Latest news with #Baloch
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First Post
11 hours ago
- Politics
- First Post
How state plunder and CPEC have made Balochistan Pakistan's Achilles' heel
Pakistan's focus on external threats over internal reconciliation highlights its failure to assert sovereignty through governance, leaving Balochistan a battleground for both local aspirations and global ambitions read more In the past week, the BLA has launched a deadly assault on Pakistani security forces, killing 29 people in Quetta and Kalat. The attack targeted a bus reportedly carrying over 48 passengers, including Pakistani soldiers. Image: AFP The Balochistan Liberation Army's (BLA) relentless campaign against Pakistani forces has thrust Pakistan's largest yet most marginalised province into the spotlight of a deepening crisis. In the first half of 2025 alone, the BLA claimed responsibility for 286 attacks, resulting in over 697 Pakistani military personnel killed and significant territorial gains, including the seizure of 45 strategic locations. In the past week, the BLA has launched a deadly assault on Pakistani security forces, killing 29 people in Quetta and Kalat. The attack targeted a bus reportedly carrying over 48 passengers, including Pakistani soldiers. This incident marks one of the deadliest strikes in recent months, pushing the military's casualty count to its highest in the past six months. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD These audacious operations, marked by sophisticated tactics and coordinated assaults on military infrastructure, signal a reinvigorated insurgency that challenges Pakistan's sovereignty over its resource-rich western frontier. The BLA's actions, including high-profile attacks like the Jaffar Express hijacking in March 2025, underscore a growing defiance rooted in decades of grievances—political exclusion, economic exploitation, and systemic human rights abuses. Balochistan, despite its vast reserves of gas, gold, and copper, remains Pakistan's poorest region, with 70 per cent of its population living in multidimensional poverty. The province's strategic significance, amplified by the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), has only intensified tensions, as Baloch nationalists view such projects as tools of external exploitation rather than local development. Pakistan's heavy-handed military response, characterised by enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, has further alienated the Baloch, swelling the ranks of insurgent groups with educated youth and even women. This escalating conflict exposes not only Pakistan's failure to integrate Balochistan but also its inability to reconcile with a population demanding autonomy or independence. The BLA's growing sophistication and public support signal a broader rejection of Islamabad's authority, raising questions about the state's capacity to maintain control over a region integral to its geopolitical ambitions. As the violence intensifies, the roots of this conflict—historical neglect, resource disputes, militarisation, and external influences—demand closer examination to understand why Pakistan's grip on Balochistan is slipping. Historical Neglect and Broken Promises The roots of the Pakistan-BLA conflict trace back to the forced annexation of Balochistan in 1948, when the princely state of Kalat was coerced into joining Pakistan despite its brief declaration of independence. This historical grievance set the stage for recurring rebellions, with five major uprisings since 1947, each driven by the Baloch people's sense of betrayal. The Pakistani state's early policies, such as the One-Unit scheme of 1955, which merged Balochistan into West Pakistan, stripped the region of its distinct identity and political agency. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD These actions sowed seeds of distrust that have persisted for decades. Baloch nationalists argue that Islamabad's promises of autonomy and development have consistently been broken, leaving the province politically marginalised. Despite constituting 44 per cent of Pakistan's landmass, Balochistan holds only 5 per cent of its population and lacks proportional representation in federal institutions, with Punjabi elites dominating the bureaucracy. The dismissal of Balochistan's provincial government in 1973, followed by a brutal four-year insurgency, further deepened this alienation. Successive governments have failed to address these grievances, opting instead for cosmetic reforms or outright repression. The Baloch see their region's strategic importance—bordering Iran and Afghanistan, with a coastline along the Arabian Sea—as a curse, exploited by the central government for geopolitical gain without reciprocal investment in local welfare. This historical neglect has created a fertile ground for the BLA's narrative of resistance, framing their fight as a legitimate struggle against a state that has consistently failed to honour Balochistan's sovereignty or aspirations for self-determination. