ISLAMABAD: Targeted terror assaults against police checkpoints and security camps in sensitive locations have increased dramatically in Pakistan's Balochistan province. The new round of attacks has been claimed by the Balochistan Nationalist Army (BNA), a newly created group that is quickly becoming a significant opponent of Pakistani security forces operating in the area.

BNA, a merged organisation of the United Baloch Army (UBA) and the Balochistan Republican Army (BRA) that was formed about a month ago, has made its strong presence felt severely by targeting important security check posts and camps of the Pakistani armed forces, killing soldiers and demonstrating its capability to carry out parallel targeted attacks.

Armed gunmen attacked two security stations in the Panjgur area of Balochistan in the most recent of these incidents. The attack was effectively prevented, according to Pakistan's Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), and the attackers were neutralised with significant fatalities.

The attack sparked an hours-long gunfight between the attackers and security forces, with at least four attackers and one Pakistani soldier killed.

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