The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist militant group seeking independence for Pakistan’s Balochistan province, has issued statements claiming responsibility for a series of coordinated attacks across Balochistan in early May 2025, coinciding with heightened India-Pakistan tensions following India’s Operation Sindoor. Below is a detailed summary of the BLA’s statements on their latest attacks, their stated objectives, and the broader context, incorporating relevant information from your previous query about the India-Pakistan ceasefire and PM Modi’s Adampur visit.
BLA Statements on Latest Attacks
The BLA, through its spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch, released statements detailing their operations, particularly between May 6–12, 2025, targeting Pakistani military and infrastructure. Key points from their statements include:
- Scale and Targets (May 6–12, 2025):
- May 6–7 Attacks: On May 6, the BLA conducted two deadly improvised explosive device (IED) attacks in Bolan and Kech, killing 14 Pakistani soldiers, including two special operations commanders. A video showed a remote-controlled IED hitting a military convoy in Shorkand, Mach, killing 12 personnel. A second strike in Kech’s Kulag Tigran killed two bomb disposal squad members.
- May 8 Attacks: The BLA claimed six coordinated attacks in Kech, Mastung, and Kachi, targeting Pakistani forces, their supply lines, and communication towers. These included a remote-controlled IED attack on a bomb disposal squad in Dashtuk, Kech, and an assault on an army outpost in Katgan, Kech, with reported casualties.
- May 9–10 Attacks: The BLA escalated operations, claiming control of Mangochar city in Kalat district on May 10, blocking the Quetta-Karachi National Highway (N-25), and setting fire to government buildings (NADRA, Judicial Complex, National Bank). They temporarily detained and released local police.
- May 11–12 Attacks: The BLA claimed 71 coordinated attacks across 51 locations, targeting military convoys, intelligence hubs, police stations, and mineral transport vehicles. Some operations lasted hours, with highway blockades and captures of police stations. The group stated these attacks tested “military coordination, ground control, and defensive positions” for future warfare.
- Strategic Objectives:
- The BLA described the attacks as part of their “struggle for liberation” against Pakistan’s “occupation” and exploitation of Balochistan’s mineral wealth. They aim to disrupt state control, project dominance, and prepare for “organized warfare.”
- The group accused Pakistan’s military and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of fostering global terrorism, naming groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), and ISIS. They warned that Pakistan’s “fanatical military establishment” controlling nuclear weapons is a “ticking time bomb” for global security.
- The BLA rejected claims of being a foreign proxy, asserting they are a “dynamic and decisive party” in South Asia’s future, with a “rightful place” in regional military and political dynamics.
- Appeal for Support:
- The BLA urged the international community, specifically India, for political, diplomatic, and military support to achieve a “peaceful, prosperous, and independent Balochistan.” They assured India that, if it decides to “eliminate the terrorist state of Pakistan,” the BLA and Baloch nation are ready to attack from Pakistan’s western border.
- They criticized Pakistan’s ceasefire with India (May 10, 2025) as “deceptive” and a “war tactic,” urging India to distrust Pakistan’s peace rhetoric.
- Warnings to Locals:
- The BLA warned Baloch locals against assisting Pakistani forces, threatening consequences for those supplying or collaborating with the military in areas like Zamaran and Tigran. They targeted vehicles involved in “looting Baloch resources” in Mastung and destroyed a Ufone communication tower in Kachi.
Context and Connection to India-Pakistan Ceasefire
The BLA’s attacks occurred during and after India’s Operation Sindoor (launched May 7, 2025), which targeted terror camps in Pakistan and PoK in response to the April 22 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians. The operation strained Pakistan’s military, creating an opportunity for Baloch rebels to intensify their insurgency. The BLA’s May 11–12 statement explicitly noted opening “another front” for Pakistan during the India-Pakistan escalation, exploiting Pakistan’s focus on its eastern border.
- Ceasefire Dynamics: The India-Pakistan ceasefire, announced on May 10, 2025, was claimed by the US as a result of its mediation, though India insisted it was bilateral. Your previous query about PM Modi’s Adampur visit on May 13 highlighted India’s rejection of US mediation and its firm stance against terrorism. The BLA’s appeal to India for support aligns with their narrative that Pakistan sponsors terrorism (e.g., LeT, JeM), echoing India’s accusations during Operation Sindoor. However, India has not publicly responded to the BLA’s call, maintaining its policy against supporting separatist movements.
- Pakistan’s Response: Pakistan’s military accused India of backing the BLA, labeling it an “Indian proxy” in the May 7 attack that killed seven soldiers, though no evidence was provided. Former PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi admitted on May 8 that Pakistan’s government and army are losing control of Balochistan, especially after dark, contradicting Army Chief Asim Munir’s claim that the insurgency involves only 1,500 people.
- Regional Implications: The BLA’s attacks, including symbolic acts like replacing Pakistani flags with Baloch ones, have gained traction on social media, amplifying their visibility. Their timing amid India-Pakistan tensions and the ceasefire suggests a strategic bid to weaken Pakistan internally while seeking external allies.
Critical Analysis
- BLA’s Strength: The BLA claims a robust network, but analysts estimate they have only several hundred fighters, primarily based along the Afghanistan-Balochistan border. Infighting among separatist groups (e.g., BLA vs. United Baloch Army in 2015) and surrenders (500 rebels in 2017) have historically limited their scope.
- Foreign Support Claims: Pakistan’s accusations of Indian involvement lack evidence, as noted by former US envoy Richard Holbrooke in 2011. Afghanistan has historically provided sanctuary to Baloch rebels, including BLA leader Brahumdagh Bugti, who fled there in 2006, but current Taliban-ruled Afghanistan’s stance is unclear.
- Human Rights Concerns: The BLA has been accused of ethnic cleansing, targeting non-Baloch residents (e.g., Punjabis, Pashtuns), and attacking schools and teachers, as reported by Human Rights Watch. These actions undermine their claim of a just liberation struggle and alienate local support.
- Nuclear Risk Narrative: The BLA’s warning about Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal aligns with global concerns about nuclear stability during the India-Pakistan conflict, as seen in US mediation efforts. However, their call for military support risks escalating regional tensions further.
Sentiment on X
- BLA Supporters: Posts by @Shahaanbaloch95 and @bahot_baluch amplified the BLA’s statements, highlighting their attacks and appeal to India. @BalochistanPost reported additional claims by the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) for attacks in Kharan and Surab.
- Mixed Reactions: Some users praised the BLA’s defiance, while others criticized their violence, reflecting polarized views on the insurgency’s legitimacy versus its human rights abuses.
Conclusion
The Baloch Liberation Army’s statements on their May 2025 attacks claim 71 operations across 51 locations, targeting Pakistani military and infrastructure to assert control and disrupt state authority. They frame their struggle as a fight against Pakistan’s exploitation and terrorism sponsorship, appealing to India and the world for support while warning of Pakistan’s nuclear risks. The attacks leveraged Pakistan’s distraction during Operation Sindoor, tying into the fragile India-Pakistan ceasefire you referenced. However, the BLA’s limited manpower, lack of local support, and human rights abuses temper their impact. Pakistan’s unproven claims of Indian backing further complicate the narrative.
If you need specific visuals (e.g., BLA attack videos from India Today or Times of India), further details on a particular attack, or analysis of India’s stance on the BLA, let me know