The recent surge in activity by Baloch militant organizations, particularly the Baloch Liberation Front (BLF), marks a significant escalation in the decades-long struggle for an independent Balochistan. This new phase, dubbed “Operation Bam,” which translates to “dawn” or “the beginning of something new,” aims to intensify the fight and weaken the Pakistani administration.
Key Details of “Operation Bam”
- Objective: The BLF’s stated goal is to provide a strategic shift to their fight for an independent Balochistan.
- Timeline and Scope: The operation began on July 9th and involved 84 attacks over three days. The attacks were concentrated in four districts of Balochistan: Wasuk, Panjpur, Kech, and Kharan.
- Targets: The attacks were highly targeted, focusing on:
- Pakistani military officials
- Government police, customs, and intelligence services
- Infrastructure, including mineral transport trucks, mobile towers, and a government secretariat bus.
- Reported Casualties: The BLF claims to have killed over 50 Pakistani military and police personnel and executed nine individuals identified as intelligence personnel.
Historical Context of the Baloch Conflict
The struggle for Balochistan is not a new phenomenon. Groups like the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) have been active for over 25 years. The conflict has seen a notable increase in attacks in 2024, with a 119% rise in incidents, totaling 171 attacks. It highlights several major attacks from 2024 and early 2025, including:
- Simultaneous attacks near Quetta on January 30 2024.
- An attack on the Gwadar Port Authority colony on March 20 2024.
- An attempted attack on the PNS Siddique naval airbase on March 26 2024.
- A railway station blast in Karachi-Quetta on November 9 2024.
- An attack by the BLA that killed 18 soldiers on February 1 2025.
- A train hijacking on March 11 2025.
Reasons Behind the Conflict
This attributes the conflict to the Baloch people’s dissatisfaction with the Pakistani government. The BLA, banned and declared a terrorist organization by Pakistan in 2006, claims that despite the region’s rich natural resources, the Baloch people live in poverty. They hold the Pakistani government responsible for this situation. The BLA also opposes China’s growing influence in Balochistan through Pakistan.
It suggests that the conflict has intensified due to political instability and public discontent in Pakistan, which has provided an opportunity for Baloch organizations to escalate their struggle.