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More than 200 people have been killed in Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province as security forces launched a large-scale counter-offensive following coordinated attacks claimed by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) across multiple cities, sharply escalating the long-running insurgency.
Addressing a press conference in Quetta on Sunday, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti said at least 200 people were killed in counter-terrorism operations carried out over the last 40 hours. According to Bugti, the toll includes 145 alleged BLA fighters, 31 civilians and 17 security personnel. The operations were launched after militants carried out near-simultaneous attacks across ten cities in the province.
BLA’s Counter-Claims And ‘Operation Herof Phase II’
The BLA has issued competing claims, saying its offensive, titled Operation Herof Phase II, has been underway for more than 40 hours across several districts. In statements released via its official channel, Hakkal, the separatist group alleged that more than 200 Pakistani security personnel were killed and claimed temporary control over several urban and rural areas. These assertions have not been independently verified.
Women ‘Fidayeen’ Spotlighted By Separatist Group
A striking aspect of the BLA’s narrative has been the role of women fighters. According to The Balochistan Post, the group released videos from clashes in Gwadar identifying a female “fidayeen” fighter it said was killed during the operation. She was named as Hawa Baloch, also known as Droshum, with the footage described as her “final message,” recorded about 12 hours before her death.
Sources quoted by the publication said Hawa Baloch was a writer and that her father, previously linked to the Baloch armed movement, was killed in fighting several years ago. In the video, she called on Baloch women to join what she described as armed resistance, alleging oppression by the Pakistani state.
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VBIED Attack And Another Female Operative
In a separate statement, the BLA acknowledged that another female attacker, Asifa Mengal, carried out a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) attack targeting the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) headquarters in Noshki. The group said Mengal joined the Majeed Brigade in October 2023, made her “fidayee decision” in January 2024, and was killed on Friday.
Pakistan’s military said 92 separatists were killed on Saturday and 41 on Friday. The BLA also acknowledged losses within its ranks, stating that 18 of its fighters were killed, including 11 fidayeen from the Majeed Brigade, four fighters from the Fateh Squad and three from the STOS unit, highlighting the scale and intensity of the ongoing fighting.