Karachi Suicide Blast: BLA and the long history of Baloch nationalism in Pakistan

Resources in Balochistan include natural gas, oil and coal yet the local community is not only denied a part in the development but also in administration.

Karachi: The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) on Tuesday claimed responsibility for the suicide attack at Karachi University that killed four people, including three Chinese. This was one of the most daring attacks against the Chinese in recent years, thousands of whom are involved with the ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) project that passes through the restive Balochistan province.

Balochistan has long demanded independence from Pakistan, and the multi-billion-dollar OBOR has further inflamed passions. It is the largest province of Pakistan, comprising 44 per cent of the country’s area, but is the least developed and inhabited, comprising only 5 per cent of the total population.

The province is rich in resources such as natural gas, oil, coal, copper and sulphur, but the local populace is not only deprived of a share in the development but also in governance. The Baloch are primarily Sunnis but have different cultural and social practices than the Punjabis who control most of Pakistan’s political and military power.

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The BLA, operating out of Balochistan, has attacked Chinese citizens and interests earlier too. The group has for years been leading a low-level insurgency against Islamabad, and the Pakistani establishment has retaliated with a brutal crackdown on activists, often based on suspicion, thus drawing international condemnation.