20 Policemen Abducted by Terrorists in Pakistan’s Balochistan

QUETTA (Terror Monitor) — At least 20 police personnel travelling between Kalat and Nushki districts in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province have been abducted by unidentified armed terrorists, while an unoccupied police checkpoint was demolished in a separate incident in Qila Abdullah district, officials said.

According to government officials, the police personnel were travelling from Kalat to Nushki when they were abducted along the route. The incident has triggered efforts to locate and recover the missing personnel.

A senior government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the abduction and said the personnel belonged to four districts of the Rakhshan Division: Washuk, Chagai, Kharan and Nushki.

The officers were undergoing training at the Kalat Police Training Centre and were travelling home on leave when the incident occurred.

Police Personnel Abducted While Travelling on Private Van

According to the senior official, the 20 police personnel were travelling in a private passenger van from Kalat towards Nushki.

They had taken the Sarband route, described by the official as the shorter route between the two districts.

The armed terrorists reportedly intercepted the vehicle somewhere in Kalat district before moving the abducted police personnel into the jurisdiction of neighbouring Mastung district.

The official said the terrorists subsequently took the police personnel to an undisclosed location.

During the incident, the terrorists reportedly released the van’s driver and two to three other passengers after travelling some distance, but kept the police personnel in their custody.

Authorities have not disclosed the exact location of the abduction, the identities of the perpetrators or whether the terrorists made any demands for the release of the police personnel.

No group had claimed responsibility for the incident at the time of reporting.

Officials said efforts were underway to recover the abducted personnel and establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Recent Abductions of Government Officials in Balochistan

The latest incident comes amid a series of abductions targeting government officials in Balochistan, a province that has experienced a prolonged security crisis involving armed militant groups and separatist insurgents.

Last Thursday, unidentified armed terrorists abducted Asadullah Kakar, commissioner of Kalat Division, and his driver while they were travelling from Quetta to Kharan, according to the information provided by officials.

The commissioner and his driver had not been recovered at the time of reporting.

Earlier, on September 20, the deputy commissioner of Kharan was abducted. An additional sessions judge in Panjgur was also abducted in a separate incident.

Both officials were subsequently released, according to the available information.

The repeated abductions of police personnel and senior government officials have raised concerns about security along highways and in remote districts of Balochistan.

The latest abduction also highlights the risks faced by security personnel travelling between districts, particularly when using routes that pass through isolated areas.

Authorities have not established whether the latest incident is connected to the previous abductions.

Unoccupied Police Checkpoint Demolished in Qila Abdullah

In a separate incident, unidentified armed terrorists demolished an unoccupied police checkpoint in Qila Abdullah district of Balochistan.

A police official in Quetta said the incident occurred in the Pankai area of the district.

According to the official, police and security forces launched an operation after receiving information about the attack.

The armed terrorists reportedly fled towards Panjpai following the security forces' response.

No casualties were reported in connection with the demolition of the checkpoint, and authorities did not immediately provide details about the extent of the damage or the methods used to destroy the structure.

The checkpoint was unoccupied at the time of the incident, according to the police official.

Authorities have not identified the perpetrators, and no group had claimed responsibility for the attack at the time of reporting.

Security Challenges in Balochistan

Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province by area, has faced persistent security challenges, including attacks on security personnel, abductions of government officials and assaults on state installations.

The province borders Afghanistan and Iran and contains strategically important transport routes and natural resources. Several districts have experienced militant activity and security operations over the years.

The abduction of 20 police personnel and the separate demolition of a police checkpoint underscore the continuing security challenges confronting law enforcement agencies in the province.

Authorities are continuing efforts to recover the abducted personnel and investigate both incidents.

Terror Monitor will continue to follow developments as further information becomes available.