Balochistan Liberation Army

The Balochistan Liberation Army (; abbreviated BLA), also known as the Baloch Liberation Army, is a militant organization based in Afghanistan. The BLA is listed as a terrorist organization by Pakistan, the United Kingdom and the United States. Since 2004, the BLA has waged a violent armed struggle against Pakistan for what it claims as self-determination for the Baloch people and separation of Balochistan from Pakistan and has been involved in ethnic-cleansing of non-Baloch minorities in Balochistan. The BLA is operating mainly in Balochistan, the largest province of Pakistan where it carries out attacks against the Pakistan Armed Forces, civilians and foreign nationals. The Baloch Liberation Army became publicly known during the summer of 2000, after it claimed credit for a series of bombing attacks on Pakistani authorities.
History.
Although the Balochistan Liberation Army was officially founded in 2000, the media along with some analysts speculate that the group is a resurgence of prior Baloch ethnonationalist insurgencies, and more specifically the Independent Balochistan Movement of 1973 to 1977.
According to some sources, 'Misha' and 'Sasha' (two former KGB agents) were among the architects of the original BLA. 'Misha' and 'Sasha' were the code names given to the two agents by KGB. According to the two KGB agents, the original BLA was built around the core of Baloch Student Organization (BSO). Following the withdrawal of Soviet Union from Afghanistan, BLA disappeared from the surface as its main source of funding (the Soviet Union) had withdrawn from Afghanistan.
On 10 February 1973, Pakistani police and paramilitary raided the Iraqi embassy in Islamabad without prior permission of the Iraqi government, during which a large cache of small arms, ammunition, grenades and other supplies were found in crates marked 'Foreign Ministry, Baghdad'. The ammunition and weaponry was believed to be destined for Baloch rebels. Pakistan responded by expelling and declaring persona non grata the Iraqi Ambassador Hikmat Sulaiman and other consular staff. In a letter to President Nixon on 14 February, Bhutto blamed India and Afghanistan, besides Iraq and the Soviet Union, for involvement in a "conspiracy ... [with] subversive and irredentist elements which seek to disrupt Pakistan's integrity"
Wright-Neville wrote that besides Pakistan, some Western observers also believe that India secretly funds the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA). However, in August 2013 US Special Representative James Dobbins said "The dominant infiltration of militants is from Pakistan into Afghanistan, but we recognise that there is some infiltration of hostile militants from the other direction as well."So Pakistan's concerns aren't groundless. They are simply, in our judgement, somewhat exaggerated."
Some have reported that Hyrbyair Marri has been the group's leader since 2007, but in an interview in 2015 he denied having any contact with the group. Hyrbyair's brother Balach had led the group from 2000 until he was killed in 2007.
Foreign involvement.
India.
Indian newspaper "The Hindu" reported that BLA commanders in the past had sought medical treatment in India's hospitals, often under disguise or with fake identities. In one such case, a militant commander in charge of Khuzdar city was based in Delhi for at least six months in 2017 where he underwent extensive treatment for kidney-related ailments. Baloch militants' visits to India were often under assumed identities. Similarly, another Baloch Liberation Army commander, Aslam Baloch, was also alleged to have visited India. Previously, the "Express Tribune" had reported that Aslam Baloch was undergoing a treatment at a Max hospital in New Delhi.
Pakistan has often accused the BLA of being an Indian proxy, and Indian consulates in Kandahar and Jalalabad, Afghanistan, for providing arms, training and financial aid to the BLA in an attempt to destabilize Pakistan. However, Hyrbyair Marri has denied the group has any links with India. Similarly, India has also denied helping the BLA.
Afghanistan.
Afghanistan has acknowledged that they have been providing covert support to the Baloch Liberation Army. After the death of Aslam Baloch, alias Achu, in Kandahar, Afghan officials stated that the Afghan police chief Abdul Raziq Achakzai has housed Aslam Baloch and other separatists in Kandahar for years. Moreover, Afghan news channel, Tolonews reported that Aslam Baloch has been residing in Afghanistan since 2005.
Previously, the Baloch Liberation Army's leader Balach Marri was also killed in Afghanistan.
Terrorist designation.
Pakistan designated the Balochistan Liberation Army as a terrorist organisation on 7 April 2006 after the group conducted a series of attacks targeting security personnel. On 17 July 2006, the British government followed suit, listing the BLA as a "proscribed group" based on the Terrorism Act 2000, although the U.K. has harboured Hyrbyair Marri, an alleged leader of the BLA, as a refugee, something which Pakistan has protested against. The group's actions have been described as terrorism by the United States Department of State.
The group was designated as global terrorist organization by the United States on 2 July 2019. The United States also froze assets belonging to the BLA. Similarly, European Union has also designated Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) as a terrorist organization.
War crimes.
Human rights organizations have accused the BLA of ethnic cleansing as Brahamdagh Bugti (alleged leader of the BLA), during a television interview on 15 April 2009, urged his terrorists to kill non-Baloch living in Balochistan. His actions lead to the death of 500 non-Baloch citizens in the province. Since the start of the insurgency, the BLA has targeted people from various ethnic backgrounds like Pashtuns, Sindhis and Punjabis whom the BLA considered to be outsiders in the province.
Human Rights Watch has also accused Baloch insurgent groups of being involved in human rights violations. The BLA have been involved in attacks on schools, teachers and students in the province.
Attacks.
Quaid-e-Azam Residency.
The Quaid-e-Azam Residency, a historical residence in Balochistan where Muhammad Ali Jinnah spent the last days of his life, was attacked by rockets on 15 June 2013. The building was nearly demolished as a result of the attack. Militants belonging to the Balochistan Liberation Army claimed responsibility. The militants also removed the flag of Pakistan from the monument site, replacing it with a BLA flag. The reconstruction work was completed and the rehabilitated Ziarat Residency opened on 14 August 2014 by Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif.