TERRORIST groups such as BLA and BLF-Fitna Al Hindustan (FAH) have pursued a clear and destructive agenda aimed at destabilizing the province of Balochistan.

Their activities include killing peace-loving citizens, destroying national assets, targeting schools and educational institutions, attacking banks and community centres and engaging in widespread looting. Ironically, they deliberately target the very people they claim to represent.

A review of terrorist activities in 2025 alone reveals the alarming scale of violence. The province witnessed 1,557 violent incidents, resulting in hundreds of casualties among both civilians and security personnel. Major incidents included the March 2025 Jaffar Express hijacking, in which hostages were held for days and dozens were killed; the Mastung bus bombing and the May 2025 Khuzdar school bus suicide attack, which claimed the lives of innocent children on their way to school. Indeed, there have been many terrorist attacks in the province in 2025 and the first three months of 2026. All these attacks have badly damaged socio-economic activities in the province, constraining the peaceful lives of the people.

Besides, these attacks represent calculated campaigns of terror designed to instill fear among the population, particularly within ethnically Baloch communities. On the ground, the operational pattern of these groups is even more troubling. BLA militants have repeatedly seized towns such as Zehri, Sorab and Panjgur, storming police stations, government offices and banks, looting cash, burning buildings, killing officials and escaping with public funds.

In addition, terrorists frequently target construction sites and industrial infrastructure in areas like Ziarat, destroying equipment, halting development projects and eliminating job opportunities for local populations. Through IED attacks, highway ambushes and railway sabotage, they have made travel dangerous, isolated communities and disrupted economic activity. As a result, citizens often struggle to access essential services, including emergency healthcare. Such terrorist activities have created unwarranted fear among the people of the province and all those who wish to travel there.

Paradoxically, these groups exploit the consequences of their own actions. The counter-operations they provoke often lead to temporary disruptions such as mobile, internet and utility outages, which they then use to blame the state and manipulate public perception. The closure of the internet and other means of communication further frustrate the masses, especially those who undertake online jobs or rely on these facilities in their daily routines.

These acts of terrorism are clearly aimed at creating chaos, fostering mistrust toward the state and keeping Balochistan in a cycle of instability and underdevelopment. Backed by external actors, these networks sustain a campaign that discourages investment, shuts down schools, empties roads and deprives youth of a hopeful future. In fact, the terrorist acts of BLA and BLF do not contribute to development; instead, they devastate, loot, kill and isolate both the province and its people. Their actions remain the greatest obstacle to the prosperity and dignity that the people of Balochistan deserve. It is because of their terrorist attacks that the province and its masses are suffering in all aspects—social, economic and even political. It is worth mentioning that while the people of the province are suffering because of terrorism and militancy by BLA and BLF, the leadership of these terrorist organizations and their families reside safely in foreign countries. Their children are receiving education in some of the most modern educational institutions in the world, funded either through looted money or by their abettors. While the terrorist leaders are enjoying their lives abroad, the ordinary Baloch masses are used as expendable tools in the name of an illusory resistance.

Balochistan urgently needs peace. A recent example occurred on March 30, 2026, when BLA/BLF terrorists attacked Police Station Kotra in Tehsil Gandhawa, District Jhal Magsi. Approximately 40 militants on motorcycles launched the assault. Police forces effectively resisted, preventing the attackers from entering the station, while local residents also supported the defense. The attackers later moved through Kotra city and reportedly used a mosque loudspeaker to announce that civilians would not be harmed before retreating to mountainous hideouts. The incident resulted in casualties among both police personnel and terrorists.

Pakistan remains vigilant and prepared to counter all forms of terrorism. These groups have contributed to social polarization, created internal fault lines and weakened societal cohesion. Their activities align with broader efforts to destabilize the country from within. Furthermore, there are persistent attempts by external forces to exploit vulnerabilities in Balochistan. On June 12, 2025, the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), a Washington-based think tank, launched the “Balochistan Studies Project.” Mir Yar Baloch was appointed as a Special Advisor. His record reflects strong anti-Pakistan positions and alignment with external narratives on Balochistan. Such initiatives are viewed as part of a broader hybrid warfare strategy aimed at influencing perceptions and undermining the state.

This evolving threat environment highlights the emergence of hybrid and fifth-generation warfare, where not only physical but also economic, social, political and informational domains are targeted. The battlefield is no longer confined to borders; it extends into digital spaces and public discourse, shaping perceptions and influencing minds. In this context, it is crucial for the people of Pakistan, particularly those in Balochistan, to remain aware of these dynamics. Unity, awareness and resilience are essential to counter both physical and perceptual threats. Rejecting violence, misinformation and external manipulation is key to ensuring peace, stability and progress for the province and the nation as a whole. Indeed, terrorism in the province has devastating effects on the social and economic lives of the people, which require immediate reconsideration at all levels.

— The writer is Professor of Politics and IR at International Islamic University, Islamabad.

© Pakistan Observer