In a significant operation, Pakistan's security forces successfully thwarted a major attack in Gwadar, a port city located in the southwestern province of Balochistan. The incident took place on Wednesday when eight armed fighters attempted to enter the Gwadar Port Authority complex, which is a crucial component of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Senior government official Saeed Ahmed Umrani confirmed the attack and stated that the security forces engaged in an intense two-hour firefight with the assailants, resulting in their eventual elimination. Two members of the security personnel sustained injuries during the encounter. Umrani mentioned that while the operation had concluded, the area was still being cleared.

The responsibility for the attack was claimed by the Majeed Brigade, the armed wing of the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist group that seeks the secession of Balochistan from Pakistan. The BLA released a statement indicating that their target was the offices of Pakistan's intelligence agencies within the complex.

An eyewitness in Gwadar reported that the attack commenced at approximately 4 pm local time. The sequence of events began with two powerful explosions followed by extended periods of gunfire lasting for more than an hour. The targeted area consisted of a residential region where many port employees resided, alongside several other government offices.

This is not the first time Gwadar has experienced an attack. Given its significance as a key location for the CPEC, the city is home to a number of Chinese citizens involved in the port's construction. In August of last year, security forces successfully thwarted an attack on a convoy of 23 Chinese engineers in Gwadar, with the Majeed Brigade of the BLA claiming responsibility. Additionally, a major attack occurred in Gwadar back in 2019 when three attackers targeted the only luxury hotel in the city, leading to the loss of life, including a Pakistan Navy officer. The BLA also claimed responsibility for this incident.

Gwadar, situated along Pakistan's southwestern coast, is undergoing ambitious development projects supported by Chinese engineers and financing from the Chinese government. It houses the country's sole deep-sea port. These projects are part of the $62 billion CPEC initiative, designed to connect southwestern China to the Arabian Sea through Pakistan via crucial trade routes and infrastructure.

Balochistan, with an estimated population of 15 million out of Pakistan's 240 million, is the country's poorest province, despite its abundant natural resources such as oil, coal, gold, copper, and gas reserves. Baloch secessionist groups, including the BLA, originally sought a fair share of provincial resources but eventually rallied for complete independence. The province has a history of marginalization, with Pakistan annexing it in 1948 shortly after partition from India. Since then, a separatist movement has been ongoing in Balochistan.