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Economic Exploitation and the CPEC Balochistan's vast natural resources—gas, coal, gold, and copper—should have made it a cornerstone of Pakistan's economic growth, yet the province remains mired in poverty. The central government's exploitation of these resources, often without equitable benefit to the local population, has been a key driver of the BLA's insurgency. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a $62 billion infrastructure project linking China's western region to Gwadar's deep-sea port, has become a lightning rod for Baloch grievances. While CPEC is touted as a game-changer for Pakistan, Baloch nationalists view it as a symbol of external exploitation, with Chinese investments prioritising federal and foreign interests over local needs. Militarised Repression Deepens Alienation Pakistan's response to Baloch dissent has relied heavily on militarisation, exacerbating the conflict and undermining its sovereignty over Balochistan. The Pakistani military's 'kill-and-dump' policy, involving enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, has targeted thousands of Baloch activists, students, and intellectuals since the early 2000s. Estimates suggest over 20,000 Baloch have gone missing, with bodies often found bearing torture marks, fuelling public outrage. Operations like the 2025 counterinsurgency campaign, involving drone strikes and mass arrests in Quetta and Mastung, have failed to quell the BLA's momentum, instead radicalising more civilians. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The military's heavy presence—over 50,000 troops stationed in Balochistan—creates a siege-like atmosphere, with checkpoints and raids disrupting daily life. This approach has alienated even moderate Baloch, who view it as collective punishment. The BLA's recruitment of educated youth, including women, reflects this growing resentment, with groups like the BLA's Majeed Brigade conducting suicide attacks against military targets in 2025. Pakistan's refusal to pursue political solutions, coupled with its reliance on force, has strengthened the BLA's narrative of state oppression, eroding trust in federal authority. By prioritising security over dialogue, Pakistan has failed to address the root causes of unrest, allowing the BLA to gain legitimacy as defenders of Baloch rights. This militarised approach not only escalates the conflict but also exposes Pakistan's inability to govern Balochistan effectively, weakening its claim to sovereignty. External Influences and Geopolitical Stakes Balochistan's strategic location and resources have drawn external actors, complicating the Pakistan-BLA conflict and exposing vulnerabilities in Pakistan's sovereignty. Bordering Iran and Afghanistan, with access to the Arabian Sea, Balochistan is a geopolitical hotspot. The CPEC has elevated its importance, with China investing heavily in Gwadar and energy projects. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Meanwhile, Iran's concerns about Baloch militancy spilling across its border have led to joint military operations with Pakistan, further complicating the regional dynamic. The BLA's reported ties to sanctuaries in Afghanistan, where porous borders allow training and arms flows, have emboldened its 2025 offensive, with 45 strategic locations seized. These external factors expose Pakistan's failure to secure Balochistan's borders, undermining its territorial control. The involvement of global powers in CPEC amplifies local grievances, as Baloch nationalists frame their struggle as resistance to foreign-backed exploitation. Pakistan's reliance on Chinese investment to stabilise its economy ties its hands, limiting its ability to address Baloch demands for fear of jeopardising CPEC. This geopolitical entanglement, coupled with Pakistan's inability to counter external influences or secure regional cooperation, has allowed the BLA to exploit fault lines, intensifying the conflict. The state's focus on external threats over internal reconciliation highlights its failure to assert sovereignty through governance, leaving Balochistan a battleground for both local aspirations and global ambitions. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The author, a columnist and research scholar, teaches journalism at St. Xavier's College (autonomous), Kolkata. His handle on X is @sayantan_gh. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost's views.
