major target in that campaign. Militants in the province frequently target convoys, abduct security personnel and civilians, and attack security and civilian installations.

Earlier this month, a soldier was martyred and 17 terrorists were killed in two intelligence based operations in Kachhi and Kharan districts. The Inter Services Public Relations, the military's media wing, reported those operations.

On October 28, security forces killed nine terrorists belonging to Fitna al Hindustan in two intelligence based operations. Those operations took place in the Kachhi and Wadh districts of Balochistan.

In early October, security forces killed five terrorists belonging to Fitna al Hindustan in Mastung, Pakistan TV reported. The district has therefore seen repeated militant activity this autumn.

Some indicators have nevertheless improved in recent weeks. Terrorist attacks across Pakistan declined by 37 percent in October compared with September, according to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies.

In Balochistan, attacks declined by 46 percent over the same period, falling from 132 in September to 71 in October. Thursday's Mastung attack shows that the threat facing the province has not ended.

Claims of a far higher death toll circulated on social media after the blast. Police have not confirmed any such figures, and the confirmed toll remains the one given in the police statement.

Mastung attack: common questions

What happened in the Mastung attack?

Terrorists drove an explosives laden vehicle at Kandawa Post on the N-25 highway in Mastung on Thursday. Security forces repelled the assault and killed three attackers in a retaliatory operation.

How many people were killed and injured in the Mastung attack?

Two civilians were killed in the explosion. At least 13 civilians were injured, and three Frontier Corps personnel were also injured, according to the police statement.

Who were the civilians who died?

The martyred civilians were identified as Kaleemullah and Bibi Laiba, according to the police statement reported by The Express Tribune. The blast also damaged nearby houses and a mosque.

Who carried out the Mastung attack?

Police said the attackers belonged to Fitna al Hindustan, the official designation for Balochistan based terrorist groups. The state uses the term to highlight India's alleged role in backing these groups.

Where is Kandawa Post located?

Kandawa Post is a security post on National Highway N-25 in Mastung district, Balochistan. The highway is a key route through the province, and the post was attacked with an explosives laden vehicle.

Have claims of a much higher toll been confirmed?

No. Larger casualty figures circulated online after the Mastung attack, but police have not confirmed them. The official account records two civilians killed, at least 13 civilians injured and three FC personnel injured.