Saturday, March 29, 2025
In a major blow to Pakistan’s internal security, Baloch separatists launched deadly attacks on Pakistani forces in Balochistan, leaving at least 14 soldiers dead. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for two coordinated improvised explosive device (IED) strikes on May 7, one in the Bolan region and another in Kach.
The first attack took place in the Shorkand area of Bolan Pass, where BLA fighters detonated a remote-controlled bomb targeting a military vehicle transporting troops. The explosion completely destroyed the vehicle, killing all 12 soldiers on board. Among the casualties were Special Operations Commander Tariq Imran and Subedar Umar Farooq.
Hours later, another IED explosion hit a bomb disposal unit in the Kulg Tiguran area of Kach district. The blast claimed the lives of two additional soldiers, bringing the total death toll from BLA operations that day to 14.
BLA spokesperson Zind Baloch issued a statement after the attacks, asserting that the Pakistani military was not protecting national interests but acting as “guards of Chinese commercial projects.” The reference points toward China’s controversial investments under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The BLA vowed to continue its armed struggle against what it calls foreign occupation and economic exploitation of Balochistan.
Balochistan is Pakistan’s largest province by area, covering nearly 44% of the country’s territory but home to a small fraction of its population. Despite its size and rich natural resources, the province has witnessed decades of insurgency against the central government. Many locals feel economically and politically marginalized since Balochistan became part of Pakistan after 1947.
The province is a critical node in China’s Belt and Road Initiative, and unrest here poses a direct threat to multibillion-dollar infrastructure and energy projects.
The attacks come at a time of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, following Indian airstrikes under Operation Sindoor. While Pakistan remains on high alert on its eastern borders, the BLA’s internal offensive has opened a new front for its overstretched military.
These back-to-back strikes highlight Pakistan’s internal vulnerabilities and raise questions about the security of Chinese interests in the region.
