The Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) has declared war on Baloch “pro-independence” armed groups, accusing them of launching “unprovoked” attacks on its fighters in Balochistan’s Mastung district.
The announcement was made in a 36-minute Pashto-language video released by ISKP’s media wing, Al-Azaim Foundation, on Sunday.
In the video, ISKP claims that the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) attacked its fighters in Mastung two months ago. The narrator says ISKP had previously maintained a “non-aggression policy” towards Baloch insurgents but now considers them adversaries.
“Difficult and bloody days are ahead,” the narrator warns, adding that ISKP will retaliate against Baloch armed groups and their supporters, just as it has fought the Afghan Taliban.
The video also claims that ISKP operates training camps in the mountainous regions of Balochistan—a claim previously made by the Afghan Taliban and affiliated media outlets.
Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Afghan Taliban, has previously said ISKP fighters involved in attacks in Afghanistan were trained in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He linked ISKP’s presence in the region to support from “certain intelligence agencies” in Pakistan.
Mujahid claimed the attackers behind the May 2024 Bamyan shooting and the September 2024 Kabul bombing were trained in Mastung.
Military analyst Aziz Stanekzai said after the attacks in Bamyan and Kabul that “ninety-five percent of the attacks that take place in Afghanistan are planned in Pakistan, and those crimes are then carried out in Afghanistan.”
The ISKP video ends with a threat to civilians, warning them against attending rallies organized by Baloch groups. The narrator describes these gatherings as “prime targets” for future attacks.
While ISKP has declared war on Baloch armed groups, analysts say it faces significant challenges in confronting them directly.
The Baloch armed organisations, including the BLA and BLF, have deep local roots, established networks, and sustained operational capacity in Balochistan. In contrast, ISKP lacks widespread support and manpower in the region.
However, analysts warn the development could pose a serious threat to Baloch rights groups, including the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC).
The BYC has been campaigning against enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and state repression in Balochistan. It has faced a severe state crackdown in recent months, with senior leaders detained on charges of terrorism, sedition, and murder.
Despite this, the group has continued to organize widespread protests across Balochistan and Karachi.
Analysts say the BYC’s visibility and non-violent platform make it a potential target for ISKP, which has a history of attacking civilian gatherings.
The Baloch Liberation Army, one of the largest armed groups in the region, has not yet responded to ISKP’s latest statement.
However, in a recent statement, the BLA accused Pakistan of sponsoring global terrorism through its intelligence agencies. It named groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, and ISKP.
“Pakistan has not only been a breeding ground for global terrorists but also a centre for the state-sponsored development of deadly terrorist groups,” the BLA said.
“Under its [ISI’s] auspices, Pakistan has become a nuclear state of violent ideology, which is becoming a volcano for its own people and for the entire world.”
The BLA called for international support to end the bloodshed in Balochistan. It argued that political, diplomatic, and military backing could help “eliminate the terrorist state of Pakistan” and establish an independent Balochistan.
The group said an “independent Balochistan would act as a stabilizing force in the region, permanently stop the export of terrorism to the subcontinent, and initiate a new chapter of peace and prosperity.”
The BLA warned that without international intervention, the conflict could escalate further, leading to more bloodshed and instability.
“Sooner or later, we will destroy this occupying terrorist state and liberate our motherland,” the BLA said. “However, the longer this process is delayed, the more bloodshed, terrorism, and instability the world will have to endure.”