In a major escalation of violence in Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province, 14 Pakistani soldiers were killed in two separate attacks claimed by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist group demanding independence from Pakistan. The deadly assaults occurred in the Bolan and Kech districts and come at a time when Pakistan’s military is already on high alert following India’s recent cross-border operations under “Operation Sindoor,” targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Details of the Twin Attacks
According to reports, the first attack was carried out by the BLA’s Special Tactical Operations Squad (STOS) in the Shorkand area of Mach, Bolan. The militants used a remote-controlled improvised explosive device (IED) to target a Pakistani military convoy. The powerful explosion obliterated the vehicle, killing all 12 soldiers on board. Among the dead were two high-ranking officers—Special Operations Commander Tariq Imran and Subedar Umar Farooq—making the attack a significant operational blow to the army.
In a separate incident the same day, BLA militants struck again in the Kulag Tigran area of Kech district. This time, the target was a Bomb Disposal Squad of the Pakistani Army, which was conducting a routine clearance operation. The IED detonated around 2:40 pm, killing two soldiers instantly. The twin attacks display the BLA’s growing capacity to execute coordinated operations against the Pakistani military.
BLA Claims Responsibility and Issues Statement
Following the attacks, BLA spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch released a statement justifying the group’s actions. He accused the Pakistani Army of acting as a mercenary force serving foreign interests, particularly China and international lenders. “An army that determines its direction according to the will of changing masters in every era is not a national army, but a commercial one,” he said. The spokesperson further stated that the Baloch people would intensify their armed resistance against what he described as “occupying forces.”
The BLA has long opposed the presence of the Pakistani military in Balochistan, particularly in the context of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a multibillion-dollar infrastructure project that runs through the province. While Pakistan touts the project as a symbol of national development, Baloch separatists argue that it enables economic exploitation and resource plundering, with little benefit to the local population.
Deepening Crisis in Balochistan
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province by area, is rich in natural resources, including gas, minerals, and access to the strategically important Gwadar port. However, despite its economic potential, the region remains underdeveloped and deeply militarized. Locals have long complained of political exclusion, economic neglect, and widespread human rights abuses, including enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings allegedly carried out by state forces.
This has fueled resentment and a growing sense of alienation among Baloch youth, many of whom have joined separatist groups like the BLA, Baloch Republican Army (BRA), and United Baloch Army (UBA). These groups argue that Balochistan’s resources are exploited by the central government and foreign corporations, while the province itself is kept in a state of poverty and under constant surveillance.
Wider Implications and Rising Regional Pressures
The latest attacks also raise concerns about Pakistan’s internal stability, especially as tensions with India remain high. India’s recent military operations against cross-border terror networks have already put Islamabad on edge. Now, with renewed violence from within its borders, particularly in a region with a long history of separatism, the Pakistani state finds itself facing pressure on multiple fronts.
Security experts warn that without meaningful political dialogue and socio-economic reforms in Balochistan, the insurgency is likely to intensify. As the gap between local communities and federal authorities continues to widen, the prospects for peace in the province remain bleak.
