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On the night of August 25-26, 2024, the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a secessionist group fighting for the independence of Balochistan from Pakistan, launched Operation Herof ("Black Storm"), a series of coordinated terror attacks and suicide bombings on a Pakistani army camp, police stations, and other targets, killing dozens of Pakistani soldiers and police officers.[1]
BLA executed the Operation Herof attacks to coincide with the 18th anniversary of Pakistani military's assassination on August 26, 2006, of Nawab Akbar Bugti, the Baloch national hero and former defense minister of Pakistan.[2]
In a recent report, a Baloch media outlet examined the history and role of terror attacks and suicide bombings executed by the Baloch Liberation Army, a secular rebel group that does not advocate jihad. The comprehensive report says that despite the Pakistani army blaming foreign and Indian intelligence agents for the decades-old rebellion in Balochistan, a number of suicide attacks were executed by students, poets, writers, activists, and football players, among others, because the Baloch people are disillusioned with Pakistan.
Following are excerpts from the report:[3]
"On August 11, 2018, The Second Suicide Bomber Of The BLA's Majeed Brigade, Rehan Aslam, The Son Of BLA Chief Aslam Baloch, Targeted A Bus Carrying Chinese Engineers In Dalbandin, Balochistan, Reviving The Majeed Brigade"
"Hundreds of fighters from BLA's Majeed Brigade, STOS, and Fatah Squad participated, challenging the state's writ for twenty hours and establishing effective control over Balochistan for a short period. The BLA named this operation Herof. Herof is a word from the Balochi and Brahui languages, meaning Black Storm.
"Operation Herof was the fourth major operation by the BLA's suicide unit, Majeed Brigade. Before this, the BLA's Majeed Brigade conducted Operation Zarpahazag (May 11, 2019; August 20, 2022; August 13, 2023; March 20, 2024; March 25, 2024), Operation Ganjal (February 2, 2022), and Operation Darra-e-Bolan (January 29, 2024). Various defense analysts have termed all these operations as successful.
"However, among all these attacks, Operation Herof can be considered the largest military action in the history of Baloch armed resistance, during which the BLA maintained control over key roads and important locations from Makran to Koh-e-Suleman for twenty hours, effectively eliminating the [Pakistani] state's writ.
"What Are The Reasons For BLA's Success?
"For over two decades, the Baloch Liberation Army had maintained a low-intensity insurgency in Balochistan using traditional guerrilla warfare techniques. However, in 2018 and the years following, the BLA started a series of suicide attacks and complex, coordinated operations, presenting a new, significant challenge to the state of Pakistan. To understand the reasons for these attacks, we need to look into the internal story of the Baloch Liberation Army, which may help in understanding the causes of their successes.
"The Baloch Liberation Army began modernizing its traditional guerrilla operations when the BLA underwent major institutional changes, established new institutions, and, after reorganization, selected Aslam Baloch, also known as General Aslam, as its leader. Subsequently, on August 11, 2018, the second suicide bomber of the BLA's Majeed Brigade, Rehan Aslam, the son of BLA chief Aslam Baloch, targeted a bus carrying Chinese engineers in Dalbandin, Balochistan, reviving the Majeed Brigade."
"The Majeed Brigade Is A Suicide Unit Of Highly Trained BLA Fighters, Named After A Senior Commander Of The BLA, Majeed II, Who Was Killed On March 17, 2010, In A Clash With The Pakistani Military Near Golimar Chowk In Quetta"
"The Majeed Brigade is a suicide unit of highly trained BLA fighters, named after a senior commander of the BLA, Majeed II, who was killed on March 17, 2010, in a clash with the Pakistani military near Golimar Chowk in Quetta. The Majeed Brigade carried out its first attack on December 31, 2011, by targeting the alleged 'death squad' leader Shafiq Mengal. After a long silence, the Majeed Brigade targeted a convoy of Chinese engineers at Dalbandin on August 11, 2018.
"Since then, the BLA's Majeed Brigade has carried out twelve major suicide attacks in Karachi, Gwadar, Turbat, Panjgur, Nushki, Bolan, and Bela, involving 64 suicide bombers. Since the August 11, 2018, suicide attack, the BLA has launched severe attacks on key military targets of the Pakistani military in Balochistan, their economic interests, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor [CPEC], and international investors.
"Apart from the change in leadership within the Baloch Liberation Army, another major reason for these successful and impactful attacks is public support. The silent majority of the Baloch nation leans toward the BLA, which is the fundamental reason why the Pakistani state and military have not been able to control the BLA, despite their utmost efforts.
"The primary stance and narrative of the Baloch Liberation Army is that Pakistan is forcibly occupying Balochistan, and the BLA is the national army of the Baloch people, fighting for liberation from this occupation. The BLA has been steadfast in its fundamental stance of 'Balochistan's independence' for the last twenty-five years, engaging in combat with the Pakistani military. Due to the historical accuracy of the BLA's stance and its unwavering commitment for twenty-five years, the Baloch people hold a soft corner for them and provide practical support.
Shari Baloch, the first martyrdom-seeking bomber of BLA with her kids
"On the other hand, alleged oppression and atrocities by Pakistan in Balochistan have been ongoing for decades. Enforced disappearances [of Baloch activists], mutilated bodies, military operations, and economic and expansionist policies have caused the state of Pakistan to lose the practical support of the Baloch people. Whatever support is shown in propaganda often hides fear or greed behind it.
"In projects like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, the participation of the Baloch people is minimal. Meanwhile, actions such as the fencing of the Goldsmith Line [Iran-Pakistan border] separating Western and Eastern Balochistan and restricting business activities further affirm the BLA's stance that economic progress for the Baloch people is not possible within Pakistan's system..."
