The new year has begun with a deadly attack by the armed resistance movement for independence in Balochistan, targeting the Pakistan Army. On January 4th, in the Bahman area near Turbat, the Majeed Brigade, a fidayee unit of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), carried out a devastating suicide attack on a bus in a convoy of Pakistan Army personnel. The attack resulted in 47 fatalities, over 30 injuries, and the destruction of multiple vehicles.
The past year proved particularly challenging for the Pakistan Army and Chinese investors, as there was a significant surge in activities by the Baloch Liberation Army and the Balochistan Liberation Front across Balochistan. Armed organisations carried out 938 attacks in 25 districts of Balochistan, resulting in over 1,000 deaths, 679 injuries, and widespread damage to infrastructure and property.
The year 2024 marked a display of resolve and strength by the Baloch Liberation Army. Through Operation Herof, they seized control of key locations in Balochistan; in Operation Zirpahazag, they targeted critical military installations in Gwadar and Kech; and inflicted irreparable damage on Chinese investors at sensitive locations like Karachi Airport.
The attacks of the past year, coupled with the recent fidayee strike at the start of 2025, indicate that the Majeed Brigade’s lethal and complex operations will continue throughout the year. Armed organisations fighting for independence will persist in demonstrating their full might, further jeopardising China’s interests and the security of the Pakistan Army in Balochistan.