Saturday, March 29, 2025
As Pakistan reels from failed airstrikes against India, a fresh crisis is emerging from within its own borders—Balochistan. In a dramatic escalation, three separatist factions of the Baloch rebel movement claim to have seized control over parts of the restive province and have replaced Pakistani flags with Balochistan’s national emblem.
Videos of Baloch fighters hoisting their flag and removing Pakistan’s are rapidly going viral across social media platforms. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a major insurgent group, has taken credit for a series of recent attacks and symbolic acts of defiance, using the unrest following India’s Operation Sindoor as an opportunity to intensify its struggle for independence.
On Thursday, BLA militants launched two attacks against the Pakistani military, including a remote-controlled bomb blast that destroyed a military vehicle and killed 12 soldiers. The BLA later shared footage of the attack on their social channel, Haqqal TV. The frequency of such attacks has increased significantly over the past week.
BLA fighters have reportedly carried out at least four major attacks across Pakistan in the last two days alone, including gunfire exchanges in Quetta and six smaller operations in Kach, Mastung, and Kachi districts.
Prominent Baloch author Mir Yaar Baloch recently stated, “The time has come for the world to shut down embassies in Pakistan and reopen them in Balochistan. Pakistan is over. Welcome to Balochistan.”
This separatist momentum has drawn attention from former Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, who warned that the Pakistani government and military are losing control over Balochistan. Abbasi directly criticized Army Chief General Asim Munir, challenging his earlier assertion that the rebellion was limited to 1,500 insurgents with no real future.
Abbasi highlighted that top government and military officials can no longer travel even short distances within Balochistan without intense security arrangements. This public dissent by a former premier marks a stark contrast to official military narratives and could further destabilize Islamabad’s already weakened authority.
As internal dissent mounts and violence escalates, Balochistan’s call for international recognition has added a new layer to Pakistan’s ongoing crisis. The region’s complex struggle for autonomy may now be entering a decisive phase.
