DERA BUGTI: Gas pipelines were damaged at more than nine locations in Sui tehsil of Dera Bugti district, raising fears of disruption to local gas supplies and prompting protests by residents, according to local media reports.
The reported damage affected pipelines serving nearby communities, with locations including Sheikh Colony, Sukhri Check Post, Gas Well No. 82 and Adil Khan Colony among the areas mentioned in initial reports.
The damage has raised concerns among local residents, particularly households that depend on the gas network for everyday needs. The extent of the disruption and the time required to repair the pipelines were not immediately clear.
Initial reports attributed the incidents to militant sabotage. However, a report published by Khyber Chronicles said the Baloch Republican Army (BRA) claimed responsibility for the explosions. That claim has not been independently verified. The available reporting does not establish that the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) was responsible for this particular incident.
BLA’s record of attacks on infrastructure
The latest incident comes amid a broader pattern of attacks on infrastructure and development-related facilities in Balochistan. The BLA, a banned separatist group seeking independence for the province, has claimed responsibility for attacks on security installations, transport networks and projects linked to Chinese investment, according to Reuters. The group says it opposes what it describes as the exploitation of Balochistan’s natural resources.
In March 2024, militants claimed by authorities to be members of the BLA attacked the Gwadar Port Authority complex, a key facility associated with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). In October that year, the group also claimed responsibility for an attack on a construction site in Panjgur, where five private security guards were killed, according to a timeline published by Dawn.
The group has also targeted transport infrastructure. In March 2025, BLA militants attacked the Jaffar Express after sabotaging railway tracks, taking passengers hostage and triggering a major security operation, Reuters reported.
Bank robbery and damage to public facilities
Attacks attributed to the BLA have also involved bank robberies and damage to government facilities. In January 2025, armed men attacked Zehri in Khuzdar district, setting fire to government offices and targeting a private bank. Bank officials told Dawn that more than Rs90 million was taken from the bank’s strongroom. The BLA claimed responsibility for the wider assault.
The attack also damaged offices used for local administration and public services, including the Levies station, municipal committee and National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA). Such incidents can disrupt public services, damage official records and impose financial costs on local communities.
Who bears the cost?
Attacks on gas pipelines and other essential infrastructure can have consequences beyond the immediate physical damage. Disruptions to energy supplies may affect households, businesses and public services, while repairs and additional security measures can place further demands on public resources.
For residents of Sui, the immediate concern is the potential impact on household gas supplies. The reported incidents also renew questions about how essential infrastructure can be protected and how local communities can be shielded from the consequences of militant violence.
While separatist groups including the BLA claim to act in the name of Baloch rights, attacks on facilities used by ordinary residents can impose direct costs on the same communities. The specific responsibility for the latest Sui pipeline damage, however, should remain attributed to the group identified in the available reporting unless further evidence establishes otherwise.
