Tag: Balochistan

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Balochistan in ‘real danger’ of militias regrouping

Balochistan separatist groups have always been in opposition of the CPEC project, accusing China for what they call, stealing their resources….reports Asian Lite News

The fresh surge in turning Pakistans Balochistan province into a war zone has led to a debate on the factor that played role in promoting terrorist groups in carrying out widespread targeted attacks on security forces, flaring up a new wave of violence and terrorism.

Political and security analysts believe that the volatile situation in Afghanistan, coupled with foreign support to the terror groups from other neighbouring countries are among the main factors that behind regrouping and targeted assaults by separatist terror organisations.

In the latest series of attacks by terror groups in Balochistan, dozens of security personnel have lost their lives while large number of militants have also been neutralised in bomb blasts, clashes, ambushes and heavy exchange of fire.

“The resurgence of terrorism in the province is not unexpected, given the vastness of the region, loose control of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, and involvement of foreign elements,” said Lt. General Retd. Talat Masood.

Balochistan province holds pivotal importance as it routes the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Militant groups have been targeting sensitive security installations around the CPEC route and border line areas with major attacks, resulting in killing of at least 20 Pakistani soldiers.

The killing of 10 soldiers in an attack on a security checkpost in the Kech area near the Pakistan-Iran border on January 28 was among the deadliest of the attacks, claimed by separatist group, the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF).

Terror attacks in Panjgur and Noshki districts on February 3, which targeted security posts and installations, were foiled by the Pakistani security forces, resulting in the killing of at least seven personnel and 13 militants.

Analysts believe that the 600-km coastline of Gwadar under the $64 billion dollar CPEC project, the takeover of the Afghan Taliban in Afghanistan, support by India for the Baloch separatist groups and lastly, the Iranian terror groups including Zainabiyoun, are among the key factors behind the unrest in Balochistan.

Balochistan separatist groups have always been in opposition of the CPEC project, accusing China for what they call, stealing their resources.

The separatist groups have also opposed province’s inclusion into Pakistan, claiming that it was forcibly incorporated into Pakistan during the end of British colonial rule in 1947.

Analysts also say that the vastness of the Balochistan province with widespread mountains and untapped terrains; the province has become a most suited place for militant organisations to regroup.

“The security forces should have been more complacent after subsiding the insurgency in recent years. They have reared their head also because of lack of preparedness from the security forces,” said defense analyst Ikram Sehgal.

Anwar Sajidi, a political analyst believes that the reunification of separatist groups and the facilitation from suspected Indian handlers has also been one of the prime reasons behind the fresh wave of violence in Balochistan.

“Different separatist outfits have recently formed the Baloch National Alliance (BNA), an umbrella group, which has improved coordination and access in terms of attacks,” he said.

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Is TTP forging an alliance with armed rebels in Balochistan?

Baloch rebels have changed their tactics and have upped the ante, throwing a huge challenge to Pakistan’s security forces and intelligence agencies, reports Mrityunjoy Kumar Jha

The well-coordinated twin- strikes by Baloch rebels on Thursday marked one of the most daring attacks on the Pakistani military in recent years. In these sophisticated attacks on two Pakistani military camps, Baloch rebels used US made weapons, worrying the Pakistani military establishment no end.

Citing intelligence reports, the Pakistani Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid told media that: “Baloch militants are not capable of launching major attacks in Nushki and Panjgur. TTP (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan) has the capability, experience and latest NATO weapons to launch such attacks. There’s some understanding between the TTP and Baloch militants. They have their hideouts in Afghanistan.”

And for the first time TTP agreed with the Pakistan government. The spokesperson of the banned militant organisation, Mohammad Khorasani congratulated the Baloch rebel groups for their audacious attacks on the “enemy” forces.

“The Pakistani army is carrying out the massacre in Balochistan. We are against the massacre of Balochistan as well as in Waziristan by the Pakistani army. Our enemy is common.”

For the last one year, the TTP has been providing military training to Baloch fighters. In exchange, the Baluch rebel groups assist the TTP with logistics in Balochistan. The tactical alliance has coincided with a sharp uptick in attacks against Pakistani security forces in Balochistan in recent months. Pakistan watchers say that TTP has provided bases to the Baloch rebels in the Bermal district of Afghanistan’s eastern province of Paktika, which is adjacent to Pakistan’s South Waziristan tribal region, the TTP’s stronghold.

