Rebels who shook Pakistan

BLA’s Setbacks and Attacks
• On October 18, 2018, Kandahar’s police chief Gen. Abdul Raziq Chakzai was assassinated by the Taliban, leaving questions about the BLA’s fate.
• In December 2018, BLA’s top commander Aslam Baloch was killed in a blast, causing concerns about the BLA’s logistical network.
• The U.S. designated the BLA as a terrorist outfit on July 2, 2019.
• The BLA carried out several daring attacks, including the Pearl Continental Hotel in Gwadar in May 2019.

BLA’s Biggest Attack
• On March 11, 2025, the BLA carried out its biggest attack in its nearly 25 years of operation against the Pakistani state.
• The attack, executed across a vast area interspersed with mountain tunnels, indicates the BLA has bounced back from the setbacks of 2018-21 and highlighted the souring state of relationship between Pakistan and the Taliban.

Support Base
• On October 7, 2024, the BLA claimed responsibility for a blast that targeted Karachi’s airport road, killing two Chinese nationals and injuring 10 Pakistani nationals.
• The BLA does not possess a formal structure like other armed nationalist groups in South Asia and West Asia.
• The BLA rebels claim that Pakistan has been exploiting the rich resources of the province without giving due share to the indigenous people and the tribes.

BLA’s Voice and Controversies
• The BLA suffered from lack of coordination and internal controversies after the death of Aslam Baloch.
• The London-based pro-independence leader Hyrbair Marri is generally considered an overground voice of the group.
• The BLA’s visit to India has highlighted an old link between Baloch nationalist leaders and India.

Security Challenges
• With the BLA gaining strength in Balochistan and the Pakistani Taliban stepping up attacks in the tribal region, Islamabad-Rawalpindi is facing multi-pronged security challenges.