Six killed as Pakistan's second-largest naval air base attacked, Balochistan Liberation Army claims responsibility

PNS Siddique, Pakistan's second-largest naval air station located in Turbat, was attacked on the late hours of March 25 -- with gunfire and multiple explosions being reported from the area, according to The Balochistan Post. The attack reportedly killed one paramilitary soldier while security forces killed all five of the assailants in retaliatory fire.

The Majeed Brigade of separatist group Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for the assault. It sent a statement to the media, saying “we have entered the Pakistani naval airbase in Turbat”, The Balochistan Post report added further.

Monday's attack on the Turbat base in southwestern Pakistan was the second assault by ethnic Baloch militants on a military facility in the past week.

"We escaped a huge loss," said a statement from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's office.

Reportedly, the Majeed Brigade is opposed to China's investments in the province of Balochistan and accuses China and Pakistan of exploiting the region's resources.

China has invested heavily in the mineral-rich southwestern province of Balochistan, which borders Afghanistan and Iran, including developing the port of Gwadar, despite a decades-long separatist insurgency, according to a Reuters report.

The naval base is significant to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor that also encompasses roads and energy projects and is part of Chinese President Xi Jinping's Belt and Road Initiative, the report added further.

Monday's incident marks the group’s second operation within a week and its third major attack this year which is indicative of a significant uptick in their activities.

Previous assaults included an operation in Mach city on January 29 and an attack on the ISI and MI headquarters in Gwadar on March 20.

(With agency inputs)