India accountable for Balochistan blast that killed seven soldiers: Pakistan

ISLAMABAD— Seven Pakistani army personnel were killed on Tuesday in an improvised explosive device (IED) attack on their vehicle in Balochistan, according to the country’s military. The army blamed the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), labeling it an “Indian proxy,” for carrying out the assault.

The attack comes amid sharply escalating tensions between nuclear-armed neighbors India and Pakistan, following a deadly April 22 incident in Indian-administered Kashmir that claimed the lives of 26 Hindu tourists. India has accused Pakistan of being behind the attack, asserting that two of the three suspected attackers were Pakistani nationals — a claim Islamabad has categorically denied.

Despite rejecting the accusation, Pakistan has warned that it remains fully prepared to defend itself, raising global concerns over potential military escalation. In response, several world powers, including the United Nations, have called for restraint and a de-escalation of hostilities.

Pakistan’s restive southwestern province of Balochistan, where Tuesday’s attack occurred, has long been a hotspot of insurgent activity. The BLA, the most prominent among several separatist groups in the region, has opposed foreign investments — particularly Chinese-led projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) — and has previously targeted security forces and infrastructure.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs has not yet issued a response to Pakistan’s latest accusation.

Meanwhile, diplomatic ties between the two countries continue to deteriorate, with both sides enacting retaliatory measures including the suspension of trade, restrictions on diplomatic staff, and threats related to a key water-sharing treaty.

Addressing the crisis on Monday, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres urged both sides to exercise “maximum restraint,” warning that any military confrontation “could easily spin out of control.”

Read more: Tarar & DG ISPR Brief Political Leaders on India Tensions; PTI Stays Away

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said the U.N. Security Council was briefed on what it called an “imminent threat” of Indian action. “They called for dialogue and diplomacy to defuse tension and avoid military confrontation … and to peacefully resolve issues,” the ministry stated.