Air strikes by Iran and Pakistan on each other have created new tension in the area.
On Tuesday, Iran launched a missile attack in the border area of Balochistan-Sistan and targeted the terrorist group Jaish al-Adl, while in retaliation, the Pakistani Air Force on Thursday conducted an airstrike in the border area of Sistan with Iran and attacked the positions of Baloch rebels and separatists. Did it.
Angered by this, Baloch separatists have announced to wage war against Pakistan.
The organizations whose bases in Iranian territory have been attacked by Pakistan include Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF).
BLA has issued a statement saying that many of our people have been killed in the Pakistani attack in Sistan-Balochistan region of Iran.
Therefore Pakistan will have to pay a heavy price for this. The group has warned, “Now the Baloch Liberation Army will not remain silent. We will take revenge and we declare war on Pakistan.”
What is the issue of Balochistan?
Balochistan means land of Baloch. It is not a country but a province of West Pakistan. It is the largest province of Pakistan in terms of area.
Quetta is its capital and largest city. In 1947, when Pakistan separated from India and became an independent country, this area was also included in Pakistan.
Balochistan people allege that they were demanding a separate country but they were forcibly merged into Pakistan. Since then, the struggle between the people there and the Pakistan government continues.
Who are Baloch separatists?
Many separatist groups demanding independence of Balochistan are active in the area. One of them is the separatist group Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), which has been active in the area since 2000.
It is believed that this organization first came into existence in the 1970s. When Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s government started repressing the Baloch, the Baloch started an armed rebellion.
Later, military dictator Ziaul Haq suppressed this rebellion and convinced the Baloch leaders through talks, but the fire continued to burn internally.
Grassroots separatist leaders together again formed the Balochistan Liberation Army. After remaining underground for a long time, this organization became active again around the year 2000. Some people believe that BLA was established in this year.
Currently BLA is led by Bashir Zeb Baloch, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the organization and is surrounded by many secrets. Ju
In a video message released at LAI 2023, Baloch said the group’s armed resistance was a necessary response to “colonial oppression” by Pakistan. In the latest case, a statement issued by BLA spokesperson Azad Baloch said, “BLA has no presence in Iran-occupied Balochistan and Pakistan has attacked civilians.”
Why is Balochistan important?
Balochistan is Pakistan’s largest province by area, rich in natural gas and minerals and providing access to the Indian Ocean and the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
It is also the center of China’s Belt and Road Initiative through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Ethnic Baluch militants have long battled the Pakistani government, demanding a separate state and accusing Islamabad of exploiting Balochistan’s rich resources.
These groups have attacked Pakistani security forces, infrastructure and Chinese interests in the region.
There have been numerous reports of human rights abuses in Balochistan, including extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances of Baloch, allegedly by the Pakistani Army.
Human rights organizations have demanded accountability on Pakistan for this, while Pakistan has been denying these allegations.
The recent airstrikes escalate the conflict between Pakistan and Baloch separatist groups, which could have implications for regional stability and international relations, especially with Iran and China.