“In the last 30 days Balochistan has seen major bold attacks on Pakistani forces. The Pakistani army’s media wing ISPR is underplaying & misreporting on the attacks in Balochistan. A BLA attack in Noshki, where they had no presence before just shows that TTP and BLA are getting closer to each other, even supporting each other in their ops,” says one senior Pakistani journalist.

But the fact is that the Baloch rebels have changed their tactics and have upped the ante, throwing a huge challenge to Pakistan’s security forces and intelligence agencies.

The TTP and the Baloch rebel groups have also increased their anti-China rhetoric recently. According to Pakistani sources these groups have maintained close ties with the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), a militant group made up mostly of Uyghurs.

While Pakistan had been routinely blaming the previous Afghan government’s intelligence service and India’s RAW in the past for fomenting trouble in Balochistan and KP, there was a sense of optimism that Kabul’s new rulers would uphold their commitment and not allow Afghanistan’s soil to be used against any state. But to Pakistan’s frustration, there is no indication that this is happening.

Last week, Moeed Yusuf, the National Security Advisor of Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, conveyed to the Taliban government in Afghanistan that the TTP leaders have allowed the Baloch militants to make their hideouts near Kandahar and Helmand provinces in Afghanistan. He also warned that Pakistan will strike inside Afghanistan unless its affiliate, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), stops cross-border attacks.

Pakistan is back to the situation where it has to face two insurgencies: one in the North West led by the TTP and the other in the South led by Baloch rebels. These intensified attacks have sent out an ominous message when Pakistani PM Imran Khan is in China asking for more funds to revive the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) — that the security situation in Pakistan has gotten out of hand.(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)

Baloch rebels target Turbat naval base

Daring Balochistan separatists have claimed that they have fired several rockets on the Pakistan Navy base at Turbat in the restive Ketch district of Balochistan province on Friday. Turbat is an important Pakistani naval base, as well as air supply hub serving projects under the controversial China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Baloch militants have also claimed that their fighters are still holding the Pangjur camp of the Pakistani security forces.

“BLA Majeed Brigade’s control over FC camp in Panjgur has completed 60 hours now.

5 hours ago, a large number of Pakistan military’s SSG attempted to enter the camp, however, fidayeens of Majeed Brigade valiantly fought and repulsed their attack,” said the Baloch Liberation Army in a statement posted on Twitter on Saturday.

Earlier, in a separate statement, the Balochistan militant organisation had claimed on Friday that it had shot down a Pakistani military drone over Pangjur camp which is still under their control.

Information on the situation remained scarce as a curfew had been imposed on Panjgur since Thursday, and mobile phone and internet services have been suspended by the Pakistani forces. Even Pakistani media has been instructed to “ignore” the news and publish only the statements issued by the Pakistani sources.

The attacks pose an unprecedented challenge to state forces in restive Balochistan – the most militarised zone of Pakistan. Pakistani experts described the assaults as an “unacceptable breach of security”.

On the late evening of Wednesday, BLA militants launched a well -coordinated twin attack on the camps of the Pakistani Frontier Corps at Panjgur and Noshki. Baloch sources claim that more than 100 Pakistani security personnel were killed in the bold strike. In a counter attack, the Pakistani forces managed to recapture Noshki but they are apparently still fighting to regain control of Panjgur camp.

The two attacks started hours before the Pakistani Minister Imran Khan arrived in China. According to the Pakistani security officials, these attacks were designed to send a message to China and derail Khan’s talks with the Chinese for more funds for the CPEC projects.

“The attacks were very well coordinated and they are linked with Chinese interests in Pakistan. Khan and Chinese President Xi Jinping are to discuss CPEC and it was to show Pakistan is not a safe country,” one Pakistani official told a leading media outlet.

China has invested billions of dollars through the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in recent years in infrastructure and energy projects linking China’s far-western Xinjiang region with the strategic port of Gwadar in Balochistan.

But it offers the people of Balochistan virtually nothing. This has added to the fury of Balochs who have been protesting against the Pakistan government’s exploitation of the province. Lack of inclusive developments in Balochistan is one of the major factors behind the unrest. Continued disregard for the Baloch and their demands is likely to remain the prime reason for the region will remain restive, leading to increased threats to Chinese investments.

The Baloch pro -independence militant groups have waged an insurgency in the vast southwestern province for years, fuelled by anger that its abundant reserves of natural resources are not relieving citizens from crushing poverty.

