Terrorists target the house of Balochistan Chief Minister’s close aide and chairman District Council Dera Bugti Ghulam Nabi Shambhani on Saturday.
An exchange of fire in the Shaheed Fazal Khan subdivision that began last night continued until early morning on Saturday.
According to tribal sources, following a prolonged gun battle with the Bugti Peace Force, 13 terrorists were killed during the pursuit.
One member of the Bugti Aman Force was martyred and three others were wounded in terrorists firing. The injured have been shifted to Karachi for medical treatment.
Wadera Ghulam Nabi Shambani is the Chairman of the District Council Dera Bugti and a prominent local tribal and political figure in the district. He has also been associated with the Bugti Aman Force, a locally organised security group involved in efforts to counter the presence of banned terrorist organisations in Dera Bugti.
His political and tribal influence, as well as his reported role in supporting local security efforts, has made him a prominent figure in Dera Bugti’s local security landscape.
The reported attack appears to have a local political and security dimension.
Tribal sources say Shambani has supported efforts to prevent banned terrorist organisations from operating in parts of Dera Bugti through the Bugti Aman Force. His position therefore places him at the intersection of local tribal authority, political influence and community-based security.
Shambani has also publicly criticised terrorist organisations. In a conversation with Balochistan Pulse in January, he described such groups as “Fitna al-Hindustan” and characterised them as proxies backed by India.
If the reported attack was directed specifically at Shambani because of these activities, it would indicate an attempt to pressure local figures who are helping state authorities or community groups resist terrorist activities.
The significance of the Bugti Aman Force
The involvement of the Bugti Aman Force is perhaps the most significant aspect of the reported confrontation.
Balochistan’s vast geography and difficult terrain create substantial challenges for conventional security operations. Local tribal networks can possess knowledge of the terrain, communities and movement patterns that outside forces may not have to the same degree.
The reported death of one Aman Force member and injuries to three others illustrate that cost.
Reporter: Essa Tarin