Balochistan, Pakistan's largest yet least populated province, is witnessing a sharp escalation in separatist violence. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist group designated as a terrorist organisation by Pakistan and the United States, launched coordinated attacks across at least nine districts, targeting police stations, military outposts, and a high-security prison in Quetta, the provincial capital.
What’s happened in Balochistan?
In a video statement, BLA leader Bashir Zeb Baloch described the operation as the second phase of 'Herof' (Black Storm), claiming the group killed 84 security personnel and kidnapped 18 others. He urged Baloch men and women to join what he called a “national liberation war” against Pakistani forces.
Pakistani authorities responded with large-scale counter-operations, reporting the killing of more than 160 militants in 40 hours, with some media reports citing up to 177 in 48 hours, the highest toll in decades.
Why is Balochistan crucial for Pakistan?
The BLA's assault marked one of the deadliest flare-ups in recent years, underscoring the persistence of the long-running insurgency. The province, spanning nearly 40 per cent of Pakistan's territory and home to about 15 million people, is resource-rich, boasting vast reserves of copper, gold, coal, gas, oil, and other minerals.
It borders Iran and Afghanistan and features a strategic Arabian Sea coastline, including the key port of Gwadar. These assets underpin major economic initiatives like the USD 60-billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which connects China's Xinjiang region to Gwadar via roads, railways, and pipelines.
In September last year, a $500-million deal with a US firm for mineral extraction further highlighted growing international interest— although the feasibility of the claim presented by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during his visit to White House is still not clear.
Balochistan history
The insurgency traces back to Balochistan's forced annexation by Pakistan in 1948, with major waves in the 1970s and early 2000s when the BLA emerged. Grievances centre on resource exploitation without adequate local development, political marginalisation, enforced disappearances, and human rights abuses.
According to Amnesty International, over 10,000 Baloch have gone missing since 2011, fueling resentment.
Balochistan-Afghanistan link
Violence intensified after the Taliban's 2021 takeover of Kabul, which worsened border security and allowed cross-border militant activities. Last year, Balochistan saw 254 attacks resulting in over 400 deaths. This accounted for a 26 per cent rise from the prior year, according to the Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies.
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In March last year, members of BLA hijaced Jaffar Express train, involving over 400 passengers.
Pakistan’s blame game on India
Groups like the BLA and Balochistan Liberation Front coordinate under the Baloch Raaji Aajoi Sangar umbrella, demanding an independent Balochistan.
Pakistan labels them terrorists, sometimes dubbing them 'Fitna al-Hindustan' and accusing India of backing them, claims made by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi after the January attacks but dismissed by India's Ministry of External Affairs as baseless deflection tactics, pointing instead to Pakistan's record of brutality and rights violations.
How Pakistan can resolve the Balochistan issue
Despite heavy military responses, including operations like Green Bolan in 2025, the cycle of violence persists. Geopolitical experts suggest that without addressing core political and economic grievances, force alone is unlikely to end the unrest, leaving Balochistan's future, and regional projects, precarious amid deepening alienation and militant sophistication.
(With inputs from agency)