The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has released a detailed statement regarding what it calls the fourth phase of “Operation ZirPahazag,” carried out by its elite unit, the Majeed Brigade, against Pakistani intelligence facilities in Gwadar on March 20, 2024.
According to the BLA, the operation targeted the headquarters of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Military Intelligence (MI), allegedly resulting in over 25 deaths among various branches of the Pakistani armed forces.
The BLA statement mentioned, ” Six personnel, including two commissioned officers of Pakistani military intelligence, eight personnel of ISI and 12 personnel of Pakistani navy and military were eliminated in the attack. Eight fidayeen of BLA Majeed Brigade fought valiantly and made the ultimate sacrifices during today’s attack.”
The BLA spokesperson, Jeeyand Baloch, said that the attack, near Marine Drive in Gwadar, involved several hours of heavy combat, including engagement with Pakistani navy commandos and the neutralization of multiple members of Pakistani death squads.
The BLA statement also paid tribute to the individuals who participated in the Gwadar attack, listing their names and describing them as educated individuals. Three militants were graduates in Commerce, Chemistry, and Political Science, and one was a torture survivor. Shaukat Hakeem Gango was named as the operation’s commander.
Furthermore, the BLA claims that “Operation Zir Pahazag” serves as a warning to foreign investors interested in Gwadar and other Baloch territories, suggesting the attack demonstrates their ability to target any location. “If BLA can attack the most secure secretive agency of Pakistani state and eliminate scores of its members for hours, then BLA has the capacity to easily achieve any target in any place or city.”
Meanwhile, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported that security forces intercepted an attempted attack by eight militants at the Port Authority Colony in Gwadar on March 20, 2024. In the fierce exchange of fire that ensued, two soldiers, Sepoy Bahar Khan and Sepoy Imran Ali, who fought valiantly against the attackers, were killed. The ISPR statement added.
In a post on social media platform ‘X’, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti said eight militants were “neutralised by security forces.” He added: “The message is loud & clear. Whosoever chooses to use violence will see no mercy from the state.”
Makuran Commissioner Saeed Ahmed Umrani said that armed with guns and bombs, the militants stormed the complex just outside the port that houses offices of government departments, intelligence agencies and paramilitary forces. He confirmed that a large contingent of police and security forces had arrived at the scene, with intense firing continuing for a sustained period after the attack began.
A statement from the United Nations Department for Safety and Security reported that “several explosions followed by continuous firing” occurred during the attack on the complex, adding that the facility hosts several government and paramilitary offices.
Journalist Kiyya Baloch, in a social media post on ‘X’, reported that initial accounts from Gwadar indicated at least four MI officials were among those killed in the attack, with casualties expected to rise.
Abdul Basit, a researcher at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, said in a post on ‘X’, “1st major attack against CPEC in 2024 & 1st under the new government. The last attack in Gwadar was on a bus carrying Chinese engineers in Aug 2023. It is a complex attack involving suicide bombers & attackers. Ahead of the new PM’s visit to China, this does not bode well.”
According to eyewitnesses, the initial phase of the attack on the Gwadar Port Authority Complex was marked by a large explosion that was heard throughout Gwadar city. This was followed by a series of smaller explosions and intense gunfire that started simultaneously. The initial firing reportedly lasted for almost forty-five minutes, succeeded by intermittent firing that continued for several hours.
The Gwadar attack has also been widely covered by major international news outlets, underscoring the significance of the incident. Prominent news organizations such as Al Jazeera, Reuters, Business Standard, and Bloomberg provided extensive reporting on the events in Gwadar. These outlets highlighted the scale of the attack, its implications for the region, and the claims from both the BLA and the ISPR.
What is Majeed Brigade of BLA?
BLA’s Majeed Brigade, formed in 2011, is recognized as the group’s most modern and lethal unit. It was named after Majeed Lagove Junior, who was killed on March 17, 2010, in Quetta, following a fierce clash with security forces and secret service personnel. On the day of Majeed Langove Junior’s death, Aslam Baloch announced the formation of the BLA’s self-sacrificing unit.
Since its inception, the Majeed Brigade has carried out numerous high-profile attacks targeting Pakistani security forces and Chinese interests within Pakistan. Among its recent operations was a significant attack in Balochistan’s Mach town named “Operation Dara-e-Bolan”, which, according to BLA claims, resulted in the deaths of 78 security personnel, 12 members of the Majeed Brigade, and 1 member of the Fateh squad.
The Majeed Brigade has been particularly active in Gwadar, undertaking more attacks there than in any other region as part of its “Operation ZirPahazag.” The recent attack on March 20, 2024, which targeted ISI and MI facilities, represents the fourth major offensive under “Operation ZirPahazag.” The BLA says that “Operation ZirPahazag” was launched by the Majeed Brigade to protect the Baloch coast and counteract the exploitation of Baloch resources by what it calls the “occupying” Pakistani state and its allies.
The first attack of “Operation Zir Pehazag” occurred on May 11, 2019, targeting a luxury hotel frequented by Chinese engineers working on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project in a highly militarized and secure area. The BLA claimed control of the hotel for over 24 hours, alleging the killing of several Chinese nationals and Pakistani military personnel before the attackers ended their own lives after running out of ammunition.
Subsequent operations in Gwadar included an attack on a Chinese convoy on August 19, 2021, which killed six Chinese nationals and three security personnel, and another attack on August 13, 2023, resulting in the deaths of four Chinese and nine Pakistani military personnel, along with several injuries.
The Majeed Brigade has also been notable for including female ‘fidayeen’ in its operations. The first female ‘fidayee,’ Shari Baloch, targeted Chinese nationals outside Karachi University’s Confucius Institute in April 2022, followed by Sumaiya Baloch, who attacked a convoy of Pakistani military officials on June 24, 2023.
Additionally, the Majeed Brigade has executed other large-scale attacks, such as those on military camps in the Noshki and Panjgur districts in 2022, where militants engaged with security forces for several days, and a significant attack on the Chinese consulate in Karachi on November 23, 2018.