Mastung/Quetta : The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for two major attacks in Balochistan a coordinated assault in Mastung city and an armed ambush in the mountainous Amach region while officially declaring Pakistan’s Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) a “Baloch National Enemy Institution.”
In a statement released Wednesday, the BLA said its fighters launched simultaneous operations early Tuesday, seizing control of several key installations in Mastung including the Tehsil Office, three banks, and other state buildings. The group claims that during the operation, government personnel were disarmed, weapons were seized and sensitive documents were taken from official premises. BLA fighters reportedly patrolled parts of the city for two hours before withdrawing without facing significant resistance.
According to the statement, CTD forces attempted to intervene using armored vehicles but were repelled by BLA fighters using rocket launchers and automatic weapons. The BLA described the confrontation as a “complete tactical victory,” claiming the security forces were forced into retreat.
In a separate incident, a BLA unit targeted Pakistani military personnel in Amach using a remote-controlled improvised explosive device (IED), followed by heavy gunfire. The group claims at least seven military personnel were killed and several injured. Two BLA fighters Sangat Tahir alias Sarbuland and Sangat Naeem Satakzai alias Shahid were killed in the clash and honored by the group as martyrs.
The group’s most significant declaration came in relation to the CTD. The BLA accused the department of playing a direct role in what it described as “state-sponsored atrocities” and alleged involvement in enforced disappearances and the ongoing suppression of Baloch civilians. Effective immediately, the BLA said CTD installations and personnel will be treated as legitimate military targets on par with the Pakistani army.
“All Baloch civilians are strongly advised to maintain a safe distance from CTD infrastructure and personnel,” the statement read. It also issued a warning to Baloch individuals serving in CTD, urging them to resign or face being labeled as collaborators.
The statement reiterated that the BLA does not target the police or Levies forces as institutions but warned that individuals from these organizations who participate in what the group calls the “enemy’s war machinery” may also be targeted.
During the Mastung assault, the BLA reported setting fire to state buildings to “symbolically dismantle colonial institutions” and reinforce its message of resistance. The fighters reportedly withdrew successfully, and the group claims there was no meaningful pursuit or counter-response by security forces.
No official statement has been released by Pakistani authorities as of the time of reporting. The BLA remains a banned organization under Pakistan’s anti-terror laws, and the government has consistently denied accusations of systematic abuses in Balochistan.
The region has been the site of a decades-long insurgency, with separatist groups demanding greater autonomy or independence. Armed conflict and retaliatory operations have continued amid claims of human rights abuses and military excesses.
