QUETTA: Mobile internet services have been halted across Baluchistan, including the provincial capital Quetta, due to escalating security threats, officials confirmed on Wednesday.
Authorities announced that the suspension covers multiple districts as a precautionary measure to maintain public safety. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) indicated that regions such as Kohlu, Chaman, Qila Abdullah, Pishin, Loralai, and Ziarat are among those affected.
Additionally, internet access has been temporarily disabled in Qila Saifullah, Nushki, and Harnai districts. The move comes amid rising terror activities in the region, particularly since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021.
Recent incidents include an attack on the convoy of the acting Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in Mastung, which resulted in the martyrdom of one police personnel and injuries to three others. Just prior to this, militants reportedly linked to India targeted and killed Pakistan Army Major Syed Rabnawaz Tariq in Awaran district.
Furthermore, in Kalat, unidentified assailants shot at a passenger bus traveling from Karachi to Quetta, killing at least three individuals and injuring seven. Despite these events, a recent report from the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) noted a slight decline in militant activities in June.
According to the report, there were 78 militant attacks nationwide in June, leading to over 100 deaths—comprising 53 security personnel, 39 civilians, six militants, and two peace committee members. The attacks resulted in 189 injuries, including 126 security forces and 63 civilians.
Compared to previous months, June saw an 8% reduction in total attacks and a 12% decrease in fatalities, with a small increase in injuries. Overall, the month’s violence caused 175 deaths, including security staff, militants, civilians, and peacekeepers, highlighting ongoing security challenges in the region.
