What is happening in Balochistan? 

Balochistan insurgency, security challenges, and geopolitical implications in Pakistan analyzed by Sanjay Pulipaka from Politeia Research Foundation.

On March 11, militants of the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) hijacked a train with approximately 400 passengers in the mountainous region between Quetta and Sibi in Pakistan. After releasing the women and children, the BLA militants demanded the release of their compatriots from prison in exchange for the remaining passengers. The government of Pakistan refused to negotiate and launched a military operation to free the passengers, which lasted for well over 24 hours.  Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) official stated that there were 21 civilian fatalities and that four Frontier Corps personnel lost their lives in the operation. However, various media outlets have hinted that the Pakistani forces may have incurred further significant losses. Subsequently, Pakistan’s security forces came under heavy attack in different parts of Balochistan.

Before the train hijacking, there were growing concerns about the deteriorating security situation in Balochistan. During a discussion in Pakistan’s National Assembly, some members expressed anxiety that parts of Balochistan may secede from Pakistan. However, intelligence agencies failed to detect a large operation in the making.

The train hijack has demonstrated that insurgents have acquired operational capabilities to launch massive attacks on Pakistan’s security forces and that they can withstand the firepower of special forces for well over 24 hours. Notably, during the stand-off, the militants also deployed effective social media strategies to convey their narrative to the wider world, which is indicative of the insurgents’ increasing tactical sophistication. The episode also shows that there seems to be improved coordination between various Baloch insurgent groups.

As society in Balochistan is structured along tribal loyalties, numerous organisations and armed groups have emerged to articulate the grievances of the Baloch people. While tribal loyalties continue to endure, there seems to be a gradual shift in the composition of armed groups, with middle-class and educated youngsters joining them. The BLA is the most formidable group and has been declared a terrorist organisation by Pakistan and the U.S. While the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) is reportedly more popular among the younger population in southern regions of the province, the Baloch Republican Guards (BRG) is active in areas such as Bolan, Quetta, Sibi, and Naseerabad. A few years ago, these armed groups along with the Sindhudesh Revolutionary Army (SRA) decided to collaborate under the banner of Baloch Raji Aajoi Sangar (BRAS).  The objective of the BRAS is to launch coordinated attacks on Pakistan’s military infrastructure and its intelligence apparatus with greater ferocity.

The current insurgency in Balochistan is not the first of its kind. In fact, the province has witnessed multiple insurgencies, such as the ones in the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, and mid-2000s.

It is important to note that, alongside armed insurgency, there exists a people’s movement advocating for improved access to basic necessities such as drinking water, tackling the rising costs of essential commodities like petrol and medicine, regulating the presence of Chinese fishing trawlers, and ensuring unhindered access to the sea for fishermen. Last year, Balochistan witnessed massive protests led by women who demanded the cessation of custodial killings and fake encounters. The defence forces have often deployed coercive measures such as enforced disappearances (illegal detentions/abductions). 

Over the years, the Pakistani government has attempted to portray the discontent in Balochistan as a consequence of power contestations involving a few tribal chieftains in the province. However, there is no denying that Balochistan was subjected to political and socio-economic neglect. Many in Balochistan complain that their province was forcefully incorporated into Pakistan in 1948. Furthermore, the people of Balochistan rarely experienced political empowerment because of decades of military rule and centralised governance. The province has numerous natural resources, such as coal, copper, gold, and natural gas. However, the exploitation of these resources has not improved local people’s livelihoods.