Three excise officials were abducted at gunpoint following a coordinated attack on a checkpost along the Dalbandin-Taftan Highway in Balochistan's Chagai district.

According to police sources, around 30 armed assailants surrounded the checkpoint on Monday evening, detained the officials on duty, and fled with two official vehicles and weapons.The incident has triggered an immediate search operation by law enforcement to recover the kidnapped personnel and trace the attackers.The attack occurs amid heightened security challenges in Balochistan, which has seen a surge in terrorist activities.

A recent security assessment by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) highlighted a sharp decline in provincial security, with Balochistan recording 71 terrorist attacks in May—over double the previous month.The province also accounted for 52 of 54 nationwide kidnappings reported during the same period.

The incident follows Operation Shaban, launched by security forces in response to a deadly attack on a police post in Ziarat, where 27 officers were killed.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently emphasized the government's commitment to combating terrorism, citing a joint civil-military strategy to address the crisis.The attack underscores the persistent threat of militant activity in the region, with authorities blaming India and Afghanistan for recent attacks.The incident has intensified calls for enhanced security measures and improved coordination between military and police forces.