US analyst warns Balochistan Liberation Army is organized terrorist group, not just separatist movement
Pakistan
US defense analyst Joe Bukino warns BLA targets civilians, infrastructure, and CPEC projects, combining militancy and crime, evolving into an organized terrorist group beyond separatist aims.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - A report by former US military officer and defense analyst Joe Bukino has labeled the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) as a highly organized and serious terrorist organization rather than a mere separatist movement.
The research article appeared in The Real Clear World and provides critical insights into the group’s operations and objectives.
According to experts cited in the report, describing the BLA simply as a separatist movement is outdated and misleading. The group has evolved into a modern terrorist organization targeting civilians and national infrastructure, aiming to instill fear, create instability, and portray state weakness.
Bukino noted that the BLA has distanced itself from the genuine aspirations of the Baloch people, who prioritize employment, improved governance, anti-corruption measures, and peace rather than secession. Surveys indicate minimal support for independence, with the majority identifying as Pakistani. The root causes of unrest in Balochistan, he added, are political marginalization and weak representation, while mainstream Baloch leaders support resolving issues through constitutional and political processes.
The analyst warned that the BLA’s strategy focuses on suicide attacks, multi-city coordinated assaults, and destruction of key installations, targeting public spaces, buses, schools, and ordinary citizens. The group combines militancy with criminal activity, including extortion, kidnappings for ransom, smuggling, and other illegal operations as funding sources.
Furthermore, practical cooperation between BLA, TTP, and other groups reflects an expanding terrorist network. Attacks on Chinese nationals, ports, transport routes, and CPEC projects underscore the economic dimension of these threats to Pakistan. Cross-border safe havens, weapons, and foreign intelligence support further indicate external involvement.
The report concludes that the BLA’s activities hinder the resolution of legitimate Baloch grievances, making it far more dangerous than a conventional separatist movement in Pakistan.
