Baloch armed groups have claimed responsibility for a series of coordinated attacks across various regions of Balochistan, targeting Pakistani military personnel, infrastructure, and collaborators. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) issued detailed statements highlighting their operations, which they assert inflicted significant damage on state forces.
The BLA, through its spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch, stated that its operatives carried out nine separate attacks in areas including Dasht, Zamuran, Quetta, Mashkay, Panjgur, Kalat, and Tump. These operations targeted Pakistani military convoys, gas pipelines, railway tracks, collaborators, and vehicles involved in mineral extraction.
In one of the major attacks in Dasht, Kech district, a military convoy escorting foreign tourists for hunting was targeted with a remote-controlled IED. According to the BLA, three soldiers were killed, and four others were injured in the attack. The BLA claimed the assault was also a warning to foreign tourists against hunting endangered wildlife in conflict zones of Balochistan, vowing stricter action if such activities continued. The group identified the deceased soldiers as Naik Zaman and Lance Naik Umar Zahoor and stated that Naik Naeem and three others sustained injuries.
In another operation, BLA operatives attacked military personnel in Zamuran, killing two soldiers and injuring another. Meanwhile, in Quetta, explosive devices were used to target a police vehicle on Kambaran Road and destroy a section of a railway track near Sariab Road. Gas pipelines were also reportedly sabotaged on the city’s western bypass.
The BLA also reported an IED attack on a construction company’s vehicle in Mashkay, damaging the vehicle, while in Panjgur and Kalat, they killed two individuals accused of collaborating with Pakistani forces. In Tump, the group attacked three vehicles transporting minerals, sparing the drivers but issuing a warning against such activities.
Separately, the BLF, represented by spokesperson Major Gahram Baloch, claimed responsibility for attacking a Pakistani military checkpoint in Kolwah, Dam Malaar, on December 24. The assault involved heavy weaponry and reportedly caused casualties and material losses to the stationed forces. On December 25, the BLF also targeted foot patrols in Jhao’s Kork area, resulting in the death of two soldiers and injuries to several others. The group claimed to have downed a surveillance drone during the attack.
The BLF further accused the Pakistani military of establishing camps and checkpoints across Balochistan to extend its control, alleging routine harassment and forced labor of local residents. Major Gahram Baloch reaffirmed the BLF’s commitment to targeting military installations until the complete withdrawal of Pakistani forces from the region.
Both groups paid homage to their fallen leaders and reiterated their resolve for Balochistan’s independence. The BLA commemorated the sixth anniversary of its founder, General Aslam Baloch, lauding his strategic leadership and vision for the armed struggle. The group described him as a beacon of resilience and vowed to continue pursuing his mission for a free and sovereign Balochistan.
The recent surge in attacks underscores the ongoing insurgency in Balochistan, marked by frequent clashes between separatist groups and state forces. The Pakistani military has yet to comment on the claims. However, the situation remains tense as these groups intensify their operations against what they describe as the “occupation forces” in the region.