The 84th Formation Commanders’ Conference of the Pakistan Army was held in Islamabad and chaired by Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir, where ongoing military operations in Balochistan were thoroughly reviewed. According to media reports, Asim Munir directed the Corps Commanders to undertake decisive actions against the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and its suicide wing, the Majeed Brigade.
Military operations in Balochistan have been ongoing for over two decades. Under the Pakistan Army’s “counter-insurgency” policies, thousands of individuals from various sectors of Baloch society, particularly political activists and students, have been subjected to enforced disappearances or extrajudicial killings. The prevailing conflict has compelled millions across Balochistan to live as internally displaced persons or refugees.
Despite hundreds of military operations over the past two decades, they have failed to produce significant results. Armed organisations fighting for Baloch independence have only grown more organised, successfully carrying out deadly attacks on Pakistani and foreign investment projects, particularly those linked to China, which they deem as colonial ventures. These armed groups are increasingly adopting sophisticated tactics, conducting complex operations to challenge the Pakistani military’s authority in Balochistan.
Intensified military operations in Balochistan are likely to lead to a rise in enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, further exacerbating the ongoing resistance against state oppression. Even after two decades, Pakistan’s ruling establishment has failed to grasp that military operations cannot put an end to the Baloch struggle for independence. These operations primarily harm ordinary citizens, deepening resentment and anti-state sentiments, which drive more people towards pro-independence groups. Consequently, after every major military operation, the conflict tends to escalate rather than subside.