Dozens of militants launched an overnight assault on a police post late Monday in the Ziarat district of southwestern Pakistan’s Baluchistan province, resulting in the deaths of nine police officers and injuries to several others, officials reported Tuesday. The region has experienced a surge in insurgent attacks targeting security forces in recent months.

Authorities said the attackers also abducted eight police personnel during the raid, but all were subsequently rescued by security forces in a follow-up operation. Shahid Rind, a spokesman for the Baluchistan government, stated that the counteroffensive led to the deaths of 15 militants. He emphasized that intelligence-led actions against insurgents would persist, promising a firm response to attacks on security personnel.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for Monday’s assault, but suspicion is expected to focus on the outlawed Baluchistan Liberation Army (BLA), which has a history of targeting security installations in the area. The BLA recently claimed responsibility for a suicide attack over the weekend on a security post in the coastal town of Jiwani. Local media reported that the attack killed three security officers, though officials have neither confirmed nor denied these figures.

In addition to assaults on security personnel, authorities acknowledged that armed men attacked civilians on the outskirts of Quetta, the provincial capital, over the weekend. In response, local villagers staged a protest near the city, demanding improved security measures and greater protection from militant violence.

Baluchistan has long been a flashpoint of unrest, with separatist and militant groups conducting attacks that challenge government authority and undermine regional stability. The recent uptick in violence has raised concerns about the effectiveness of security operations amid ongoing efforts to stabilize the province.