Desert Siege: The Battle for Balochistan and its Unyielding Insurgency

Pakistani forces used drones and helicopters to regain control of a southwestern town from separatist insurgents after a tense three-day battle, escalating the death toll of civilians and security personnel to 58, police reported on Wednesday.

Saturday's synchronized assaults by the Baloch Liberation Army nearly paralyzed Pakistan's largest province as insurgents orchestrated explosions and exchanged gunfire with security units across over a dozen sites.

The unrest reflects the ongoing struggle for autonomy in the mineral-rich Balochistan, a province crucial for geopolitical projects yet plagued by longstanding ethnic tensions.