The terrorists and suicide bombers belonging to proscribed Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) attacked Mach and Kolpur complexes in Balochistan in which nine terrorists were killed and four soldiers and two citizens embraced martyrdom during the night between 29 and 30 Jan 2024.

The terrorists carried out three-pronged coordinated attacks on the high-security Mach jail, and the camps of the security forces. It was an attempt to free the BLA militants imprisoned in the jail under the cover of intense firing, rocket fires and suicide attacks. The attacks on the camp and railway station were diversionary attacks. But the security forces in the vicinity responded quickly and foiled the attacks. The superintendent jail confirmed that there was no damage to the jail and no inmate or jail staff was harmed.

The security forces have developed the capability to respond quickly and foil the mid-night terrorist attacks quite effectively. The upper hand of night vision goggles and telescopes gained by the terrorists after August 2021 has also been neutralised to a great extent. The security forces and police have acquired the capabilities to handle such attacks.

In this particular attack the security and intelligence agencies demonstrated good coordination and planning that enabled them to thwart the midnight attacks quite effectively. Their agility, state of readiness and proximity to the targets helped them foil the three coordinated attacks. Similar arrangements and strategies should be employed in D I Khan and Lakki Marwat which have been the constant target of the terrorists.