Baloch armed groups assert responsibility for multiple attacks across Balochistan and Sindh

Three armed groups from Balochistan claimed responsibility for separate attacks in the region and neighboring Sindh, resulting in the deaths of six people, the detention of two others, and damage to critical infrastructure. These incidents underscore the ongoing conflict and unrest in the area, with various groups opposing the Pakistani state and resource exploitation.

The Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) announced that its fighters conducted a coordinated operation on the night of July 18 in the Kharan district, specifically targeting what they described as a state-backed armed network in the Kulan area. The operation was reportedly aimed at dismantling what the group considers a network of death squads operating under the influence of the Pakistani government.

According to a statement from the BLF spokesperson, Major Gwahram Baloch, the fighters surrounded the location of Hafiz Kabir, whom they accused of leading a local “death squad” network. The operation resulted in Hafiz Kabir’s son, Abdul Hakeem, resisting arrest and being killed in retaliatory fire. Hafiz Kabir and his other son, Hafiz Naveed, were taken into custody by the fighters.

The BLF declared that Hafiz Kabir and Hafiz Naveed would be presented before a “Baloch National Court” for investigation, framing the arrests as part of their efforts to combat what they see as oppressive state-backed forces operating within Balochistan. The group claimed responsibility for the operation and the capture of the two individuals.

In a separate incident that same night, the BLF announced it had shot dead Ghami Sasoli in the Gowash area of Kharan. Sasoli was described by the group as a close associate of Sufi Mumtaz, whom they accused of leading a pro-government armed network involved in enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, theft, and robbery. The killing was presented by the BLF as a strike against figures they deem enemies of Baloch resistance.

The BLF explicitly accepted responsibility for both the detention of Hafiz Kabir and Hafiz Naveed, as well as the killing of Ghami Sasoli. Their statement emphasized their stance against individuals they accuse of collaborating with the Pakistani state and contributing to violence and repression in Balochistan.

Meanwhile, the Baloch Republican Army (BRA) claimed responsibility for attacking a convoy belonging to Mari Energies Limited near Inayat Shah Darbar, close to Sui in Dera Bugti district. The attack took place on Saturday, when the convoy was ambushed by BRA fighters while traveling towards Sui. The attack resulted in four security personnel being killed and eight others, including company employees, wounded.

The spokesperson for the BRA, Sarbaz Baloch, stated that the convoy’s vehicles were severely damaged during the assault. He emphasized that the attack was part of the group’s broader struggle against what they described as the “plunder of resources from Baloch land.” The group expressed its opposition to projects operating in Balochistan without the consent of the Baloch people.

In addition to the BRA, the Baloch Republican Guards (BRG) claimed responsibility for destroying a 36-inch gas pipeline that runs from Sui to Karachi in Sindh’s Kashmore area. Spokesperson Dostain Baloch explained that fighters planted and detonated explosive devices on the pipeline on Saturday night. This act was aimed at disrupting resource flow and asserting Baloch demands for independence.

The pipeline attack was part of a series of operations carried out by various groups seeking independence and control over Balochistan’s natural resources. The groups have stated their opposition to resource extraction projects that they believe benefit the Pakistani state at the expense of Baloch land and people.

Pakistani authorities and Mari Energies Limited, the company responsible for the pipeline, did not immediately comment on the incidents. The attacks highlight the ongoing instability and resistance movements in Balochistan, which remain unresolved despite years of conflict and negotiations.

These incidents reflect the complex and multifaceted nature of the insurgency in Balochistan, involving multiple groups with different objectives but a common desire for independence and resource control. The Pakistani government continues to face significant challenges in stabilizing the region amid these ongoing acts of resistance.