Three excise department officials were abducted after unidentified armed men attacked a temporary checkpost on the Dalbandin–Taftan Highway in Balochistan’s Chagai district.
According to police sources, the attackers targeted the checkpost on Monday evening. Around 30 armed men surrounded the location and held officials at gunpoint before taking them away.
The attackers also took two official vehicles and weapons from the checkpost, sources said.
Following the incident, police and other law enforcement agencies reached the area. Authorities cordoned off the location and launched a search operation to locate the abducted officials.
Security Forces Launch Search Operation
Police officials are investigating the incident to identify the attackers and determine the route they used after the abduction.
Authorities are working to ensure the safe recovery of the three officials. However, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.
The incident highlights the ongoing security challenges in Balochistan, where several areas have witnessed an increase in militant activities.
Balochistan Faces Rising Security Concerns
Earlier this month, security forces launched Operation Shaban after a deadly attack on a police post at the Mangi Dam pumping station in Ziarat.
During that attack, armed assailants reportedly kidnapped and killed 27 police personnel.
A security assessment by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) also showed rising violence in Balochistan.
The report stated that Balochistan recorded 71 terrorist attacks in May, compared with 34 attacks in April. This reflected a significant increase in security incidents across the province.
The report also highlighted a rise in kidnappings. According to the assessment, Balochistan recorded 52 out of 54 reported abductions across Pakistan during May.
Government Vows Action Against Terrorism
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently said the country’s civil and military leadership had agreed on a joint strategy to eliminate terrorism.
He made the statement during a meeting of the Provincial Apex Committee on the National Action Plan in Quetta.
Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir also attended the meeting.
The government has continued reviewing security measures after several major attacks in Balochistan.
The latest abduction incident has raised further concerns over law and order in the province. Security agencies are now focusing on recovering the missing officials and identifying those responsible for the attack.
