The Pakistani army’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has formally acknowledged the death of Major Wajahat Waheed in an IED attack a few days ago in the Shadi Kaur area of Pasni tehsil, in Balochistan’s coastal Gwadar district.
The statement issued by ISPR claimed that security forces were carrying out a “clearance operation” in the Shadi Kaur area of Pasni when a unit was hit by a remote-controlled IED, killing 34-year-old Major Wajahat Waheed from Lahore.
However, ISPR has confirmed only the major’s death in the attack and has remained silent about losses among other personnel.
Meanwhile, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for the attack.
A statement issued by the BLA spokesperson claimed that the organisation’s Special Tactical Operations Squad (STOS) targeted a three-vehicle convoy of the Pakistani army with a remote-controlled bomb near Shadi Kaur in the Kubri area of Pasni.
According to the BLA, the vehicle was completely destroyed in the deadly attack, and 7 Pakistani army personnel, including Major Wajahat, were killed on the spot.
Baloch military circles and observers say the Pakistani army usually hides its losses to maintain morale, while after the rise in such actions in Balochistan, a wave of deep fear, mental distress and desertion has spread through the security forces, examples of which have emerged in the form of suicides in camps and resignations.
