BLF initiates “Operation Baam” in Balochistan, over 50 attacks reported within 24 hours

A wave of coordinated attacks has swept across Balochistan, signaling a significant escalation in the ongoing insurgency. The Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) announced the initiation of a new armed campaign called “Operation Baam,” which has been met with widespread violence and disruption throughout the region. This campaign marks a deliberate effort by the group to intensify their resistance against Pakistani security forces and infrastructure.

In a statement released on Wednesday night, Major Gwahram Baloch, the spokesperson for the BLF, described “Operation Baam” as the dawn of “a new era in the Baloch national liberation war.” The word “Baam” in Balochi translates to “dawn” or “sunrise,” symbolizing a fresh beginning for their struggle. The group claimed that this operation would usher in a period of renewed resistance and territorial assertion.

According to Major Baloch, the BLF has launched this operation across the entire region, from the coastal areas of Balochistan to the rugged mountains of Koh-e-Sulaiman. He stated that “coordinated and multifaceted attacks” are being executed against enemy targets, with the group promising to release detailed information at the conclusion of the campaign. The statement underscored the operational scope and strategic intent behind the offensive.

Since the announcement, over 50 attacks have been documented within just 24 hours, affecting numerous districts including Kech, Kharan, Khuzdar, Kalat, Panjgur, Washuk, Musakhel, Sibi, Mastung, Naseerabad, Quetta, Chagai, and Dera Bugti. The rapid succession of assaults highlights the level of coordination and planning among Baloch armed groups, signaling a shift toward more organized and sustained military activity.

One of the most alarming incidents occurred in Mekhtar, near Musakhel, where armed militants reportedly established a checkpoint near Sar Daki. They intercepted a passenger bus traveling from Quetta to Punjab, and according to local sources, twelve passengers were abducted and later executed. The victims, reportedly from Punjab, underline the brutal tactics employed by insurgents and the potential for regional tensions to escalate.

In Panjgur’s Qalam Chowk area, Pakistani forces’ checkpoints came under attack around 11:00 AM, marking the beginning of a series of assaults across multiple districts. Kharan experienced three consecutive attacks, including on a Military Intelligence office, a Frontier Corps checkpoint along Gwash Road, and a security convoy. These targeted strikes aimed to weaken Pakistani security infrastructure and demonstrate the insurgents’ operational reach.

In Sibi district, police and military checkpoints near Karmo Wadh, Dosa Lashari, and the toll plaza were targeted. In the Jhao region, armed attacks targeted military camps and communication towers, including Ufone mobile towers in Nowndrah Kolanj, Gazi, Darukocha, and Doleji. These attacks aimed to disrupt both military operations and civil communication networks critical for governance and security.

Kech district witnessed multiple attacks across various localities, including Mand, Sari Gadgi, Bal Negor, Nyami Kalag, Jusak, and Tump. Security camps and checkpoints in these areas were targeted with mortar shells, indicating an escalation in the use of heavy weaponry. Mortar shells were fired at a Pakistani military camp in Gwarkop, with several projectiles reportedly landing inside the compound, causing damage and chaos.

A major assault was launched on a military camp in Kolwah, Kech district, where armed fighters destroyed surveillance drones, quadcopters, and security cameras. Over twenty militants on motorcycles reportedly surrounded the United Bank Limited branch in Minaz, evacuated staff, and then set the building on fire, destroying the structure completely along with its cash and records. These acts of economic sabotage demonstrate the insurgents’ intent to destabilize regional stability.

Further attacks targeted military posts in Tejaban and police positions in the Sasoli and Lohi areas of Naseerabad and Sohbatpur districts. In Kalat, violence spread to localities such as Kapoto, Tok, Marjan, Mangochar, and Dasht Goran, where security forces engaged in armed clashes and communication towers were set ablaze to hinder government control and civilian connectivity.

In Washuk district, insurgents seized control of a Levies checkpoint, torching vehicles and burning down two rooms at the site. They also launched road blockades and set fuel tankers on fire, disrupting transportation and logistics essential for both civilian life and military operations. Such tactics aim to paralyze government response and establish territorial dominance.

Attacks in Khuzdar’s Wadh Palimas and Darkala areas targeted a central military camp and vehicles transporting minerals, causing significant damage and operational delays. In Dalbandin, vehicles carrying gas supplies were ambushed, damaging critical infrastructure and hindering resource flow. These targeted strikes on economic assets reflect a strategic effort to weaken state control and regional stability.

In Quetta, the provincial capital, security checkpoints in Sona Khan, Hazar Ganji, and Kirani Road came under fire, with reports of armed clashes and damage to infrastructure. Nearby Mastung district was also affected, with attacks on checkposts and a government secretariat bus, highlighting ongoing threats to civil administration and stability.

Security officials confirmed that drones and surveillance equipment used by Pakistani forces have been targeted and destroyed across several areas. Local authorities acknowledged casualties and financial losses caused by these coordinated attacks, which have significantly impacted the region’s security environment and civil infrastructure.

As of late Thursday, the region remains under heightened alert, with road blockades, snap checkpoints, and restricted movement persisting across many districts. The provincial government acknowledged the attacks and stated that security operations are actively underway to contain the insurgency, though progress remains challenging.

Independent analysts observe that the scale and coordination of these attacks indicate a substantial evolution in the operational capabilities of Baloch armed groups. They suggest these groups are shifting from traditional guerrilla tactics toward more organized, territorial control strategies, reminiscent of past large-scale campaigns.

This pattern of simultaneous, multi-target operations bears a striking resemblance to “Operation Herof,” launched by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) in August 2024. During that campaign, the BLA reportedly killed over 130 Pakistani soldiers and seized control of major highways and strategic installations, including a 20-hour occupation of a military base in Bela, marking the most extensive and coordinated assault in the history of the Baloch insurgency.

Defense experts describe “Operation Herof” as a turning point, showcasing the increased military sophistication and operational reach of Baloch insurgent groups. The continuation of such organized and lethal attacks across Balochistan underscores their expanding capabilities and territorial ambitions, posing a serious challenge to Pakistani security forces.

The ongoing violence highlights broader security concerns for Pakistan and regional stability. It also raises alarm over international commercial interests in the region, given Balochistan’s strategic importance and resource wealth. As insurgent groups demonstrate growing operational strength, the conflict’s protracted nature seems increasingly likely, demanding a coordinated and sustained response from authorities.