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BLA’s Jan 30‑31 attacks spark fresh violence and diplomatic row in Balochistan

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Coordinated BLA strikes hit nine districts, killing 84 security personnel and kidnapping 18. On Jan 30‑31 the Balochistan Liberation Army hit police stations, military outposts and a high‑security prison in Quetta, releasing a video in which leader Bashir Zeb Baloch claimed responsibility and framed the raids as phase two of the “Herof” operation. The group announced the death toll and abductions. [2]

Pakistani forces counter‑attacked, killing at least 145 militants; interior minister blamed India. The army launched province‑wide operations after the raids, reporting 145 insurgents killed. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi publicly accused India of planning the attacks, offering no evidence. [1]

India rejected the accusations, calling them baseless and a diversion. On Feb 1 the Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement denying any involvement, labeling Pakistan’s claim as “usual tactics to deflect attention from its own internal failings.” [1]

Violence surged in 2025, with 254 attacks and over 400 deaths, a 26 % rise from the previous year. The Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies recorded the spike, underscoring the province’s deteriorating security environment. [1]

Balochistan’s mineral wealth and CPEC corridor attract major projects, yet insecurity threatens investment. The $60‑billion China‑Pakistan Economic Corridor traverses the province, and in Sep 2025 US‑based Strategic Metals signed a $500 million MoU with the military‑aligned Frontier Works Organisation to mine minerals, but recurring attacks jeopardize such ventures. [1]

Long‑standing grievances fuel the insurgency, with over 10,000 disappearances since 2011. Amnesty International documented mass enforced disappearances; the BLA and Balochistan Liberation Front now operate under the united front Baloch Raaji Aajoi Sangar, employing suicide bombers and temporary territorial seizures. [1]

  • Bashir Zeb Baloch, BLA leader: claimed the Jan 30‑31 attacks and urged Baloch men and women to join the “national liberation war.”
  • Mohsin Naqvi, Pakistan’s interior minister: asserted that India planned the attacks, stating “India is behind these attacks.”
  • India’s Ministry of External Affairs: categorically denied involvement, describing Pakistan’s allegations as “baseless” and a tactic to shift focus from internal problems.

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