What is the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA)?
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) is a Baloch nationalist organization. It was founded in 2000 by Balach Marri, the son of well-known Baloch nationalist leader Nawab Khair Bakhsh Marri. In its early years, the group had limited activities, but over time its operations expanded.
Situation After the Death of Nawab Akbar Bugti
After the death of Nawab Akbar Bugti, the activities of the BLA increased significantly. Following this event, the group began carrying out attacks against security personnel stationed in Balochistan, government employees, and Baloch laborers working in the region.
Death of Balach Marri
In 2007, Balach Marri was killed during an operation in Afghanistan. The BLA blamed Pakistan’s security forces for his death. However, there are different opinions and claims regarding this incident.
BLA Declared a Terrorist Organization
The Government of Pakistan declared the Baloch Liberation Army a terrorist organization on 7 April 2006. Later, the following countries and organizations also designated the BLA as a terrorist group:
- United Kingdom
- China
- Iran
- United States
- European Union
Internal Disputes and Leadership Changes
In 2017, two senior BLA commanders, Ustad Aslam (also known as Achoo) and Zeb Bashir, were expelled from the organization for violating internal rules.
Ustad Aslam was accused of traveling to India for medical treatment without approval from the leadership. Both commanders took a large faction of the group with them and continued operating under the name BLA.
At present, the leadership of the BLA is reportedly under Zeb Bashir, while Ustad Aslam has since been killed.
Allegations Against India
Pakistani authorities claim that the BLA receives financial and logistical support from India. However, both:
- The BLA
- And the Government of India
have denied these allegations.
Conclusion
The history of the Baloch Liberation Army includes multiple phases, internal divisions, and regional conflicts. The organization remains controversial both within Pakistan and at the international level. Statements and accusations related to the BLA have often contributed to diplomatic tensions between different countries.