The series of attacks against Chinese workers and installations in Balochistan including the Chinese consulate in Karachi and elsewhere in the country have forced Chinese authorities into a state of high alert. It has compounded their anxieties about the sad state of affairs in Balochistan province, where it wants to continue working on CPEC — the flagship of China’s ultra-ambitious, connectivity-centred Belt and Road Initiative.

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)

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Baloch nationalist movement gathering critical mass

Analysts say that the recent spate of attacks could mean that the Baloch nationalist movement has entered an unprecedented new phase….writes Rahul Kumar

In an audacious attack on Pakistani security forces on Wednesday night, Baloch fighters attacked two camps in Panjgur and Naushki, both in Balochistan.

These attacks that have caused significant casualties follow a recent strike on a Pakistani check point in which 10 soldiers were killed. Analysts say that the recent spate of attacks could mean that the Baloch nationalist movement has entered an unprecedented new phase.

Giving a statement on Thursday afternoon, Pakistan Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said that nine of the attackers have been killed while four Pakistani army soldiers also laid down their lives. He lauded the role of the Pakistani armed forces.

Pakistan rushes more troops to Balochistan as rights movement spreads wings.(Photo:IN)

Earlier, the Pakistani military’s media wing-Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that “both attacks have been successfully repulsed while inflicting heavy casualties to terrorists”. ISPR had said that one soldier and four attackers were killed in the exchange of fire.

Prime Minister Imran Khan also tweeted: “We salute our brave security forces who repulsed terrorist attacks against security forces’ camps in Panjgur & Naushki, Balochistan. The nation stands united behind our security forces who continue to give great sacrifices to protect us”.

This was the second time in less than a week that the prime minister had to issue a statement over attacks on security forces.

With fighting going on in the two areas, curfew has been imposed in both Panjgur and Noshki.

Geopolitical analyst and Pakistan watcher Mark Kinra told India Narrative: “Today’s attack is significant because Frontier Corps (FC) is Pakistan’s paramilitary force which was formed to maintain law and order situation in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by the British. Pakistan has used FC against Baloch nationalists for a long time to crush the national sentiment but has been unsuccessful, therefore, this attack on the FC is pay back”.

Dawn newspaper said that in Panjgur, the Baloch fighters tried to enter the Frontier Corps army camp from two locations. In Noshki also the Baloch attempted to enter a Frontier Corps headquarters. The attacks were preceded by two blasts near the camps at Panjgur and Noshki.

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attacks. Kinra says that this seems to be one of the biggest attacks by Baloch groups against Pakistan. “The BLA claims to have killed 100 soldiers and even claims to have occupied FC camps, which has been refuted by ISPR, which also said that the situation is under control. However, ISPR claims seem to be untrue as Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid has claimed that four soldiers have died and the Pakistan Army is trying to control the situation as Baloch Nationalists are still fighting”.

Kinra adds that the BLA group headed by Bashir Zeb conducted these fidayeen attacks on the FC camps. “Attack was orchestrated by BLA Majeed Brigade (Suicide Squad). The Majeed Brigade has also carried out Pakistan Stock Exchange attack in Karachi in June 2020”, adds Kinra.

Local journalists have claimed on social media that the fighting carried on till Thursday morning. There also are claims that an armoured fighting vehicle has been destroyed in Panjgur.

The Balochistan Post reported that armed helicopters have been pressed into service. The attacks seem to be well coordinated as the two districts, Noshki and Panjgur, are 460 kms away from each other.

This was the third big attack on security forces in the last one week. In one of their biggest attacks on January 25-26, the Baloch fighters attacked a check post in Kech and killed at least 10 Pakistani troops. They also set fire to the post and took away the weapons. The Baloch fighters had claimed that they had killed 17 personnel including reinforcements.

The seriousness of the Kech attack prompted Pakistan army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa to visit the site of the attack and speak with the troops. The Pakistan government initially hid the news of the attack and issued its first statement after three days.

Within two days of this attack, twin bomb blasts in Dera Bugti took the lives of three personnel along with a civilian. Eight other people were injured.

A week before these incidents, one of the Baloch groups had detonated bombs in a Lahore market indicating their resolve to take their battle for independence outside Balochistan.

Baloch nationalist groups have intensified their operations against Pakistani forces as well as Chinese projects being carried out under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as they feel exploited due to the nature of the projects.

Pakistan seems to be getting into a deep quagmire in Balochistan as besides the armed Baloch groups, it also has to contend with a general alienation and mass distrust. Maulana Hidayat Ur Rehman-the local Baloch leader of the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), gave an ultimatum to the government to release the Baloch youth kidnapped by the State otherwise he will launch the long march to Quetta.

