Two major “pro-independence” Baloch armed groups, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF), have claimed responsibility for separate attacks in Balochistan’s Noshki and Kharan districts.
The BLA claimed responsibility for the killing of an alleged agent of the Pakistani army in Noshki. In a statement to the media, BLA spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch said that the man, identified as Abdul Waheed, son of Abdullah Babar, was shot dead at Mal Stop in Noshki city. The spokesperson claimed that Waheed, a resident of Sindh, had been “working undercover as an informant” for the Pakistani army.
Jeeyand Baloch added that BLA fighters had been monitoring Waheed for some time and that the group takes full responsibility for the killing. He also asserted that the BLA would “continue its attacks against the Pakistani army and its collaborators.”
In a separate statement, the BLF claimed responsibility for setting fire to construction machinery belonging to a company working on a China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project in Kharan.
According to BLF spokesperson Major Gwahram Baloch, the attack occurred on Friday, August 23rd, in the Sargardan area of Kharan. The spokesperson said that after carrying out the attack, the BLF fighters successfully returned to their safe locations.
Gwahram Baloch described Pakistan as an “occupier of Balochistan” and claimed that the state engages in “exploitation and violence under the pretext of development.” He warned that the BLF would not allow any projects that contribute to what the group describes as the “genocide of the Baloch people” and the “plundering of Baloch resources.”
The BLF also issued a warning to contractors, stating that they would be “held responsible for any loss of life and property” if they continue to participate in state projects.
Both the BLA and BLF have reiterated their commitment to continuing attacks against the Pakistani state, its projects, and those they consider collaborators.