In Pakistan’s southwestern province of Balochistan, tension has increased after a big attack by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA). The BLA is a group that has been fighting for a separate Baloch nation for many years. They say that the government is not treating the Baloch people fairly.

On May 30, BLA militants entered the city of Surab in Balochistan, at the same time when Pakistan’s Army Chief Asim Munir was visiting nearby Quetta. The militants took control of several important places in Surab. These included the Levies office (local tribal security), police stations, the deputy commissioner’s office, a guest house, and bank branches. They set fire to government buildings, looted the banks, and damaged security vehicles.

During the attack, a local government officer named Hidayat Buledi lost his life while trying to save civilians. The BLA also said they seized around 30 Kalashnikov rifles and other weapons from government offices.

The Pakistani government responded by saying that their security forces fought back and the militants were forced to leave after a short time. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the violence and said that such actions only hurt innocent people. A Balochistan government official also suggested that India may be involved in the incident, although no proof has been given.

This attack has shown that the BLA is becoming stronger, and it has also raised questions about the ability of Pakistan’s security forces to keep control in the region. In the past, the BLA has carried out many violent attacks, including hijacking a train and bombing a railway station in Quetta. With this latest incident, concerns about safety and peace in Balochistan have once again come into focus.

ISH has reported on this topic earlier as well. In case you missed it, you can watch the full coverage on these links:
https://youtu.be/m2B-E0d05og?si=3JA6n8UM4i5XCgKp
https://youtu.be/ILIB2Y5xhkY?si=r76_ncMpB082elpR

Tags

• BLA
• balochistan
• pakistan

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