At a press conference at the Quetta Press Club on Tuesday, Maulana Baloch said that the government has not agreed to demands of the Baloch people over stopping illegal fishing in Baloch waters, creating livelihoods for local people and removing check posts by Pakistani security forces which humiliate the Baloch community.

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)

ALSO READ: British High Commissioner visits Balochistan

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British High Commissioner visits Balochistan

Secretary Liz Truss pledged £97 million of additional funds to help Afghanistan this winter…reports Asian Lite News

British High Commissioner Dr Christian Turner visited the Chaman border to see at first-hand how the UK and Pakistan are working together to help the people of Afghanistan.

According to an official statement, Turner was briefed by Pakistani officials on the border processes and how authorities are working with the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in this regard.

“It was part of a wider visit to Balochistan, during which he met the Chief Minister of Balochistan, Abdul Quddus Bizenjo, and discussed how the issues in Afghanistan are affecting the province,” it added.

The communique further said the two sides also discussed the wider security situation in the area and the protection of human rights.

“During his two-day trip, the High Commissioner also met Commander 12 Corps, Lieutenant General Sarfraz and gave a keynote speech at the Quetta Staff and Command College.”

Turner said, “It’s very important for the UK to understand the issues facing Balochistan. During my visit to the Chaman border, I saw how the UK is working to help the people of Afghanistan, and that this is vital for the stability of the whole region.”

Last week, UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss pledged £97 million of additional funds to help Afghanistan this winter.

The statement added that the funding will provide over 2.7 million people with food, health services, and water amid a worsening crisis.

“The allocation of vital support means the UK has now delivered on its promise to double UK aid to Afghanistan, with £286 million committed this financial year.”

It added “the aid will “support over 60 hospitals, provide health services for over 300,000 people, ensure 4.47 million people get emergency food assistance through the World Food Programme, and provide 6.1 million people with emergency health, water, protection, shelter, food, and education support through the UN Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund.”

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New Baloch insurgent group a real headache for Pakistan

Imran’s hybrid regime is crumbling

Balochistan has become a major challenge for Pakistani security forces as various separatist groups, who demand independence from the central government of the country…reports Asian Lite News

Pakistans Balochistan province has seen a major surge of targeted terror attacks on security check posts, security camps, located at sensitive districts. A newly-formed group Balochistan Nationalist Army (BNA), which is fast becoming a major opponent to Pakistans security forces operating in the province, has claimed the fresh wave of attacks.

BNA, a merged organisation of United Baloch Army (UBA) and the Balochistan Republican Army (BRA) established about a month ago, has started to make its strong presence be felt severely as it has targeted important security check posts and camps of the Pakistani armed forces, claiming lives of soldiers and showcasing it capability of carrying out parallel targeted attacks.

In a latest of such attacks, armed assailants targeted two security posts in Panjgur district of Balochistan.

As per Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the attack was successfully foiled while the attackers were neutralized with heavy casualties inflicted to the terrorists.

The attack triggered an hours-long gun battle between the attacks and the security forces, resulting in killing of at least four attacks and one Pakistani soldier.

Few hours after the attack, BNA terrorists tried to enter into security camp in the Naushki district of Balochistan province, engaging the security forces in a heavy exchange of fire. According to the Pakistan military, this attack was also foiled; killing at least four attackers while one Pakistani soldier was wounded.

The latest attacks come about a week after at least 10 Pakistani soldiers were killed in a attack on a security post in Kech town of Balochistan province.

Kech has been among the main sites of armed rebellion groups, where Pakistan has been carrying out Intelligence Based Operation (IBO) and fighting against separatist groups.

Balochistan has become a major challenge for Pakistani security forces as various separatist groups, who demand independence from the central government of the country, have vowed to fight against what they called occupation of the Pakistani forces.

On the other hand, Pakistan maintains that these rebel groups have been repressed and their armed uprising has been quashed. Pakistan has maintained that many revel groups like the BNA, are supported by Iran and India, who use them as mercenaries to spread chaos in the country.

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Pak Army Chief visits Balochistan amid tensions

Gen Bajwa said that the Pakistani army would make all-out efforts to assist the provincial government achieve peace and prosperity….reports Asian Lite News

Pakistan’s Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa paid a visit to a city in southern Balochistan amid the worrying security situation in the province.

Bajwa’s visit to Turbat comes a few days after ten Pakistani soldiers got killed in a terrorist attack at a security force check-post in Balochistan’s Kech district.