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First Post
16 hours ago
- Politics
- First Post
Pakistan bans night travel from Punjab to Balochistan over 'security' concerns
The district administration of Dera Ghazi Khan has issued a circular prohibiting traffic from crossing into Pakistan-administered Balochistan after 5 pm. All vehicles will now be able to enter or leave the province only in daylight hours read more Pakistan will no longer allow private or public vehicles to enter Balochistan at night to prevent any 'untoward incident', as the situation in the region remains tense. The district administration of Dera Ghazi Khan has issued a circular prohibiting traffic from crossing into Pakistan-administered Balochistan after 5 pm. All vehicles will now be able to enter or leave the province only in daylight hours. 'The protection of citizens' lives and property is the top priority, and security measures are being made more effective and comprehensive,' Deputy Commissioner and Chairman Regional Transport Authority Muhammad Usman Khalid said, according to Dawn. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What other measures have been imposed? In addition to the nighttime travel ban, a formal notification detailed several other safety protocols. Authorities will record video footage of drivers and passengers on all public transport vehicles at bus terminals prior to departure. Vehicles will also operate under tight security, moving in protected convoys. The directive further requires all public transport vehicles to be equipped with active CCTV cameras, GPS tracking systems, and emergency panic alarms to enable a rapid response in case of any crisis. Balochistan on boil The region has been making news for quite some time as isolated cases of violence surface from Balochistan, with the Pakistan government expressing concern over the situation. Last weekend, a deadly armed conflict exploded in Pakistan's Chaman, killing 7 people and injuring over 12 others. The clashes broke out between two opposing groups in Balochistan. Meanwhile, last week, authorities recovered the bullet-riddled bodies of nine bus passengers who were kidnapped by insurgents during a series of attacks in the province. The separatist Baloch Liberation Front (BLF) claimed responsibility, accusing the victims, identified as labourers, of spying for Pakistani intelligence agencies. Baloch separatists, long demanding a larger share of regional resources, have previously targeted individuals from the eastern province of Punjab in similar killings.
Mint
a day ago
- Mint
Pakistan honour killing: Newlywed couple shot dead in Balochistan; 11 held after video of woman's ‘execution' goes viral
Pakistan police have arrested 11 people after a video of a couple being shot dead by a group of men in Balochistan went viral on social media. The video shows men leading the couple out of vehicles and into a desert before gunning them down with pistols and shooting their bodies. According to a PTI report, political figures and activities have called the newlywed couple's murder as 'honour killing', with the incident sparking outrage in the country. Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti on Monday confirmed that 11 people have been arrested. They are suspected of being behind the "honour killing" of the couple, the report added. The graphic video shows about a dozen men surrounding several vehicles in a desert. A woman, with her head wrapped in a shawl, can be seen walking in front of the vehicles as a man follows her, watched by the group. 'You are only allowed to fire at me, nothing else,' she can be heard saying in Brahvi, a local language, before the man raises a pistol and shoots her at close range, a CNN report said. The woman remains standing, before finally collapsing after the third shot is fired. More gunshots can be heard in the video after the woman collapses. Another video shows the bloodied bodies of a man and woman lying side by side, the report added. A first information report (FIR) was registered by the Station House Officer Naveed Akhtar at Quetta's Hanna-Urak police station, the Dawn newspaper reported. Akhtar said he lodged the complaint after receiving the video clip that had gone viral on social media. He also said that upon investigation, his team discovered that the incident occurred three days before Eid-ul Azha. 'The victims seen in the viral video have been identified as Bano Bibi and Ihsanullah,' the FIR said, naming eight suspects who allegedly shot the couple dead. The FIR also mentioned 15 other unknown suspects involved in the incident. 'Owing to the nature of the murder, the case has now been transferred to the Serious Crime Investigation Wing for further investigation," the newspaper quoted Akhtar as saying. Prior to being killed, the victims were allegedly taken to a tribal leader, who declared them guilty of being involved in an 'immoral relationship' and ordered their execution, following which they were taken to the desert and shot dead, the FIR said. 'The murder was filmed and uploaded to social media to spread fear and panic among the public,' it added. The men in the video were heard speaking the Brahui language, spoken in many parts of Balochistan. Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari called the suspects 'beasts', saying that they deserved no concessions. Baloch activist Sammi Deen Baloch decried the shooting as an 'honour' killing, appealing to Baloch elders to 'respect women's decisions'. 'As a woman, this chilling incident is deeply painful and heart-wrenching for me,' she wrote on X. 'Killing any woman in the name of honour is not only a heinous crime but also the worst humiliation of humanity.
