alochistan, the largest province of the country in terms of area and the most sparsely populated, witnessed a significant escalation in political violence in 2024, making it one of the worst years over a decade.

Following the withdrawal of NATO forces from neighbouring Afghanistan, which shares a 1,468-km-long border with Balochistan, the province has seen a substantial rise in violence. The surge has highlighted the persistent security challenges and the ongoing struggle to address militancy and insurgency in the region.

Balochistan recorded an unprecedented increase in terrorism-related incidents in 2024. The number of fatalities reached a ten-year high. The most affected areas were Quetta, Nushki, Mastung, Kalat, Bolan, Musakhel and the port city of Gwadar.

According to police records, at least 355 people died and 640 were seriously injured in 711 incidents, including suicide bombings, IED explosions and targeted shootings. The victims included civilians as well as security forces personnel.

On January 30, 14 people, including policemen and some heavily armed attackers, were killed in an attack in Mach tehsil of Bolan district. This incident disrupted train services and the Quetta-Sukkur National Highway was closed for several days.

February 7 was one of the deadliest days, with twin bombings claiming at least 30 lives in Pishin and Qila Saifullah districts. The attacks targeted political gatherings ahead of the 2024 general elections.

In April, at least 11 passengers traveling in a coach in Nushki district were shot dead by unidentified gunmen. According to police, the assailants had blocked the road. They stopped the bus and checked the passengers’ identity cards. Most of the victims were from the Punjab.

On May 7, seven labourers from the Punjab were killed in Gwadar. According to police, the victims, who had worked in local barber shops, were sleeping in a rented residence when armed assailants stormed in and shot them.

August 26 marked one of the deadliest days in Balochistan’s recent history. Over 70 people, including 23 civilians, were killed, and key infrastructure was damaged in a series of attacks across Musakhel, Bela, Bolan, Mastung and Kalat districts.

On October 11, armed men killed 21 coal miners in Dukki district. Officials said that the militants fired rockets, hurled grenades and used other weapons to kill the labourers and destroyed mining equipment and infrastructure.

The deaths of nine people, including six schoolchildren, in a bomb blast on November 1 in Mastung district, evoked memories of the APS Peshawar tragedy ten years ago. The early morning blast injured 17 others. District authorities said a homemade bomb attached to a motorcycle was detonated, apparently targeting a police vehicle near a school.

On November 9, at least 28 people were killed and over 60 wounded in a suicide bombing at Quetta’s crowded railway station. The bomb detonated on a platform near passengers waiting for a train. Officials said that 6-8 kg of high-performance explosive was used.

The rise in violence has caused widespread concern and poses significant challenges for the PPP-led coalition government in the province. Ever since Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti took office in March, the government has struggled to prevent attacks by separatist militants and Islamist extremists. Routine attacks in Quetta and other parts of Balochistan have exposed weaknesses in the government’s security strategy, which clearly requires urgent revision.

Public frustration with the official narrative continues to grow. Increasing incidents of terrorism have plunged the province’s economy into a crisis. Business activity in the provincial capital has plummeted. Fear for their lives has driven many, including professionals like doctors, teachers, engineers and business leaders to leave.

These incidents have also profoundly impacted the victims’ families in emotional, financial and psychological terms. Many have lost their sole breadwinners. For many, the consequences of these losses will persist for a long time.

The writer is the bureau chief of Geo News, Quetta. He tweets @ejazkan