On the evening of 2 May, dozens of armed men carried out a well-coordinated, large-scale assault on the strategically located town of Mangochar in Balochistan’s Kalat district. They managed to hold control for several hours. During the operation, vital installations including the NADRA office, judicial complex, banks, and other government buildings were set ablaze. The Pakistan Army’s main camp in the area came under direct attack, and several police personnel were reportedly taken into custody along with their weapons. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack.
Mangochar is situated on the National Highway (N-25), which connects Karachi and Quetta. The militants’ ability to maintain control over the town for several hours was not just an act of violence but a clear and symbolic message. This was the BLA’s fourth major and deadly attack this year, indicating a significant shift in the strategic approach of the Baloch armed movement. Prior attacks this year include the hostage-taking incident aboard the Jaffer Express (train) in Mashkaf area of Dhadar, a suicide assault on a military convoy in Noshki, and other similar coordinated strikes in the outskirts of Turbat and Khuzdar, all resulting in significant losses for the security forces.
Prior to the seizure of Mangochar, in January 2024, the BLA launched an attack on the town of Machh, maintaining control for three days. Similarly, in January 2025, armed militants attacked the tehsil of Zehri in Khuzdar, set government buildings ablaze, seized police weapons, and patrolled various parts of the town.
Attacks on towns by the BLA and the Baloch Liberation Front, recurring ambushes on mineral-laden trailers, and the establishment of snap-check posts along national highways have posed a grave challenge to the writ of the Pakistani state in Balochistan. The speed, planning, and intensity of these operations suggest that Baloch armed groups are now moving beyond traditional guerrilla tactics towards temporary urban occupations and symbolic governance.
Under these circumstances, a pressing question arises: can projects such as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) remain secure in Balochistan without the consent and participation of Baloch national institutions? The swift capture of towns like Mangochar and the armed groups’ growing operational boldness make it increasingly clear that developmental initiatives perceived as exploitative will not be feasible if they continue to disregard local political and national realities.