AllAfrica
2 days ago
- Politics
- AllAfrica
Who's fueling Pakistan's Baloch militancy – and why?
In a geopolitical arena increasingly defined by shadows and silence, few conflicts exemplify the dynamics of proxy warfare better than the ongoing militancy in Pakistan's Balochistan province. On July 15, geopolitical commentator Brian Berletic reignited this debate by alleging that Washington may be quietly enabling Baloch militants to accelerate militant activities, particularly against the Chinese engineers and Pakistani security forces in the province. While the veracity of his claims remains contested, they tap into a growing body of evidence suggesting that Baloch militancy is no longer a purely domestic insurgency and is becoming a lever in a broader strategic tug-of-war between two powers. In the last two weeks, Balochistan has witnessed a dozen militant attacks that killed more than 50 people, including two major rank officers of the Pakistan Army. Balochistan, long a flashpoint of political dissent and insurgency, has now become a fault line in a larger global confrontation. Bordering Iran and Afghanistan and home to the strategic Gwadar Port, the province is a linchpin in China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Gwadar's connectivity offers Beijing a trade route bypassing the Malacca Strait, thereby unsettling the strategic calculus of Washington and its allies. Against this backdrop, each explosion targeting Chinese assets seems to echo not just domestic discontent but also certain international anxieties. While there is no smoking gun linking the US to Baloch separatists, circumstantial indicators have become difficult to dismiss. Reports by institutions such as the US Institute of Peace, Foreign Policy and Radio Free Europe have chronicled how abandoned American weapons in Afghanistan, left in the wake of America's hasty 2021 withdrawal, have found their way into the hands of militant groups, including the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Such proliferation of US materiel, even if unintended, becomes part of the strategic ecosystem shaping violence in the region, especially in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The narrative becomes murkier when considering ideological affinities. Baloch insurgents, unlike jihadist movements, couch their rhetoric in secular nationalism, democratic rights and ethnic self-determination, terms that align comfortably with Western liberal values. This alignment has earned them platforms in Washington and Brussels, with diaspora organizations such as the Baloch American Congress advocating openly for US congressional intervention and global scrutiny of Pakistani counterinsurgency policies. While public lobbying does not equate to covert sponsorship, the optics are telling. The same BLA that has claimed responsibility for suicide bombings against Chinese nationals in the recent past is the subject of panel discussions and briefings in Western capitals. The US government's 2019 designation of the BLA as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) appears, on closer inspection, more cosmetic than consequential. Little effort has apparently been made to stem the group's transnational networking, fundraising or narrative-building efforts. This duality is not unprecedented. From Latin America to the Middle East, the US has a long history of maintaining a diplomatic posture in public while facilitating, or at least tolerating, destabilizing elements in private. In Syria, for instance, American condemnation of jihadist violence was accompanied by covert support to anti-Assad forces. The lines between rebels and terrorists were often redrawn depending on the utility they offered against regional rivals. In insurgent-riddled Balochistan, the strategic logic is not so different. Baloch militants disrupting China's infrastructure investments serve a purpose, even if Washington's hands appear clean. The same logic applies to Iran, where Baloch-dominated areas in Sistan and Baluchestan remain hotspots of insurgent activity. Tehran has consistently accused the US and Israel of fostering groups like Jaish al-Adl – a Sunni militant group responsible for attacks on Iranian security forces. Whether these claims are true or false, the persistent instability in these borderlands benefits actors looking to contain Iran's regional reach. India's role further complicates the equation. Wary of growing China-Pakistan cooperation, New Delhi has been accused by Islamabad of funding Baloch separatists from Dubai, the UAE and other Gulf states. With the Taliban now in power and reshuffling regional alliances, the question of who continues to aid the BLA has resurfaced. Pakistan's muted response to these developments is telling. Despite a litany of attacks on security forces and Chinese personnel in Pakistan, Islamabad has avoided naming the US as a potential stakeholder in the insurgency. Instead, the blame is largely directed at India, or vaguely attributed to 'hostile intelligence agencies.' This diplomatic restraint