Pakistan's Gwadar Port today came under seizure from terrorists and was freed after the city police gunned down seven terrorists. The assailants entered the Gwadar Port Authority Complex forcibly and opened fire in the area. The police said that while some blasts also took place at the site, the firing completely stopped after the assasilants were gunned down. Majeed Brigade of the proscribed Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack.
According to reports, Makran Commissioner Saeed Ahmed Umrani mentioned that there were multiple explosions during the attack. He also stated that the operation to clear out the attackers was still ongoing. Initially, Captain (retd) Zohaib Mohsin, Senior Superintendent of Police in Gwadar, mentioned that the gunfire had ceased entirely. Earlier, Umrani noted that a significant number of police and security forces had arrived at the scene while the intense gunfire was still ongoing.
According to a statement from the United Nations Department for Safety and Security, the attack on the complex was characterized by 'several explosions followed by continuous firing'. The facility in question accommodates various government and paramilitary offices. Furthermore, the statement clarified that there were no immediate reports of casualties. It specified that seven personnel from three UN agencies stationed in Gwadar and two UN agencies on missions were confirmed to be “safe and accounted for.”
What Is Majeed Brigade?
The Majeed Brigade, an integral part of the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), emerged in 2011 as a highly formidable guerrilla cell within the BLA's ranks. Named in honor of a guard who lost his life while attempting to assassinate Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the former Prime Minister and founder of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), this brigade has gained notoriety for its lethal operations. Its activities extend beyond Pakistan's borders, with documented presence in Afghanistan, a fact corroborated even by Indian media outlets.
There are allegations suggesting that the group maintains sanctuaries along the Pak-Iran border region. Referred to as the BLA's suicide squad, the so-called Majeed Brigade predominantly focuses its attacks on security forces and Chinese interests within Pakistan. Notably, it claimed responsibility for the April 2022 suicide attack targeting the Confucius Institute at Karachi University.
Throughout 2022, the brigade orchestrated a series of assaults, including those directed at military camps in Balochistan's Naushki and Panjgur districts. In these incidents, militants engaged security forces in prolonged confrontations lasting up to three days.