On Tuesday night, Quetta witnessed a series of attacks as three rockets were fired from different directions, targeting the Nawab Akbar Khan Stadium (Ayub Stadium) during ongoing Pakistan Independence Day celebrations. The attacks resulted in no reported casualties.

Reportedly, one of the rockets landed in the stadium’s parking area, while the other two fell in the surrounding vicinity. The rockets were fired from an unknown direction.

This latest attack comes on the heels of four explosions earlier in the day at flag stalls and other locations in Quetta, including the Sariab and China Market areas of Liaquat Bazar. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for two of these operations, stating that their freedom fighters specifically targeted the “so-called Independence Day celebrations and flag stalls.”

In a statement released by BLA spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch, the group reiterated its commitment to targeting events organized under the guise of “Independence Day” celebrations. He said that the Pak Army is using such events to “forcibly portray Balochistan as part of Pakistan,” and he argues that this claim contradicts the “historical and ground realities” of the region.

The BLA’s statement further asserted that their operations against the “occupying Pakistan military and its collaborators” would continue. This declaration underscores the persistent unrest and resistance in Pak-occupied-Balochistan, where the BLA and other groups have long opposed Pak Army’s brutality.

On Monday, unknown individuals carried out anti-Pakistan wall chalkings in various cities and installed Baloch flags.

In observance of August 11, which is celebrated by Baloch independence circles as the day of liberation from British rule, unknown individuals installed flags selected by Baloch freedom groups and conducted wall chalkings in memory of fighters and martyrs.

Flags were displayed at various locations and telephone towers in the Zheri Tehsil of Khuzdar district in Pak-occupied-Balochistan. Additionally, wall chalkings in support of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) were seen at different sites.

During the night, unknown individuals also raised the Baloch flag on the graves of BLA martyr Hafiz Zeeshan, who died in the Bolan attack, and BLA commander Zia Zheri.

Reports from Nushki indicate that flags were installed at various locations and telephone towers in the city. Similarly, in Quetta, the central city of occupied-Balochistan, flags were also seen at various sites.

Throughout these events, wall chalkings opposing Pakistan and supporting Baloch fighters and the BLA were carried out in different cities.

Residents of Tehsil Hoshab Tajiban in Pak-occupied-Balochistan’s Kech district have launched a protest against the persistent violence, home invasions and surveillance conducted by Pak Army.

In response to ongoing oppression, locals blocked the M8 highway in Tajiban, voicing their frustration over the presence of Frontier Corps (FC) checkpoints within residential areas. They also criticized the intrusion of forces into their homes and the continuous surveillance by drones.

Protesters said that Pak forces frequently enter homes without justification for searches and detain individuals for questioning, subjecting them to torture at FC camps. This disturbing practice has become routine.

The road blockade and ensuing protest have led to significant traffic congestion, with long lines of vehicles forming on both sides of the highway.

Residents of Hoshab have demanded that FC authorities relocate their camps away from residential areas and halt the harassment of local communities.

This protest follows ongoing opposition from Hoshab and Kech district residents against the establishment of FC camps within their neighborhoods. They have previously complained about disruptions to their daily lives and damage caused by shells fired from the camps.

The situation escalated recently when a shell fired by the Pak Army struck a residential area in Kolwah, Kech district, killing a five-year-old girl named Sitara, daughter of Bashir. In response, the family and local residents blocked the Awaran-Kech road and staged a demonstration following the girl’s burial.

In a statement, the spokesperson for the Baloch National Movement declared August 14 as a Black Day for the oppressed nations within Pakistan. According to the spokesperson, the creation of Pakistan 77 years ago by colonial powers, driven by their own interests, has evolved into a significant threat to global peace, security, and humanity.

The spokesperson highlighted that for the Baloch, Pashtun, Sindhi, Kashmiri, and Gilgit-Baltistan communities, today is marked not by celebration but by grief and mourning. They asserted that only Punjab, which has historically suppressed the freedoms of these oppressed groups, experiences any joy on this day. The spokesperson emphasized that the other nations are detached from the so-called “Independence Day” as they continue to live under oppression rather than freedom.

Furthermore, the Pak Army annually attempts to hold Independence Day celebrations through intimidation and coercion. The spokesperson said that these efforts reflect the Baloch people’s growing disdain and animosity towards Pakistan.

The statement condemned Pakistan’s ruling authorities for maintaining oppressive policies throughout the past 77 years. The spokesperson accused the Paki establishment of exploiting Baloch resources and depriving the Baloch people of national autonomy, placing Balochistan directly under military control. The civil administration merely acts as a facilitator for the Army, with the occupied-Balochistan assembly serving as a puppet institution that obeys military orders. They said that thousands of Baloch individuals have been forcibly disappeared or killed over the years, and the Baloch people are routinely confronted with the grim task of burying their dead.

The BNM spokesperson said, “The Baloch nation must remain steadfast and resilient. We should keep the success of our struggle for national freedom in mind at all times. The day will surely come when the symbol of oppression, August 14, will be erased from the pages of history like a mistake, and oppressed nations will live with dignity in their free homelands.”