is not without reason. Pakistan's economic fragility—underscored by recurring bailouts from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and reliance on Western financial systems—leaves it ill-equipped to confront Washington directly. Yet silence carries its own risks. By refusing to confront the full scope of the insurgency's geopolitical entanglements, Pakistan allows the crisis to metastasize. Equally damaging is the state's failure to differentiate between legitimate political dissent and armed rebellion. Baloch youth, academics and civil rights activists are often swept into the same security net as armed insurgents. The resulting alienation fuels resentment, creating a fertile ground for both radicalization and foreign manipulation. The case of imprisoned Mahrang Baloch, a civil rights advocate whose peaceful calls for justice have been met with suspicion and surveillance, illustrates this conflation. In the eyes of the Pakistani state, a protester with a placard is often indistinguishable from a militant with a gun. This securitized lens has not only delegitimized meaningful political dialogue but has also deprived Islamabad of moderate Baloch interlocutors capable of bridging the widening trust deficit. In this vacuum of political disengagement, external actors are pursuing their strategic interests. The less space Pakistan provides for peaceful negotiation and catharsis, the more attractive insurgency becomes, not just for disillusioned Baloch youth, but for global players seeking soft targets in their strategic contestations. Proxy wars, after all, do not require formal alliances; they merely need alignment of interests. And align they do. Baloch militants are disrupting China's economic vision, challenging Iran's border security and exposing Pakistan's internal fissures—all without implicating Western capitals in overt complicity. This is the new face of hybrid conflict: wars fought without declarations, allies backed without acknowledgment and casualties incurred without consequence. For Pakistan, the path forward requires more than military operations and international complaints. It demands an honest reckoning with its internal policies and external dependencies. Until the state distinguishes political grievances from armed rebellion, invests in inclusive governance and navigates its foreign partnerships with clarity and conviction, Balochistan will remain vulnerable – not just to insurgency, but to the invisible hands that steer it for great strategic interests. In the chessboard of 21st-century geopolitics, militancy is rarely merely a domestic affair. It is a mirror reflecting the ambitions of distant capitals. To ignore this is to mistake the symptom for the cause, and in doing so, to risk losing both the province and the peace in Balochistan.
Business Recorder
2 days ago
- Climate
- Business Recorder
‘Sindh govt fully prepared for monsoon challenges'
KARACHI: As the monsoon season sets in, Spokesman Sindh Government Mustafa Abdullah Baloch has announced that the Sindh Government is fully prepared to tackle the challenges expected from upcoming heavy rains, saying that the provincial administration has taken all necessary steps to safeguard lives, agriculture, and infrastructure. Baloch has said that the Monsoon Contingency Plan 2025 has been activated across the province in coordination with the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and district administrations. The plan includes de-silting of drains, deployment of dewatering pumps, establishment of emergency control rooms, and a province-wide alert system to respond swiftly to any rain-related emergency. ' He said that special attention is being given to rural areas where the impact of flooding can be more severe. The Agriculture and Livestock Departments have activated mobile units for veterinary care and fodder distribution. Crop-monitoring teams are also in place to assess potential damage and provide immediate support. He said that the government is in close coordination with the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) for real-time weather updates. He noted that early warnings are being shared with all local bodies, and flood-prone areas are under active surveillance. 'We are ready to respond the moment a risk is detected.' To ensure public safety, the Information Department has launched a mass awareness campaign across television, radio, and digital platforms. Citizens are being advised to follow safety guidelines, avoid unnecessary travel during heavy rainfall, and contact local help-lines in case of emergencies. 'The Sindh Government has taken all necessary precautions to mitigate the risks associated with heavy rains. With well-coordinated planning, adequate resources, and active field teams across the province, we are in a strong position to respond effectively to any situation that may arise. Our focus remains on protecting lives, maintaining essential services, and ensuring timely support wherever needed,' he said. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