"For The Past 25 Years, The BLA Has Been Particularly Focused On Ensuring That Their Attacks Do Not Harm The Baloch Public; On The Other Hand, The Pakistani Military Has Caused Far More Civilian Casualties And Damage To Property"
"Analysts observing the Baloch insurgency believe that due to state restrictions on surface-level politics or peaceful struggles, all other avenues for Baloch youth to raise their voices have been blocked. Merely for holding rallies, processions, and press conferences, Balochs are abducted and subjected to torture; often, they are brutally killed to silence them. As a result, Baloch youth see no other path besides armed struggle. Among Baloch nationalist circles, the general opinion is, 'We are being killed anyway, so it's better to die resisting than to die unarmed.'
"Looking solely at student politics, former Chairman of Baloch Students Organization (Azad) Zahid Baloch was forcibly disappeared on March 18, 2014; Vice Chairman Zakir Majeed on June 8, 2009; Information Secretary Shabbir Baloch on October 4, 2014; and BNM leader Dr. Deen Mohammad Baloch on June 28, 2009, all of whom remain missing to this day. These are just a few names; besides them, thousands of political workers have been forcibly disappeared, and there is no information about where they are or their current condition.
Two suicide bombers who took part in Operation Herof of August 26, 2024
"On April 3, 2009, Baloch National Movement (BNM) Chairman Ghulam Mohammad Baloch, along with Central Committee members Lala Munir and Sher Mohammad, was detained by Pakistani forces from their lawyer Kachkol Ali Advocate's chamber in Turbat. On April 9, 2009, their mutilated bodies were found in the outskirts of Turbat near Margaap. Similarly, BNM Secretary General Dr. Manan was killed along with five other companions by Pakistani forces on January 30, 2016, in Mastung.
"Central leader of the Baloch Republican Party, Jaleel Reki, was detained by Pakistani forces on February 13, 2009, and his mutilated body was recovered from District Kech on November 24, 2011. Former Vice Chairman of BSO Azad, Sangat Sana Baloch, was detained by forces on December 7, 2009, and his body was found in Turbat on February 13, 2012. BSO Azad Secretary General Raza Jahangir was killed by forces in Turbat on August 14, 2013, along with BNM leader Imdad Bajeer. BSO Azad Central Committee leaders Kambar Chakar and Ilyas Nazar were forcibly disappeared and later found murdered on February 5, 2011, with their mutilated bodies dumped together...
Baloch nationalist circles believe that Pakistan has been using force since day one to suppress the emerging political movements in Balochistan. A recent example of this can be seen in how Pakistani forces blocked all routes during the Baloch Raji Muchi organized by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee, preventing people from reaching Gwadar. This once again sends a message to Baloch youth that in Balochistan, the only way to raise a voice is through arms; otherwise, peaceful voices are brutally silenced forever...
"For the past 25 years, the BLA has been particularly focused on ensuring that their attacks do not harm the Baloch public. On the other hand, the Pakistani military has caused far more civilian casualties and damage to property..."
"Consider The Female Fidayeen In The BLA: Shari Baloch, Who Was Pursuing An MPhil Degree; Summaiya Baloch, Who Was Associated With Journalism; And Mahal Baloch, A Law Student"
"The [Pakistani] state's narrative has always been that the insurgency in Balochistan is due to foreign interference, a claim that holds truth only within the realm of state propaganda aimed at crafting a favorable public opinion. However, the ground realities are quite the opposite.
"In the BLA, educated youth are willingly sacrificing their lives, wealth, and careers to participate in the struggle. No rational, educated person would sacrifice their life merely for money. For a recent example, consider the female fidayeen in the BLA: Shari Baloch, who was pursuing an MPhil degree; Summaiya Baloch, who was associated with journalism; and Mahal Baloch, a law student.
"Suleman Hamal, who participated in the BLA's Majeed Brigade attack on the Karachi Stock Exchange, was a writer and poet. Another fidayee, Hammal Momin, who took part in Operation Darra-e-Bolan, was a novelist. Many of the fidayeen [martyrdom-seeking bombers] in the Majeed Brigade have had some connection to intellectual or literary circles. This is one of the reasons why the state's narrative against Baloch resistance fighters has not gained any traction among the public.
"A brief look at the other fidayeen of the Majeed Brigade reveals the same pattern. Abdul Razaq Baloch, who participated in the attack on the Chinese Consulate in Karachi, was an educated youth and a poet. Badal Baloch, the commander of the Noshki FC Camp [of the Frontier Corps of Pakistani army] operation during Operation Ganjal, was not only a highly educated graduate of Balochistan University but also a columnist fluent in Balochi, Urdu, and English.
BLA rebels in the mountains of Balochistan
"Another attacker in the same operation, Rauf Baloch, wrote poetry and columns in Urdu and Balochi, while Yasir Noor was also a columnist. Aziz Zehri was well-known as a poet in the Brahui language, while Murad Ajo was a poet and author in Balochi. In the second phase of Operation Ganjal, during the Panjgur attack, Sami Sameer, one of the attackers, was considered one of the best football players in the Panjgur district of Balochistan.
"Hamid and Ilyas, who commanded the same attack, were also well-known football players. Atta Baloch, who commanded Operation Darra-e-Bolan, was a writer and poet, and Zeeshan Zehri was a Hafiz-e-Quran. In the fourth phase of Operation Zarpehazag in Gwadar, Babar Nasir and Khalif Baloch, who were involved in the attack, were both educated writers and poets.
"Another state narrative is that only a handful of individuals or a few tribal chiefs are responsible for the ongoing war for independence in Balochistan. However, in recent days, the Balochistan government has placed at least three thousand individuals, including professors, student leaders, and people from various fields, on the Fourth Schedule, accusing them of being affiliated with the Baloch Liberation Army..."
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