The Baluch media is buzzing with video of what appears to be a Chinese-made drone being shot down by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA). According to the BLA, the Russian Mi-35 gunship was shot down after insurgents launched twin attacks on bases of the paramilitary Frontier Corps in Naushki and Panjgur districts, resulting in the deaths of at least 14 soldiers and 9 militants.
Although these bases are yet to be cleared by the Pakistani military from BLA fighters, Special Service Group (SSG), which was sent to clear these bases, suffered at least two losses after which it was withdrawn from the area.
SSG failed to clear the bases, so the Pakistani military notified civilians living near the site to evacuate and some Baluch sources reported the presence of an F-16 aircraft over the area, probably conducting aerial bombing on the BLA bases, which are still under BLA control after three days.
There has been mass helicopter activity in the area, which suggests the number of casualties is higher than reported by Pakistan’s national media. BLA fighters have claimed over 170 Pak troops have been killed.
