BLF claims attack on police stations and CPEC highway blockade in Kech

The Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) announced on Tuesday that its fighters successfully seized two police stations in Balochistan’s Kech district. The group claimed to have confiscated weapons and temporarily blocked a major highway linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The attack took place in the Kesak area around 6 p.m. on November 10, during which police officers on duty were detained. The BLF stated that the officers were later released unharmed after interrogation, and that government property was set ablaze, with official weapons also taken by the militants.

Following the attack, the BLF reported establishing temporary checkpoints along the CPEC highway for about thirty minutes. During this time, fighters inspected vehicles traveling in both directions. The group emphasized that no members of Pakistan’s armed forces or intelligence agencies were present during the vehicle inspections. The group’s actions aimed to demonstrate their presence and to challenge the authorities’ control over the strategic route.

Pakistani authorities had not issued an official response to the BLF’s claims at the time of the report. The attacks and disruptions in the region come amid ongoing tensions and violence in Balochistan, where separatist groups seek independence or greater autonomy from the Pakistani government. The situation remains volatile, with frequent clashes and targeted attacks reported in various parts of the province.

In a separate incident, unidentified armed men abducted a man named Nadir, son of Elahi Bakhsh Muhammad Hassani, in the Dashtken area of Kharan district. Local sources indicated that Nadir was allegedly affiliated with a state-backed militia often referred to as a “death squad.” These groups are accused of working in coordination with the Pakistani military, carrying out raids, and engaging in criminal activities such as extortion, drug trafficking, and kidnappings for ransom.

Locally, “death squads” are believed to be militias supported by the Pakistani military to counter Baloch nationalist insurgents. While pro-independence armed groups have claimed responsibility for several attacks targeting these militias in recent years, resulting in casualties and injuries, no organization had claimed responsibility for Nadir’s abduction at the time of the report. The ongoing violence and allegations highlight the complex and tense situation in Balochistan, where militant, state-backed, and criminal elements are deeply intertwined.