In a series of incidents in Balochistan, a senior non-commissioned officer from the Pakistani military was reportedly abducted from Bolan. Meanwhile, separate attacks in Kalat saw security forces and a mineral transportation vehicle targeted by “pro-independence” armed groups.
On Wednesday evening, armed fighters set up a makeshift checkpoint in the Margat area of Bolan. A Pakistani military officer and his associate were reportedly detained during the inspection. This incident led to an increase in military presence, as large contingents arrived in the area.
While no group has officially claimed responsibility for the Margat abduction, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has been active in this region in the past, carrying out similar operations against Pakistani forces. Notably, last year, they had set up a similar highway checkpoint in Harnai and abducted two soldiers. This escalation was evident when a rescue attempt saw a Pakistani army helicopter getting shot down.
Moreover, the BLA had previously captured an active-duty Pakistani military officer, Colonel Laiq, and his associate near Ziarat, and later executed him. The BLA also recently claimed responsibility for an IED attack near Margat, which led to the death of Shabar Mirza, the project manager of the Pakistan Mineral and Development Corporation (PMDC).
In a separate incident in Kalat’s Mangochar area, the BLA targeted and torched a vehicle involved in mineral transport on Tuesday. BLA spokesperson, Jeeyand Baloch, issued a warning to companies allegedly collaborating with Pakistan in extracting Balochistan’s resources.
In Kalat’s Shah Mardan area, the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) claimed responsibility for an attack on a security forces camp, killing two soldiers and injuring three. Major Gwahram Baloch, the BLF spokesperson, detailed that the attack occurred on October 7th, around 9:30 PM, with heavily armed BLF fighters ambushing the camp.
Major Gwahram Baloch emphasized that the BLF is expanding its operations in Balochistan and underscored the BLF’s vision to unify the Baloch freedom struggle under a unified leadership. He asserted that their advances and successes aim to bring together other Baloch “pro-independence” groups. He also encouraged the Baloch youth to join their cause, aiming for a free and prosperous Balochistan.