At least nine police personnel, including two police officers, were killed after unidentified armed militants launched a coordinated attack on a police checkpost in Kuch Mangi Phase III of Ziarat district late Monday night, according to local authorities.

Deputy Commissioner Ziarat Abdul Qadoos said security personnel engaged the attackers in an intense gun battle that continued for several hours overnight. The bodies of the nine slain officers have been shifted to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital in Ziarat.

The deputy commissioner confirmed that five police personnel remain missing, while search and combing operations are underway to locate them.

However, conflicting accounts have emerged regarding the number of missing personnel. Police and security sources have claimed that the attackers abducted more than 20 individuals, including the Station House Officer (SHO), while other unverified reports suggest an even higher number of personnel may have been taken hostage. Authorities have not officially confirmed these claims, and the exact number of abducted personnel remains unclear.

Protest Blocks Quetta, Ziarat Highway

Following the attack, relatives of the slain officers and local residents staged a sit-in protest at Ziarat Cross, demanding the immediate and safe recovery of all missing and allegedly abducted personnel, as well as decisive action against those responsible.

The protest resulted in the closure of the Quetta, Ziarat Highway, leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded on both sides of the road. Women, children, and long-distance travelers were among those facing significant hardship due to the disruption.

District authorities have placed the entire region on high alert, with additional police and Levies personnel deployed as security forces continue search operations across the area.

Chief Minister: "Balochistan Is Facing War-Like Conditions"

Speaking to the media, Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti acknowledged the deteriorating security situation, stating that the province is facing "war-like conditions."

During a visit to injured civilians and Anti-Terrorism Force (ATF) personnel wounded in the recent Hanna Urak incident, the chief minister praised the resilience of local residents and security forces. He also assured that the families of those killed in terrorist attacks would receive government support and compensation without delay.

Security Concerns Spread Across Northern Balochistan

Following the Ziarat attack, security has been tightened in Ziarat, Bostan, Khanai Baba, and Khanozai (Pishin district) amid fears of further militant activity.

Balochistan Dispatch Observation

Balochistan Dispatch has observed that many of the recent militant attacks in northern Balochistan have occurred in or around predominantly Pashtun-populated districts, including Ziarat, Pishin, Bostan, Qila Saifullah, and surrounding areas. Recent incidents have also involved the burning of civilian vehicles, attacks on public infrastructure, and assaults on security installations, contributing to growing insecurity across the region.

While the motives behind these incidents remain under investigation, the apparent concentration of attacks in these areas has raised concerns among residents, civil society, and security analysts. Authorities have not officially identified any specific pattern or publicly attributed the recent incidents to a coordinated campaign targeting a particular ethnic community.

The investigation into the Ziarat attack remains ongoing, and officials say further details will be released as search operations continue.