ISLAMABAD: Security forces in Balochistan have arrested 17 operatives of the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) as they attempted to flee from the jihāni area to Iran, military officials.
The BLA had been involved in “various acts of sabotage, destruction of public infrastructure and jeopardising civilian lives” across Balochistan.
The BLA designated a terrorist organisation by Pakistan is accused of operating with the “kind assistance” of India, providing financial and logistical support to undermine Pakistan’s stability.
Furthermore, the arrested suspects were intercepted during a clearance operation in which intelligence assets guided local counter-terrorism units.
In this regard, the BLA has claimed responsibility for numerous attacks in Balochistan this year, including those targeting government installations, transport infrastructure and military convoys.
Moreover, the current arrests raise hopes among provincial authorities that militant transit routes are being disrupted.
In addition, civilians in Balochistan have long been affected by the insurgency, which has at times destroyed public utilities, roads, bridges and disrupted the day-to-day lives of residents.
The security forces, together with paramilitary forces and law enforcement agencies, has maintained ongoing operations aimed at rooting out insurgent enclaves.
In this sense, further investigation into the arrestees is underway, and authorities hope that intelligence gathered from them may reveal deeper infrastructure links and outside support networks.
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The arrests indicate a tangible success in the broader counter-terrorism campaign in Balochistan, a region that continues to face one of the country’s most persistent security challenges.
