QUETTA, BALOCHISTAN: The spokesperson for Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) Major Gwaharam Baloch, has Claims Rakhni, Barkhan operation where nine were Killed, one was Arrested and one fighter was martyred.
Major Gwaharam Baloch said that nine death squad operatives were killed, one key suspect arrested, and one BLF fighter martyred in a prolonged clash between fighters of the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) and Pakistani security forces in the Rakhni area of Balochistan’s Barkhan.
The BLF, in a statement, said the violence erupted following a targeted operation it conducted on May 2 at approximately 2:00 PM, in which its fighters arrested a man identified as Wahid Bakhsh Masuri, described by the group as an alleged military informant.
The group claimed Masuri was a close associate of Sarfraz Bugti and was directly linked to the deaths of four BLF fighters identified as Shahzeb Baloch, Rasan Qadir, Samiullah Baloch, and Mustafa Baloch.
Arrested Agent Confesses, Reveals Death Squad Networks
According to the BLF statement, during initial interrogation, the arrested suspect Wahid Bakhsh Masuri confessed to his crimes and provided important information about death squad networks operating in the area under military patronage.
The BLF said Masuri also revealed the identities of other death squad members, their secret hideouts, and the names of facilitators allegedly spying and acting as informants against the Baloch national movement and the BLF.
Security Forces Launch Counteroperation
According to the BLF statement, Pakistani security forces launched a large-scale military counteroperation on the morning of May 3 at 10:00 AM in an apparent attempt to recover the arrested individual and target the BLF camp.
The group said the assault involved joint forces, including the Frontier Corps, police, Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), commandos, and armed groups led by Aftab Masuri, described as the brother of Sarfraz Bugti. The BLF claimed drones, mortar shells, and automatic weapons were used during the assault.
The clash lasted approximately 16 hours, continuing until 2:00 AM on May 4.
At the very outset of the attack, the BLF said its fighters launched an immediate counter-strike, killing four key death squad operatives on the spot and wounding several others. Among those killed was a gunman identified as Ismat Masuri. Throughout the engagement, a total of nine death squad agents were killed and several Frontier Corps and police personnel were wounded, according to the group’s statement.
Captain Sangat Salal Baloch Martyred
The BLF announced the death of one of its field commanders, Captain Sangat Salal Baloch, also known by the alias Major Noora, during the engagement.
According to the statement, Captain Salal Baloch identified as a resident of Dera Ghazi Khan, Koh-e-Sulaiman, and son of Sohail Anwar, sustained a serious gunshot wound during the battle but reportedly refused to withdraw, holding his position to allow fellow fighters to retreat safely.
The BLF said he successfully held back enemy forces until his fellow fighters had safely withdrawn before attaining what the group called the honour of martyrdom. The group credited his bravery with helping BLF fighters break out of the enemy’s encirclement.
Profile of a Fighter
The BLF described Captain Sangat Salal Baloch as a highly educated young man who had obtained a degree in Software Engineering from Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences (BUITEMS).
The group said he was inspired by the spirit of freedom against what he viewed as national subjugation and joined the Balochistan Liberation Front in 2022, transferring to the mountain front in July 2023. He was described as a fearless warrior well-versed in modern combat skills who served across multiple operational fronts including Nagahu, Mastung, Dasht, Kachhi, Dhadar, Bolan, Kahan, Barkhan, and Rakhni.
In recognition of his sincerity, courage, and combat expertise, the BLF said it had appointed him to the rank of Captain, a position he held until his death.
BLF Claims Tactical Success
Despite the scale of the security forces’ deployment, which included aerial surveillance via drones and heavy ground strength, the BLF said its fighters successfully broke through what it described as an enemy encirclement using guerrilla warfare tactics and withdrew to secure locations.
The group said the enemy suffered heavy casualties during the joint operation involving the army, death squad personnel, and various other forces.
BLF Reaffirms Continued Struggle
In its statement, the Balochistan Liberation Front reaffirmed its resolve to continue its armed struggle, vowing to fight until what it describes as the liberation of Balochistan and until what it called every drop of the martyrs’ blood is avenged.
“Enemy and its collaborators be under no illusion — they can never succeed in suppressing the Baloch national cause through their cowardly actions and state repression,” the statement read.
The group described the sacrifices of fighters like Captain Sangat Salal Baloch as a beacon of guidance and pledged to continue his mission until the goal is achieved.
