HUB: A private bank in Hub’s Darooji area was robbed by six armed men, believed to be members of the BLA, on Monday morning, adding to growing security concerns over attacks on commercial and economic activity in Balochistan.
According to sources, the suspects, riding three motorcycles, stormed a Bank AL Habib branch at around 10:40 a.m. after opening fire on a security guard. The attackers looted the branch and fled the scene.
The injured guard was shifted to hospital, while police and other law-enforcement personnel cordoned off the area and launched a search for the suspects.
The latest robbery comes against the backdrop of a broader militant campaign in Balochistan in which banks, transport routes, government facilities and economic infrastructure have previously been targeted.
Pakistan refers to BLA-linked militants as part of “Fitna al-Hindustan”, a term used by the authorities for what they describe as India-sponsored militant networks. The BLA, a banned separatist group, has claimed responsibility for numerous attacks in Balochistan, including attacks on security installations, railways, highways and other infrastructure.
Bank robberies have also featured in the conflict. In January 2025, militants seized control of Zehri town in Khuzdar district, where a private bank was attacked and more than Rs90 million was reportedly looted, according to the South Asia Terrorism Portal citing local officials.
In another case, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in January 2026 that money looted during a bank robbery in Panjgur in December 2025 was recovered from a militant hideout during a security operation. The military identified the militants as members of what it called Fitna al-Hindustan.
The BLA has also repeatedly targeted transport and infrastructure. Independent reporting has documented attacks on railway infrastructure, highways, commercial vehicles and CPEC-linked projects, while recent attacks on mineral and cargo trucks have disrupted movement along key routes.
Analysts say attacks on roads, transport networks, commercial institutions and development projects can impose higher security and transportation costs and disrupt economic activity in a province that relies heavily on connectivity and resource development. The Royal United Services Institute recently noted that repeated attacks on transport infrastructure can turn security into a significant development cost for Balochistan.
Police have yet to publicly establish whether the Hub bank robbery was linked to any militant organisation. Investigation into the incident is under way.
