1st May, India
Over 100 Pakistani soldiers were killed and 22 captured by BLA in major attacks across Balochistan; India responds by closing its airspace to Pakistan as regional tensions escalate.
In a huge setback to Pakistan’s military establishment, the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) recently carried out a string of coordinated, remote-controlled IED attacks in Margat, Quetta, against Pakistani security forces in the past week. 10 personnel on board were killed in the attack. Killing a minimum of 102 soldiers, taking 22 as prisoners.
The attacks represent one of the bloodiest spates of insurgency in the restive Balochistan province in years.
The attack follows a month after the BLA hijacked the Jaffar Express in the Bolan region of Pakistan. Some 339 passengers were held hostage during the deadly train hijacking, and a total of 25 people lost their lives in the attack.
The train was traveling from Quetta to the northern city of Peshawar when the track was destroyed by the BLA, causing nine coaches and the locomotive of the Jafer Express train to stop or partially halt within a tunnel.
One of the most important breakthroughs is the reported murder of an ISI officer who was overseeing counter-insurgency activities in the region. Security experts’ opinion is that this may indicate a serious intelligence failure within the Pakistani military establishment.
The uptick in violence has caused shockwaves throughout the region, with India acting quickly to seal its airspace to all Pakistani planes. The action, while not officially attributed to the BLA attacks, is being perceived as a strategic pressure move with increasing regional instability.
Indian defense officials have confirmed that the action was taken keeping national security interests in view and the worsening situation on the western front.
Global observers are closely watching the evolving crisis. Though Pakistan has designated the BLA as a terror group, human rights activists have long pointed out the Baloch people’s complaints of state repression, enforced abduction, and denial of autonomy.
The Pakistani army has promised revenge and opened an operation to reassert control in the affected areas. Yet, experts say that unless the underlying causes of unrest in Balochistan are addressed, such cycles of violence are bound to repeat themselves.
As diplomatic tensions mount and violence intensifies on the ground, the world and South Asia watch this fast -and unfolding and perilous situation closely.
