��������

QUETTA: Authorities in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province have suspended mobile Internet services across all 36 districts ahead of the country’s 78th Independence anniversary, citing security concerns and threats of attacks by separatist militants.

The move comes amid heightened tensions in the province, where separatist violence tends to spike during August, particularly around national celebrations.

The blackout will remain in place until August 31, a senior government official, privy to the decision, told Arab News on Wednesday, speaking on condition of anonymity.

“Due to security concerns and terrorist threats, the government has suspended mobile Internet in all 36 districts of Balochistan,” he said.

The move comes in anticipation of potential unrest during the August 14 national holiday in Balochistan, which borders Iran and Afghanistan and has long been the center of a low-level separatist insurgency.

Violence in the province has intensified in recent years, with ethnic Baloch militant groups such as the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) launching large-scale attacks, including suicide bombings, targeting security forces and Punjabi commuters.

Baloch separatist groups often escalate attacks against the Independence Day festivities. In past years, militants have thrown hand grenades at stalls selling the national flag, sometimes killing both vendors and buyers. Residents are routinely warned by BLA and other groups not to participate in the celebrations or display the Pakistani flag.

Last year in August, the province experienced the highest number of militant attacks that left 88 people, including security personnel and civilians, killed and 100 injured.

The separatist groups accuse the state of exploiting Balochistan’s vast natural resources, including coal, copper, gas and gold, without fairly distributing the benefits to local communities. They claim that successive governments have prioritized extraction over development, leaving the province impoverished despite its mineral wealth.

Pakistani authorities reject these allegations, maintaining that substantial development efforts are underway. Officials say infrastructure projects, health services and education initiatives have been expanded across the province in recent years.

Despite repeated calls and messages, Pakistan’s federal information minister did not respond to questions from Arab News regarding the suspension of Internet services.

ISLAMABAD: Authorities in Pakistan on Thursday urged citizens to exercise caution as monsoon rains continued across the country, warning of more downpours in the coming 24 hours in Punjab and other parts of the country.

The ongoing rainfall comes amid a season of severe weather that has already caused widespread damage. Since June 26, at least 303 people have died in rain-related incidents nationwide, including 164 in the eastern Punjab province, according to disaster management officials.

“We request citizens to take precautionary measures during the monsoon season,” Irfan Ali Kathia, Director General of Punjab’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), said in a statement. “Keep children away from streams, low-lying areas, rivers and canals and strictly avoid swimming during rainfall.”

The PDMA said that the sixth spell of the monsoon system is expected to subside later on Thursday, but rain is still likely in most districts of the province.

It informed water levels in major rivers — including the Indus, Chenab, Jhelum, Ravi and Sutlej — remained at normal levels, and no immediate flood threat was reported.

In its latest fact sheet, PDMA reported 582 people injured, 216 homes damaged, and 121 livestock losses in the current season.

It also said financial assistance was being provided to affected families in various districts.

Meanwhile, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) issued a flash flood alert a day earlier for the Kashmir region and Gilgit-Baltistan, citing forecasts of intense rainfall in mountainous areas.

Vulnerable districts, including Neelum Valley, Skardu and Hunza, were asked to remain on high alert and identify evacuation routes in case of sudden water surges.

The NDMA urged residents to avoid crossing flooded roads and low bridges and recommended moving vehicles, livestock and valuables to safer ground.

Authorities said that emergency monitoring and coordination with provincial and district administrations were continuing to ensure a timely response to any worsening conditions.