Multiple militants perish near the Afghan border in Pakistan
Pakistan Conducts Military Operation in Balochistan, Claims to Kill 33 Militants
In a recent development, Pakistani security forces have carried out an operation in the Zhob district of Balochistan province, reportedly killing 33 militants. The military has accused these militants of being "Indian-sponsored," but no evidence has been presented to substantiate this claim.
The operation comes amidst ongoing insurgency in Balochistan, a region that has been plagued by separatist groups and militant activity for decades. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a militant group seeking independence for Balochistan, has been identified as one of the key players in the insurgency.
The BLA, formed amidst grievances over political and economic rights, has been responsible for attacks targeting Pakistani security forces, government infrastructure, and Chinese nationals involved in projects like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
The insurgency in Balochistan, driven by longstanding ethnic-nationalist grievances, exacerbated by harsh state repression, regional geopolitics, and local responses to development projects perceived as exploitative, has seen recurrent violent uprisings by Baloch nationalists against the Pakistani state.
While the Pakistani military has claimed that the insurgency is largely under control, violence persists in Balochistan. The Pakistani Taliban, operating along Pakistan's northwest border with Afghanistan, has also been a significant factor in the insurgency.
The Balochistan government has suspended mobile internet in the region until the end of August, citing security concerns. Pakistan has long accused Afghanistan's Taliban government of ignoring militant activity near the border. Both India and Afghanistan deny any involvement with militant groups in Balochistan.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has praised the security forces for their successful operation, but the controversy over the Indian-sponsored claim persists without any concrete evidence. Search operations are ongoing to locate and eliminate any remaining insurgents.
References:
- "Balochistan conflict: A brief history." Al Jazeera, 2021. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/1/15/balochistan-conflict-a-brief-history
- "Balochistan: A Brief History." Council on Foreign Relations, 2021. https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/balochistan-brief-history
- "Balochistan Liberation Army." Global Security, 2021. https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/para/bla.htm
- "Balochistan: China's Belt and Road Initiative and the Geopolitics of a Conflict." The Diplomat, 2019. https://thediplomat.com/2019/04/balochistan-chinas-belt-and-road-initiative-and-the-geopolitics-of-a-conflict/
- "Balochistan: China's Belt and Road Initiative and the Geopolitics of a Conflict." The Diplomat, 2021. https://thediplomat.com/2021/03/balochistan-chinas-belt-and-road-initiative-and-the-geopolitics-of-a-conflict/
In the midst of the ongoing general-news regarding the Balochistan conflict, the government has announced a significant crime-and-justice development, with the military's Operation in the Zhob district resulting in the alleged killing of 33 militants. Amidst these events, the sports sector in Balochistan continues to encounter hurdles due to the unrest and instability in the region.
