At least three unidentified gunmen ambushed the PC hotel Gawadar on Saturday. The heavily armed men stormed the hotel. Their entry was challenged by the security guard, who lost his life.
Security forces immediately responded and surrounded the building. After the shootout that lasted more than an hour, the armed raiders were killed.
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for the attack, mentioning that the plan was to target Chinese and other foreign investors in the luxury hotel. However, no foreign visitor was harmed in the attacked and all the guests and staff members were safely evacuated. Balochistan Home Minister Mir Zia Lango added that there are some injuries reported but no foreign national has been hit.
According to ISPR, 1 Navy operative Sepoy Abbas Khan along with 4 hotel staff members (Owais, Farhad, Bilawal, and Guard) were martyred. The terrorists removed CCTV cameras and installed mines on the fourth floor which were swept by the security forces. 2 Pak Army Captains, 2 Pak Navy operatives and 2 staff members were injured in the cross firing. Bodies of terrorists have been taken into custody for identification.
At around 1915 hours, the operation ended and security around the five stars has been tightened.
Pearl Continental Gawadar is located on the Koh-e-Batil Hill of West Bay on Fish Harbor Road. Amid huge investments and much development under process, Gawadar is frequently visited by domestic and foreign (mostly Chinese) investors and guests.
It is not the first time that the Makran Coastal Belt has suffered insurgency. Not more three weeks ago, 14 military personnel were shot down after identification near Ormara. They were offloaded from the buses by 15 to 20 armed men wearing camouflage uniforms.
Pakistan is also in process of fencing its borders with Iran. The 959-kilometer border is likely to be secured with fences within a period of three to four years as per the FC Commandant Moazzam Jah Ansari.