Pakistani authorities confirmed that 16 military personnel were killed in Thursday’s attack on a convoy at Ziarat Cross, while the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility, put the death toll at 18 and said its specialised unit, the Fateh Squad, took part in the operation.
The attack took place on the main highway at Ziarat Cross, which falls administratively within Pishin district. BLA spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch said fighters targeted four vehicles in the convoy and destroyed two, including a military truck.
He said five wounded personnel escaped, while BLA fighters seized weapons from the convoy.
The Ziarat Cross attack was the third major attack on a Pakistani military convoy since July in which the BLA said its Fateh Squad had taken part.
What Is the Fateh Squad?
According to the organisation’s literature, the Fateh Squad is the BLA’s fifth wing and its “vanguard unit”, comprising experienced fighters with specialised combat capabilities.
Until October 2018, the squad operated as an organised component of the Special Tactical Operations Squad (STOS), which the BLA identifies as its fourth wing.
Following the death of BLA fighter Fateh Qambarani alias Chairman on Oct. 20, 2018, the organisation established the Fateh Squad as a separate unit and named it after him in recognition of what it described as his bravery.
The BLA describes the squad as an “elite wing” tasked with leading direct assaults, breaching defensive positions and remaining at the forefront of attempts to capture military camps.
The organisation first publicly announced the existence of the Fateh Squad after its May 31, 2021 attack on the Owais Camp of the Ghazaband Scouts’ 129 Wing in the Marwar area of Bolan.
The BLA claimed that 24 Pakistani military personnel were killed and one was captured alive during the attack. It said three of its fighters, identified as Hingal Marri, Aftab Jattak, and Shahwez Zehri, were also killed.
Jeeyand Baloch identified the three men as members of the Fateh Squad and said the unit comprised selected fighters whom the organisation considered particularly fearless and naturally skilled in combat.
He said its members received specialised training to lead fighters in direct confrontations, break through opposing lines and penetrate defensive positions.
A booklet released by Hakkal, the BLA’s official media channel, says the squad is responsible for securing routes for other units and taking the lead in attacks and attempts to capture military camps.
According to the booklet, its fighters are expected to open fire first, breach the initial defensive line and then withdraw ahead of the main force to secure its return route.
The booklet sets out 17 rules governing the squad, stating that members may no longer act independently after joining the unit and must comply with decisions of the BLA’s central command.
It says members who flee, surrender or leave the organisation will face severe consequences, adding that they are provided with specialised and lightweight weapons and prohibited from using communications technology outside designated times.
The booklet further states that the BLA determines whether and when to disclose the identities of Fateh Squad members killed in operations, depending on operational requirements. It says members are prohibited from revealing their ranks under any circumstances.
Recent Attacks Involving the Fateh Squad
On July 16, the Fateh Squad led a coordinated attack on a Pakistani military convoy in the Khad Kocha area of Mastung, the BLA said. According to the group, the convoy comprised 18 buses carrying military personnel and dozens of escort vehicles.
The BLA later claimed that 62 military personnel, including three officers, were killed in that operation.
Earlier, on July 8, the Fateh Squad ambushed a four-vehicle convoy of the Pakistani military’s 1 Sindh Regiment near Walpat in Bela as it travelled from Karachi towards Basima, the BLA said.
The Pakistani military confirmed that 11 personnel, including a junior commissioned officer, were killed, while the BLA put the toll at 17 and said its fighters seized weapons and military equipment.
The BLA has also said the Fateh Squad took part in several other major operations, including Operation Herof I, the hijacking of the Jaffar Express and Operation Herof II.
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