Baloch Rebels Are Attacking Pakistan Amid Rising Tensions
The Balochistan uprising has reached a critical point in May 2025, with the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) launching aggressive attacks on Pakistani army positions. This surge in violence, including Quetta attacks and rebel control in Kech and Mastung, underscores the growing Baloch independence movement.
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has escalated its campaign against the Pakistani army, targeting key locations across Balochistan. A devastating Quetta bomb blast on May 8, 2025, killed 12 soldiers, marking one of the deadliest attacks in recent months. The BLA also launched attacks on Pakistani army positions in Kech and Mastung, temporarily seizing control and raising the flag of Balochistan over government buildings, replacing the Pakistani flag.
Flag Of Independent Balochistan pic.twitter.com/KKReMPNzwg
— Beebagr Baloch (@Beebagr_Baluch) May 10, 2025
These attacks on Pakistani army forces are part of a broader strategy to disrupt state control, with the BLA protesting against the exploitation of resources like the gas fields in Dera Bugti by Pakistan Petroleum Limited and foreign entities through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The group’s targeting of Chinese assets under attack in Pakistan highlights their resistance against the CPEC, which they view as a threat to Baloch sovereignty.
Pakistan’s Response and Rising Civilian Casualties
The Pakistani army has responded with a heavy-handed military crackdown in Balochistan, leading to a spike in civilian casualties in the Pakistan Baloch conflict. Reports of enforced disappearances have surged, with activists like Mahrang Baloch arrested by the Pakistani army for her role in the Baloch independence movement. The role of women in the Balochistan movement has become increasingly prominent, as figures like Mahrang inspire resistance against the Islamabad-Rawalpindi regime. Meanwhile, Pakistan is grappling with multiple fronts of unrest, including the Pak vs India border conflict following Operation Sindoor, India’s strikes on terror camps, and Pakistan drone attacks. Former PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi warned that Pakistan is losing control over Balochistan, a sentiment echoed by the BLA’s independence declaration and calls for a Balochistan embassy in Delhi.
Implications for Balochistan’s Fight for Independence
The Balochistan resistance against the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and the Pakistani state signals a deepening crisis. The BLA’s attacks in Quetta and Kech, alongside their symbolic acts like raising the Baloch flag, reflect a growing separatist movement in South Asia. While the BLA has shown tactical success, sustained control remains elusive, and international support for Baloch independence is limited. However, the unrest, combined with Pakistan’s internal challenges—such as the Faizabad grenade attack and comments from Army Chief Asim Munir on Balochistan—could destabilize the region further. If Baloch rebels continue to target strategic assets and gain popular support, Balochistan’s fight for independence may pose a long-term challenge to Pakistan’s unity.
