In the wake of the recent Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) attack on Chinese nationals, at least five Baloch women have been apprehended, and an extensive search operation is underway in the coastal city of Gwadar, Balochistan.
Following the attack on August 13 by the BLA on a Chinese convoy in Gwadar, a crucial city for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Authorities implemented curfews and road closures. The Pakistani forces initiated a search operation in areas including Faqir Colony and Mondi, leading to the arrest of several individuals who have since been taken to undisclosed locations.
According to reports, five Baloch women reportedly residents of Western(Iranian-administrated) Balochistan were detained by Pakistani law-enforcement officials from Gwadar on Tuesday. After some investigation, they were handed over to the Gwadar police on Wednesday and subsequently presented in court. The women were charged under the Foreign Act before being transferred to jail.
It is pertinent to mention that a dramatic increase has been witnessed in alleged enforced abductions and military operations in Balochistan after the BLA’s attack on Sunday.
The BLA’s attack on Chinese engineers prompted Chinese authorities to call on Pakistan to apprehend the perpetrators and their collaborators, urging for severe punishment.
As per BLA’s statement, the attack resulted in the deaths of four Chinese nationals and 11 Pakistani security personnel who were working for a Chinese company in Gwadar. The BLA claimed responsibility for the attack, specifically attributing it to the Majeed Brigade faction within the organization.
In response, Pakistani security forces launched an intensive search operation that remains ongoing, with a significant number of arrests reported, though details are scarce.