BLA announces twelve-day campaign of highway attacks and mineral vehicle destruction

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for a series of coordinated attacks across Balochistan over a twelve-day period. According to their statement, fighters carried out 11 operations targeting vehicles, commercial convoys, and key transport routes linked to economic projects in the region. These actions appear to be part of a broader effort to disrupt economic activity and infrastructure development in Balochistan.

In a media statement, BLA spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch detailed the group’s activities, asserting that they maintained control over certain sections of major highways during this period. The group specifically targeted convoys associated with the Saindak mining project, fuel and gas transportation vehicles, and other vehicles it accused of supporting the Pakistani state’s economic interests in the region.

The attacks reportedly resulted in the destruction of more than 36 vehicles, including trucks and cargo carriers. Additionally, two bridges on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) route were damaged in explosions, highlighting the group’s focus on assaulting critical infrastructure that links Balochistan to regional connectivity projects.

On June 1, BLA fighters claimed to have temporarily taken control of the Panjgur–Chedgi route for two days. During this period, they reportedly attacked and set fire to six heavy vehicles, disrupting transportation along this key route. Such actions reflect the group’s strategic efforts to challenge control over transportation corridors vital for economic activity.

Further, on June 5, the BLA established checkpoints on the Quetta–Karachi highway near Wallapat in Lasbela district. They conducted vehicle inspections for over an hour, seized control of an excise checkpoint and a company site, and set fire to heavy machinery and ten vehicles. The statement also claimed that an excise official was injured, and three individuals, including a police officer, were briefly detained before being released.

The group also reported conducting temporary roadblocks on the Chamalang–Kohlu road and at two locations on the Quetta–Tafatan highway in Nushki district. These disruptions aimed to hinder movement and transport in the region, further illustrating their tactics of economic sabotage and territorial control.

On June 7, the BLA claimed to have attacked a convoy transporting minerals from the Saindak project in the Kardegap area of Mastung district. They reported destroying three mineral transport vehicles and one military vehicle, with Pakistani personnel either killed or injured in the assault. This attack underscored the group’s opposition to resource extraction initiatives in Balochistan.

Two days later, on June 9, the group allegedly targeted a vehicle belonging to Pakistan State Oil in Mastung. The attack on this transportation vehicle signaled their broader strategy of targeting energy infrastructure and resource logistics to cripple economic activity in the region.

On June 10, the BLA claimed to have attacked another mineral convoy near Rehmanzai in Nushki district. They set ten vehicles on fire and damaged several others, further disrupting resource transportation and highlighting their focus on resource-rich regions. These attacks aim to undermine the economic foundations supporting the Pakistani government’s development efforts.

Finally, on June 11, the BLA reported destroying two bridges near Kharan and Washuk using explosives. These acts of infrastructural sabotage further exemplify their strategy of economic blockade, targeting critical transportation links to impede the movement of goods and resources. The group described these actions as part of a wider effort to oppose projects they associate with state economic interests, including CPEC, Saindak, and Reko Diq mining initiatives.

Overall, the Baloch Liberation Army’s recent activities reflect an ongoing insurgency aimed at disrupting economic development and asserting independence. While the group claims to carry out these attacks as part of an “economic blockade,” Pakistani authorities have yet to publicly comment on the specific claims, casualties, or extent of the damage caused by these operations. The insurgency in Balochistan remains a complex conflict with multiple armed groups and differing narratives surrounding violence and resistance.