Pakistan forces eliminate four BLA militants in Balochistan raid

Pakistani security forces have killed four members of the Indian-backed Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), also known as Fitnaul Hindustan, during an overnight counterterrorism operation in the Kalat district of Balochistan, Pakistani media reported on November 4, citing a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

According to ISPR, the operation was launched late on November 1 following credible intelligence about the presence of BLA militants in the area. Security personnel engaged in a fierce exchange of fire with the group, resulting in the deaths of four militants.

The military’s media wing said that a cache of weapons and ammunition was recovered from the site. Among the seized materials were items reportedly used in recent sabotage and terrorist attacks carried out by the BLA in different regions of Pakistan.

The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) is a separatist militant organisation based mainly in Pakistan’s Balochistan province. The group emerged in the early 2000s, building on earlier Baloch nationalist movements that sought greater autonomy or full independence for Balochistan — a resource-rich but underdeveloped region spanning parts of Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan.

The BLA claims to fight for Balochistan’s independence from Pakistan, accusing the government of political discrimination, economic exploitation of natural resources, and human rights abuses. Over the years, the organisation has conducted numerous attacks targeting Pakistani security forces, government officials, and infrastructure projects.

Pakistan has officially designated the BLA a terrorist organisation, a classification also shared by the United States and the United Kingdom. The group operates through small, loosely connected cells and is believed to maintain safe havens in remote mountainous areas near the Pakistan–Afghanistan border.

Though limited in size and capability, the BLA remains among the most active insurgent groups in Balochistan, posing an ongoing threat to Pakistan’s internal security.

By Tamilla Hasanova