The role of external powers cannot be excluded while looking at the Baloch insurgency. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has received political and financial support from external powers for a very long time, particularly from India, which is the archenemy of Pakistan. The support of external elements complicates this issue as it becomes hard to track and identify them.
One of the credible sources of external support to insurgents was found in 2016 when Kulbhushan Jadhav, an Indian Navy officer, was captured in Balochistan. He was involved in directing the terrorists’ activities throughout the region against the Pakistani state, specifically targeting economic projects of the state. Reports indicate that he was first apprehended in Iran and subsequently transferred to Balochistan for further investigation. Upon extensive investigation, it was found that many cases were linked to Kulbhushan, which he even acknowledged. In contrast, the leadership in New Delhi disowned the naval officer, stating that India had no connection with the accused. However, the military court in Pakistan ran his case, and he was issued a death sentence in 2017.
As the new government took charge in March 2024, resistance from the BLA factions increased significantly. In January 2025, three cases were reported, linked to the BLA. The recent Jaffar Express hijacking incident represents the BLA’s strong connection with India. The Indian premier, Narendra Modi, previously kept on saying in his speeches that Gilgit, Kashmir and Balochistan are not satisfied with the Pakistani state. His speeches are evidence that he supports the separatist movements to dismantle Pakistan. The incident took place when a train heading from Quetta to Peshawar, with more than 400 passengers (civilians and military personnel), was ambushed near the Bolan Pass.
This was the second shocking incident of terrorism after the APS attack in 2014, representing an intelligence failure. The train siege was brought to an end by the Armed forces within 48 hours; however, it left 4 soldiers dead, while 21 civilians were injured. The incident sent waves of horror throughout the world, bringing the Baloch insurgency into the global limelight. It also signalled Pakistan’s unfinished fight against terrorism, rather than a random act of violence.
As a coercive tool, the BLA have constantly been targeting civilians as well as military targets. The suicide bomb blast in Khuzdar was part of the BLA’s continuous pattern of violence. It occurred on 21st May 2025, when a suicide bomber struck a school bus in Khuzdar city of Balochistan. While in total the bus contained 40 students, the incident resulted in the killing of 5 people, of whom 3 were children.
The government of Pakistan blamed India for carrying out such attacks through its proxies. The Defence Minister of Pakistan, Khawaja Asif, while addressing the public on this incident, stated that “it was clearly backed by the leadership in New Delhi,” adding that “we have evidence of BLA links with India.”
On 11th May 2025, the media wing of the BLA released a one-page document stating the organisation’s agenda and its links with external powers. First, it said that the BLA is not a proxy for any state; rather, it operates independently for the liberation of Balochistan. It recognised Pakistan as a terrorist state, adding that it is a state with a violent ideology and is a threat to the whole world. Further, it said that peace in the subcontinent is not possible until the state of Pakistan is eliminated. With regards to support, the press release also maintained that if India wants to eliminate the terrorist state of Pakistan, the Baloch liberation army will be at the forefront to fight from the Western belt. Nevertheless, the text also stated that if external powers, in particular India, are not ready to fight Pakistan, the organisation, along with the support of the Baloch nation, will continue the armed resistance.
The Baloch separatist movement, specifically in the case of Pakistan, has been shaped and carved by multiple factors, including ethnic, political, economic and historical. The prevailing issue of insurgency can be examined by taking a theoretical approach. Although various other theories explain this issue, two dominant theories that can be applied to conceptualise the dynamics revolving around the insurgency are the “resource curse theory” and “primordialism.”
Primordialism is a concept which proposes that people of any kind are strongly bonded to their ethnicity based on shared values and attributes. Ethnic values and identity are rooted in genetic factors, motivated by the human need for survival and security against common threats. To this extent, this theory is quite relevant to the Baloch separatist movement – the unity that exists between the members of the BLA and the Baloch nationalists represents a fight against a common enemy. The collective thinking and strong resistance from the tribes show that once any member of the Baloch community faces a threat, the whole community feels insecure. This is the reason why the BLA has been very successful in recruiting new members from Balochistan, as people see the state as a common threat to all.
Contrary to that, the resource curse theory suggests that sometimes a state or a region within the state, with too many resources, becomes a curse for the state. The same can be observed in the case of Balochistan – the province has an abundance of natural resources, including coal, gas, gold, sulphur, and other minerals; however, the ill management of these resources has led to a struggle for control between various factions and the government. Thus, the resource curse theory can be applied to the prevailing issue in Balochistan.
The Baloch insurgency has historically remained a political issue due to the economic and resource deprivation of the Baloch people. This disparity has created a sense of economic exclusion in the Baloch people. The BLA has, since its inception, used these grievances to gain support and recruit new members from within the Baloch community. If the government of Pakistan fails to address the economic challenges, the issue will take a bigger shape in future. On one hand, the grievances remain valid, but at what cost when the BLA is targeting innocent citizens of Pakistan and Chinese officials working here? Due to such reasons, the organization is losing its relevance and significance in the face of the world. Apart from that, as the issue still prevails, external powers like India will continue to exploit this movement against the state of Pakistan. Therefore, addressing the voices of the Baloch people is very pertinent to decapitate the BLA.
Be the first to comment