2025 Machh bombing
{{Short description|Terrorist attack in Balochistan, Pakistan}}
{{Merge to|Terrorist incidents in Pakistan in 2025|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox civilian attack
| title = 2025 Machh bombing
| partof = Insurgency in Balochistan
| image = File:Pakistan - Balochistan - Kachhi.svg
| caption =
| location = Machh, Kachhi District, Balochistan, Pakistan
| coordinates =
| date = {{start date|2025|05|06}}
| time = Morning
| timezone = PKT
| type = IED attack
| fatalities = 7 soldiers
| injuries = 0
| victims = Pakistan Army personnel
| perpetrators = {{flagicon image|Flag of Baluchistan.svg}} Balochistan Liberation Army
| weapons = Remote-controlled improvised explosive device
| target = Pakistan Army
}}
The 2025 Machh bombing was an improvised explosive device attack that occurred on May 6, 2025, in the Machh area of Kachhi District, Balochistan, Pakistan.{{cite news |title=Roadside bomb targeting security vehicle kills 7 soldiers in southwest Pakistan |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/05/06/pakistan-roadside-bomb-killed-troops-balochistan/70114c7a-2a87-11f0-a724-3bc879c9f843_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=6 May 2025 |access-date=24 May 2025}} The attack targeted a Pakistan Army vehicle, killing all seven soldiers on board.{{cite news |title=Seven soldiers killed as separatists attack security vehicle in southwest Pakistan |url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/2599752/pakistan |work=Arab News |date=6 May 2025 |access-date=24 May 2025}} The Baloch Liberation Army claimed responsibility for the attack, which occurred during heightened tensions between Pakistan and India.{{cite news |title=Pakistan blames India after seven soldiers killed in Balochistan blast |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/6/pakistan-blames-india-after-seven-soldiers-killed-in-balochistan-blast |work=Al Jazeera |date=6 May 2025 |access-date=24 May 2025}}
Background
Balochistan, Pakistan's largest province by area, has experienced a decades-long separatist insurgency led by various Baloch nationalist groups.{{cite news |title=Pakistani security officers killed in blast claimed by Baloch separatists |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/16/pakistani-security-officers-killed-in-blast-claimed-by-baloch-separatists |work=Al Jazeera |date=16 March 2025 |access-date=24 May 2025}} The Baloch Liberation Army, founded in 2000, has conducted attacks against Pakistani security forces, government installations, and infrastructure projects.
In 2025, Balochistan witnessed a significant escalation in militant activities.{{cite news |title=Seven soldiers martyred in Balochistan IED attack: ISPR |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2544313/seven-soldiers-martyred-in-balochistan-ied-attack-ispr |work=The Express Tribune |date=6 May 2025 |access-date=24 May 2025}} Pakistan ranked second in the Global Terrorism Index 2025, with terrorist attack deaths rising 45% to 1,081 compared to the previous year.{{cite news |title=7 soldiers martyred in terror attack by 'Indian proxy' |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2544434/7-soldiers-martyred-in-terror-attack-by-indian-proxy |work=The Express Tribune |date=7 May 2025 |access-date=24 May 2025}}
The bombing occurred amid severe deterioration in India–Pakistan relations, following an April 22, 2025 attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 tourists. This led to a military escalation between the two countries from May 7-10, 2025.
The attack
On the morning of May 6, 2025, a Pakistan Army vehicle traveling as part of a convoy in the Mach area of Kachhi District was struck by a remote-controlled improvised explosive device.{{cite web |title=On 6 May 2025, Terrorists belonging to Indian proxy, so called 'Baloch Liberation Army' targeted Security Forces' vehicle with an improvised explosive device in general area Mach, Kachhi District |url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/pakistan/2025/pakistan-250506-pk-ispr01.htm |publisher=GlobalSecurity.org |date=6 May 2025 |access-date=24 May 2025}} The vehicle was reportedly en route to a security operation when the explosion occurred. The blast completely destroyed the military vehicle, killing all seven soldiers on board.{{cite news |title=Roadside bomb targeting security vehicle kills 7 soldiers in southwest Pakistan |url=https://apnews.com/article/pakistan-roadside-bomb-killed-troops-balochistan-2e7c046dbf328c06aecbe7ccb55fee8f |work=Associated Press |date=6 May 2025 |access-date=24 May 2025}}
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of Pakistan's military, confirmed the attack in an official statement released the same day.
| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em;" | |||
| Rank | Name | Age | Residence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subedar | Umar Farooq | 42 | Karachi |
| Naik | Asif Khan | 28 | Karak |
| Naik | Mashkoor Ali | 28 | Orakzai |
| Sepoy | Tariq Nawaz | 26 | Lakki Marwat |
| Sepoy | Wajid Ahmed Faiz | 28 | Bagh |
| Sepoy | Muhammad Asim | 22 | Karak District |
| Sepoy | Muhammad Kashif Khan | 28 | Kohat |
Responsibility
The Baloch Liberation Army claimed responsibility for the attack through its spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch.{{cite news |title=14 Pakistani soldiers killed in twin attacks in Balochistan, BLA claims responsibility |url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/world/pakistani-soldiers-killed-in-twin-attacks-in-balochistan-bla-claims-responsibility-latest-updates-2025-05-08-989222 |work=India TV |date=8 May 2025 |access-date=24 May 2025}}
Pakistan's military and government officials immediately blamed India for the attack, describing the BLA as an "Indian proxy" organization. The ISPR statement asserted that "nefarious designs of India and its proxies operating on Pakistani soil will be defeated by the valiant security forces."
Aftermath
Pakistani security forces launched sanitization operations in the Mach area to eliminate any remaining militants. The military announced that "perpetrators of this heinous and cowardly act will be brought to justice" and vowed to continue counterinsurgency operations despite the losses.
The ISPR statement emphasized that "Security forces of Pakistan, in step with the nation, remain determined to thwart attempts at sabotaging peace, stability and progress of Balochistan." Security forces intensified operations in Kachhi District and surrounding areas, announcing enhanced security measures for convoys and increased intelligence gathering efforts.
The bombing was followed by additional attacks in Balochistan, including a May 21, 2025 suicide bombing of an army school bus in Khuzdar District that killed at least five people including three children.{{cite news |title=Suicide bomber kills five on school bus in Pakistan's Balochistan |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/blast-targeting-school-bus-kills-four-children-pakistans-balochistan-government-2025-05-21/ |work=Reuters |date=21 May 2025 |access-date=24 May 2025}}
Reactions
President Asif Ali Zardari strongly condemned the terrorist attack and praised the security forces for their sacrifices in the war against extremism. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack and paid tribute to the martyred soldiers, stating: "The entire nation salutes the martyrs who laid down their lives for the defence of Pakistan." He emphasized that "such cowardly acts cannot shake our resolve in the war against terrorism."
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti condemned the attack and expressed sorrow over the loss of life, warning that "those who play with the peace of Balochistan will be brought to a tragic end."
On April 29, 2025, prior to the attack, ISPR Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry had presented what he described as "irrefutable evidence" of Indian-sponsored terrorism, including intercepted audio recordings allegedly showing Indian army officers operating terror networks.
India did not issue any immediate official response to the attack or to Pakistan's allegations of involvement.{{cite news |title=Roadside bomb targeting security vehicle kills 7 soldiers in southwest Pakistan |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/roadside-bomb-targeting-security-vehicle-kills-7-soldiers-121516738 |work=ABC News |date=6 May 2025 |access-date=24 May 2025}} International organizations and foreign governments also remained largely silent on the incident.