The province of Baluchistan appears to be descending into chaos and violence has now taken a dangerous and ugly turn.
The latest attack on a passenger bus and vile and frequent attacks on innocent civilians raises many question marks about writ of the govt. and performance of law enforcement agencies in the province. The ambush of a passenger bus indicates that deadly forces of obscurantism are growing bolder and are now attacking and terrorizing the innocent civilians of Baluchistan with increased frequency and daring. This state of affairs should be enough ring alarm betts in power corridors of Islamabad. It goes without saying that the first and foremost responsibility of the people in power is to provide safety and security to the people they govern or they fear losing the trust of the people.
It has now been repeatedly stated that unrest in Baluchistan and activities of armed militants are being supported and financed by our arch enemy on the Eastern Front. The Govt. now has to satisfy the public about actions being taken on political and diplomatic front to counter the enemy sponsored terrorism in Pakistan’s largest province. What options do we have short of going to war? How to counter this insidious mischief by our enemies? What is being done about it? These are the questions that must be answered in order to restore confidence in the public mind. In the latest act of terror three well known musicians travelling to Quetta from Karachi were mercilessly butchered and many others injured. They were innocent civilians travelling to take part n a cultural event in their own country. The spilling of blood requires immediate response and action by the state authorities because just words of sympathy and strong condemnation by the Govt. leaders are just not enough to wipe the tears of affected and innocent victims of the province.
This alarming increase in militant attacks needs an immediate and calculated response to isolate and crush the anti-state forces in the province. The onerous task cannot be completed by the just armed actions it needs public support and cooperation. The state has to gain the support of the people and stop the subversive forces from making use of the fault lines in the social and political fabric of the province and this is the only way of eliminating the terrorist forces and thwarting their nefarious plans.
Since beginning of this year the province of Baluchistan has seen an alarming rise in the frequency and complexity of terror attacks by the Baluch militant groups. While some groups conduct sporadic, small-scale operations, others have expanded their capabilities, launching daily attacks against security forces and executing large-scale operations involving dozens or even hundreds of militants. Since early 2025, in addition to the Jaffar Express attack, Baloch factions have carried out four suicide bombings—using both male and female attackers—along with three major operations that resulted in the temporary occupation of suburban areas. While the overwhelming majority of the attacks carried out by Baloch militant factions are concentrated within Balochistan province, a notable exception is Karachi, in Sindh province, where BLA-J and other militant factions have conducted devastating attacks, including suicide ones, Furthermore, some minor factions are active in other areas of Sindh province and, to a lesser extent, in the southern areas of Punjab province, where they attack gas pipelines and machinery related to mineral extractions.The growing number of attacks and their sophistication, including against ambitious targets and through complex tactics employed by militant factions, reflects a long-term approach to the insurgency. Some Baloch militant groups have consolidated their power and refined their tactics, while others, despite internal divisions, have managed to remain relevant within the context of the insurgency and compete with other factions for resources and image projection. Weaker factions, meanwhile, depend on broader alliances to maintain relevance within the insurgency.
The growing number of attacks and their sophistication, including against ambitious targets and through complex tactics employed by militant factions, reflects a long-term approach to the insurgency. Some Baloch militant groups have consolidated their power and refined their tactics, while others, despite internal divisions, have managed to remain relevant within the context of the insurgency and compete with other factions for resources and image projection. Weaker factions, meanwhile, depend on broader alliances to maintain relevance within the insurgency. Despite their differences, Baloch militant groups share common historical narratives that shape their campaigns and target selection. As a result, Chinese nationals and foreign investments in Baluchistan remain priority targets across factions, with the groups also hostile toward political elections in the province and in Pakistan, as they are seen as instruments of repression by the Pakistani state. Attacks by Baloch militant groups have heightened tensions between Pakistan and neighboring countries, particularly as the insurgency expands into other areas traditionally considered part of “Greater Baluchistan”—the historical geographical region that encompasses areas of modern-day Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan—reinforcing the conflict’s growing regional dimension. For instance, the recent April 12, 2025, attack in Iran that claimed the lives of eight Pakistani nationals was claimed by a Baloch militant faction that operates in both Pakistan and Iran. The Baloch people, who inhabit the larger tripartite region of Baluchistan spanning Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan—a resource-rich but underdeveloped province—have long felt marginalized by the central government of Pakistan. This sense of marginalization has fueled separatist movements and armed insurgencies that have evolved over decades.
—The writer is Professor of History, based in Islamabad.
