Mobile internet services have remained suspended in several parts of Balochistan for a fifth straight day, while train operations across the province continue to be halted following last week’s coordinated militant attacks.
Provincial authorities said the shutdown was imposed due to a deteriorating law and order situation. Additional Chief Secretary Hamza Shafqaat said conditions were now gradually stabilising and confirmed that mobile internet services in Quetta were expected to be restored from midnight.
Despite this, mobile data services continued to be unavailable in Nushki and Sibi, and were again suspended in Mastung after a brief restoration. Residents of Kalat, Khuzdar, Awaran, Panjgur and Turbat have also faced intermittent or prolonged disruptions because of earlier security concerns.
Train services from Quetta to other parts of the country also remain suspended. Pakistan Railways officials said operations would resume only after security clearance, including services of the Jaffar Express between Quetta and Peshawar and the Bolan Mail linking Quetta with Karachi.
Security forces on Tuesday continued mop-up operations in Nushki district and other areas of the province after the coordinated attacks, with officials reporting that the total number of militants killed had reached 197.
In Nushki, armed attackers had targeted multiple government installations on Saturday, including a police station, judicial complex, police lines, the Deputy Commissioner’s office and a Federal Constabulary camp, setting several buildings ablaze.
Although Nushki town has since been cleared and local markets have reopened after three days, security officials said search operations are still underway in the surrounding mountainous areas of the district.
