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Balochistan Conflict Escalates: Roots in Pakistan's Independence Era

The conflict in Balochistan has dramatically escalated with recent coordinated attacks by the Baloch Liberation Army across 12 districts. The province, rich in natural resources, remains Pakistan's poorest with high poverty and unemployment, fueling long-standing grievances. Human rights groups report extensive enforced disappearances and alleged extrajudicial killings, creating an environment where dissent is criminalized. The situation is further complicated by large-scale development projects like CPEC, which locals say marginalize them economically and politically.

Key Points: Balochistan Conflict: Historical Roots & Human Rights Crisis

  • Historical grievances since independence
  • Documented human rights violations
  • Economic marginalization despite resources
  • Militarization and security operations
4 min read

Balochistan conflict has roots stretching back to Pakistan's independence: Report

Analysis of Balochistan's escalating violence, historical grievances, human rights violations, and economic disparities since Pakistan's independence.

"The recent violence in Balochistan represents not an isolated incident but a dramatic escalation in a conflict with roots stretching back to Pakistan's independence. - Khaama Press report"

Kabul, Feb 11

The recent attacks in Balochistan highlight not only security challenges but also what critics describe as long standing political failures to address the province's grievances as the roots of growing violence in the province go back to Pakistan's independence, a report has highlighted.

An article in Afghanistan's leading news agency Khaama Press mentioned that the recent attacks in Balochistan highlight not only security challenges but also what critics describe as long standing political failures to address the province's grievances. Documented human rights concerns - particularly enforced disappearances and alleged extrajudicial killings - have created an environment where, according to activists, peaceful dissent faces criminalization and armed resistance appears to some as the only avenue for change.

On January 31, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) launched 'Operation Herof 2.0', carrying out coordinated attacks in 12 districts, including Quetta, Gwadar and Mastung. According to official figures, 17 police personnel and 31 civilians were killed during the operation. Pakistani forces claimed that 145 insurgents were killed in retaliation while the BLA has disputed this statistics. The attacks carried out by BLA involved gun assaults, suicide bombings, and the temporary seizure of police stations and government facilities.

Reports have now surfaced about intensified security operations in Balochistan, sparking concerns among rights activists about treatment of local residents, Khaama Press reported.

"The recent violence in Balochistan represents not an isolated incident but a dramatic escalation in a conflict with roots stretching back to Pakistan's independence. Understanding the crisis requires examining historical grievances, documented human rights violations, economic disparities, and what critics describe as political failures," an opinion piece stated.

Balochistan accounts for 44 per cent of Pakistan's land area but it comprises six per cent of the country's total population. It remains Pakistan's poorest province, with approximately 70 per cent of residents living in multidimensional poverty and unemployment at 33 per cent, despite the region possessing substantial natural resources, including the Sui gas fields that provide an estimated 35-40 per cent of Pakistan's natural gas and significant copper, gold, and coal deposits.

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), especially the development of Gwadar port, has also voiced concerns in Balochistan. Local residents have raised concerns regarding displacement and economic marginalisation, alleging exclusion from employment opportunities and decision-making processes linked to projects on their lands, the article in Khaama Press mentioned.

The most serious allegations in Balochistan are related to enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings. Various human rights groups have termed what they described systematic abuses. The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) reported 1,223 cases of enforced disappearance in 2025. The Human Rights Council of Balochistan documented 1,455 cases in 2025, which included 1,443 men and 12 women. As per their findings, 1,052 people remained missing by year's end while 317 were released, 83 were reported killed in custody and three were shifted to jail.

The BYC's 2025 annual report revealed that 188 alleged extrajudicial killings occurred in Balochistan, with 75 linked to what activists termed as a "kill and dump" policy. Makran division and Awaran district were identified as particularly affected regions. Pakistani security forces maintain approximately 736 permanent checkpoints and 300 temporary ones in Balochistan, with critics stressing that this militarisation in the region reinforces perceptions of occupation instead of integration.

The Baloch insurgency has also witnessed participation of female suicide bombers. Female participation in armed resistance in patriarchal society holds symbolic weight. The recurring violence showcases what critics termed a fundamental failure of political engagement, according to the report.

"The Pakistani state has often treated demands for autonomy and equitable resource distribution as separatism, with dissent frequently labeled as anti-state activity. The provincial government in Balochistan, which some view as federally installed, has struggled to address local grievances effectively. Rather than dialogue, security-focused responses have intensified, with some analysts arguing this approach has pushed educated urban youth toward insurgency. Political observers emphasise that military solutions cannot resolve what they view as fundamentally political problems rooted in marginalization, economic exploitation, and rights concerns," the article concluded.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
As an outsider, this report is eye-opening. The scale of human rights violations documented here is alarming. The international community cannot ignore this. The focus on military solutions over political dialogue seems to be making things worse, not better.
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Rohit P
Very complex issue. While the grievances of the Baloch people are genuine, the violence and targeting of civilians is never justified. Both sides need to come to the table. Pakistan's establishment has a long history of suppressing dissent instead of addressing root causes. Hope for peace someday.
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Ananya R
The CPEC angle is crucial. When big projects like Gwadar port happen without involving local communities, it breeds resentment. They feel like their land is being used, but they're getting nothing in return. This is a classic case of development without inclusion. Tragic.
M
Michael C
The report mentions female suicide bombers in a patriarchal society. That alone speaks volumes about the level of desperation and the failure of all other avenues. When even women feel armed resistance is the only option, the system has completely broken down.
K
Karthik V
A respectful criticism of the article: while it's detailed, it's sourced from an Afghan agency. We must be cautious and seek multiple perspectives. That said, the core issues of poverty and rights abuses in a resource-rich area are undeniable and need global attention.
P

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