The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has announced control over Mach city and its surrounding areas in Balochistan as part of ‘Operation Dara-e-Bolan.’ This extensive operation, involving BLA’s elite units such as the Majeed Brigade, Special Tactical Operations Squad (STOS), and Fateh Squad, has been ongoing for over 15 hours.
In a media statement, BLA spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch stated that the STOS has secured all entry and exit points around the area, employing explosive mines to deter Pakistani forces. Additionally, the Fateh Squad has taken control of strategic locations in Mach city, including the Police Station and Railway Station, to closely monitor the movements of the security forces.
The BLA statement claims that a unit of its Majeed Brigade has encircled the main camp of the Pakistani forces, preparing for a prolonged engagement. “The Fidayeen of Majeed Brigade will fight till their last bullet,” Jeeyand Baloch stated.
The group also claimed to have killed a key member of what it called “a government-backed death squad in Balochistan’s Mach area last night in the battle.
Sources say that the said person has been killed in the BLA’s operation Dara-e-Bolan since last night. The deceased has been identified as Shakur Rahiju.
BLA also released an audio recording on its media channel Hakkal, claiming it is one of its fighters taking part in attacks in Bolan. The fighter claims the whole area is in BLA’s control and they have confiscated weapons of Pakistani personnel.
Meanwhile, The Balochistan Post has received videos from locals where Pakistani gunship helicopters fly over Mach city and intermittent gunfire can be heard across the town. A large number of BLA fighters are reportedly still present in the town for the last 20 hours.
According to the BLA, the operation has inflicted significant losses on the Pakistani forces, with an estimated 45 personnel killed in Mach and an additional 10 in the Peer Ghaib assault. The BLA also acknowledged the loss of its four members from the Majeed Brigade.
The BLA’s statement emphasized the operation’s aim to highlight the ‘cowardly nature’ of the Pakistani forces, condemning their alleged ‘brutalities’ against civilians and issuing a direct challenge for a confrontation. Jeeyand Baloch concluded the statement with a call to the Pakistani military for a direct battle, inviting them to bring their media to witness the events.
As of this report, the ISPR (Inter-Services Public Relations) has yet to issue a statement regarding the operation. However, Jan Achakzai, the Information Minister of Balochistan, has commented, suggesting that Pakistani forces have effectively thwarted the attack, resulting in six BLA militants being killed, while mentioning an ‘updated missing persons list’ in his statement.
It’s important to note that in past incidents where Baloch militants have inflicted significant casualties on Pakistani forces, there have been allegations of Pakistani forces responding by killing Baloch missing persons already in their custody. Additionally, an official in Pakistan indicated that updating the missing persons list could suggest a grim reality, as the BLA has only reported four deaths, yet the Information Minister is claiming six.
According to local journalists, the government is completely unaware of the real situation and is sharing wrong information.