In a significant move reflecting the deteriorating security environment, the Balochistan government has announced a three-day suspension of all inter-city public transport across major roads of the province.
According to an official notification issued on Monday, the suspension will remain in effect from November 12 to November 14, as part of precautionary measures aimed at preventing potential security incidents.
Officials have confirmed that the decision follows a series of intelligence inputs indicating possible threats to public gatherings, transport hubs, and convoys operating along key highways. “The step has been taken in the interest of public safety amid credible warnings of militant activity,” a senior Home Department official said, adding that the government does not want to take any chances in the current volatile climate.
The suspension of transport services comes days after mobile and internet services were already restricted in several districts, including Kech, Panjgur, Gwadar, and parts of Khuzdar, owing to escalating militant activity and counter-insurgency operations. The Balochistan Home Department cited security grounds for the blackout, noting that communication channels have often been misused by insurgent groups to coordinate attacks.
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest yet least populated province, has witnessed an uptick in violence over the past few weeks, with multiple attacks targeting security convoys, check-posts, and infrastructure projects. In early November, at least four security personnel were killed in a roadside blast in the Turbat area, while another attack on a Frontier Corps patrol near Panjgur left several injured. The banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and allied insurgent outfits have claimed responsibility for several such incidents. It also comes months after the Mach train attack in Bolan district in May, when militants opened fire on a passenger train, killing several and injuring many others.