During his visit, Bajwa was given a comprehensive briefing at the FC Balochistan headquarters on the prevailing security situation in the area and Pakistan-Iran border fencing, the Dawn newspaper reported citing the country’s military media wing.

Gen Bajwa said that the Pakistani army would make all-out efforts to assist the provincial government achieve peace and prosperity.

Pak COAS also visited Kech district, where he said that terrorists would be brought to justice. Security, stability, and prosperity of Balochistan would be pursued and ensured at all cost, he added.

The recent surge in the insurgency in Balochistan and elsewhere in Pakistan has been a cause of concern, most of which is credited to the revival of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Experts familiar with the region say that TTP’s resurgence has a direct link with the Taliban taking power in Afghanistan.

In an editorial published on Saturday, a Pakistan daily had warned against the use of lethal force “to deal with Balochistan’s insurgency”.

It said that there is a lack of sincerity on part of the government in the approach towards Balochistan. (ANI)

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10 Pakistani soldiers killed in Baloch checkpost attack

During the intense exchange of fire, one terrorist was killed and several injured. While repulsing terrorists’ fire raid, 10 soldiers were killed, said the ISPR statement….reports Asian Lite News

Ten Pakistani soldiers were killed after militants attacked a security forces’ checkpost in Balochistan’s Kech district, the military’s media wing said.

According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the “fire raid” by militants occurred on the night of January 25-26, Dawn news reported.

During the intense exchange of fire, one terrorist was killed and several injured. While repulsing terrorists’ fire raid, 10 soldiers were killed, said the ISPR statement.

It added that three terrorists were apprehended in the follow-up clearance operation, which it said was still in progress to hunt down the perpetrators of the incident.

“The armed forces are determined to eliminate terrorists from our soil no matter what the cost,” the ISPR statement said.

Earlier this month, a soldier was killed after terrorists attacked a military post in Bannu’s Janikhel.

On January 5, two soldiers were killed and as many terrorists killed in two separate intelligence-based operations (IBOs) conducted by security forces in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Last month, four soldiers of the Pakistan Army were killed in an exchange of fire with terrorists during an IBO in the Mir Ali area of North Waziristan tribal district.

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Gwadar protests put Imran on hooks

Imran’s hybrid regime is crumbling

Haq Do Tehreek leader Rehman said that this time the protesters would not negotiate with the chief minister or the chief secretary, but with the Pakistan Prime Minister and the Army chief….reports Asian Lite News

Illegal fishing has now resumed in Gwadar, Pakistan, and citizens continue to face humiliation and harassment at check-points, the Friday Times reported.

It has been a month since the sit-in in Gwadar against illegal fishing and other local issues ended after assurances from the Balochistan government that had claimed to have accepted all the demands of Haq Do Tehreek (HDT).

But HDT leader Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman said that the provincial government has failed to implement the agreements and demands made by the HDT movement, and vowed to resume the sit-in at Dharna Chowk in Gwadar on March 1.

Rehman addressed a press conference earlier this week. Surrounded by hundreds of supporters, he said that this time the protesters would not negotiate with the chief minister or the chief secretary, but with the Pakistan Prime Minister and the Army chief.

The original agreement, which was written on December 16, was signed by HDT on the provision that the government would comply with the movement’s demands within a month. However, as the HDT leader claimed, the government has ‘failed to implement its promises’ and is ‘not serious about resolving the issues’.

At the time, several individuals in the movement had criticised the agreement, saying that the 31-day sit in had been ended on the basis of ‘promises’, rather than action.

Rehman outlined the various ailments still plaguing Balochistan. He claimed that drug dens are still in operation and alcohol and drugs are being sold in every ward of Gwadar.

Despite Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Qaddos Bizenjo’s visit to Markan, illegal trawling is still occurring along the coast, said Rehman, demanding that fisheries advisor Akbar Askani be dismissed for failing to curb illegal fishing.

Protests at Gwadar Pic credits ANI

The Maulana also said that the CM had announced a package for fishermen, which has not yet been delivered.

He railed that when Gwadar has been declared a disaster area, the district’s administration is content to supply victims with just 1 kg of flour and 1 lt of cooking oil, the report said.

He said that the people of Makran are not satisfied with the performance of the Balochistan government.

Further sit-ins have been scheduled across Makran, starting January 20 and throughout the month of February.

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Baloch groups unite to take on Pak forces

Numerous nationalist organisations in Balochistan have taken to arms against the Pakistan government, military and intelligence agencies….writes Rahul Kumar

Two Baloch nationalist organisations, the Baloch Republican Army (BRA) and the United Baloch Army (UBA) announced their dissolution and the formation of a new organisation the Baloch Nationalist Army (BNA).

In a news article on Tuesday, The Balochistan Post reported that BRA spokesman Beebagr Baloch and UBA spokesman Mureed Baloch announced in a joint statement that the councils of the two organisations met in Balochistan to discuss the political situation in the province and how to take forward their resistance against the Pakistani forces.

Mureed Baloch will be the official spokesperson of the merged group and the new outfit will continue to be a part of the Baloch Raaji Aajoi Sangar (BRAS). The Central Command Council of the BNA will organise and plan the resistance to Pakistani forces.

Geo-political analyst Mark Kinra told India Narrative: “Since its formation in 2018, the BRAS has been in the limelight for its attacks on Pakistani forces and Chinese investments. Formed by Allah Nazar Baloch, it is an umbrella organization which initially comprised many groups. Now Beebagr Baloch and Mureed Baloch have merged their groups to make BNA within the umbrella organization BRAS”.

The joint statement said that the new organisation, Baloch Nationalist Army, has been formed after dissolving the BRA and UBA and will now “expand the national resistance and will unite Baloch forces against the fascism of the Pakistani military”.

Pakistan rushes more troops to Balochistan as rights movement spreads wings.(Photo:IN)

Kinra adds: “The coming together of these groups makes BRAS a unified armed Baloch nationalist organisation today, representing almost all nationalist Baloch armed factions from Balochistan. With the coming together of these groups, they can share weapons, intelligence and even safe havens to conduct operations against Pakistani security forces and Chinese nationals working on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects in a more effective manner”.

The Baloch people claim that their region was an independent nation in 1947 as it had been granted freedom by the British government. They claim that Pakistan sent its troops and forcibly annexed it, ignoring the resolution passed by the Baloch legislative assembly.

Numerous nationalist organisations in Balochistan have taken to arms against the Pakistan government, military and intelligence agencies.

Data analysed by the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), says that overall fatalities in Balochistan have increased from 215 in 2020 to 311 in 2021, up by 44.65 per cent. This shows a rising trend that Baloch nationalists have been successful in intensifying their attacks against the Pakistani forces.

The region had recently witnessed a mass agitation against poor development, and lack of basic facilities like water and power as well as the depletion of opportunities for fishermen.

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)

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Imran under pressure as Gwadar protests gain momentum

The Gwadar protests have spread across the entire coastal belt of Balochistan, taking the Pakistani government by surprise, reports Rahul Kumar

As the protests in the Gwadar port city garner the attention of the international media, the Imran Khan government is coming under pressure from political parties.

Samiullah Khan, member of the Punjab assembly from the Pakistan Muslim League (N), (PML-N) has submitted a resolution in the assembly urging Islamabad to accept the demands of the Gwadar protestors without delay.

Gwadar
Pashtuns in Balochistan in revolt against Islamabad as ethnic nationalism in Pakistan soars.(photo:IN)

Geopolitical analyst Mark Kinra analysed the situation for India Narrative: “The Gwadar protests are taking a political turn as Baloch issues are being raised in the Punjab provincial assembly. A PML (N) party member has raised the issue of rights for Gwadar people in the Punjab Assembly. The PML (N) is the opposition party in Balochistan assembly while Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is a coalition partner with the ruling Balochistan Awami Party (BAP)”.

Kinra adds that as the PML (N) is in competition with the Imran Khan government over the upcoming general elections, taking up human rights issues of Baloch people in the Punjab Assembly could simply be pure politics than real sympathy for Baloch people.

Samiullah Khan’s resolution says that even women and children have taken to the streets for their just demands. “Gwadar played an important role in the progress of the country and ignoring its residents would not be wise on the part of the government…”, the resolution says.

Pakistan rushes more troops to Balochistan as rights movement spreads wings.(Photo:IN)

The Gwadar protests have spread across the entire coastal belt of Balochistan, taking the Pakistani government by surprise. The Baloch people have been demanding basic rights such as water, power, creation of livelihoods, removal of security posts and access to the sea for Baloch fishermen.

The people have raised issues like providing education, curbing drugs and liquor and improving health facilities for the people.

The protests in Gwadar are strategically important for Pakistan to resolve as the city is a base for China’s multipurpose port, which is a part of the all-important China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)

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