In a stunning escalation of Pakistan’s long-simmering Balochistan conflict, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for a series of coordinated attacks dubbed ‘Operation Herof Phase 2.0.’ Striking 14 cities and 48 locations—including mineral-rich areas like Quetta, Gwadar, and Chagai—on January 31, these assaults underscore the deepening crisis in the region.
Pakistani officials reported dozens of militants killed, while the BLA countered with claims of heavy losses inflicted on security forces. This clash of narratives highlights the opacity surrounding the violence. Analyst Daniel Kaplan, in One World Outlook, argues that this armed uprising isn’t born in a vacuum. It’s the bitter fruit of decades of systematic oppression, marginalization, and brutality inflicted on the Baloch people by successive Pakistani governments.
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province by area, remains one of its poorest despite vast reserves of gold, copper, and natural gas. Projects like Reko Diq and Saindak promise riches, but locals see little benefit. Resource extraction happens without fair shares or community involvement, fostering resentment that Islamabad treats the province as a colonial outpost for foreign capital. Heavy militarization, focused on protecting investments, only heightens local insecurity.
At the heart of the rebellion lies Pakistan’s policy of enforced disappearances—a grave violation of international law. Since the early 2000s, thousands have vanished, with the government’s own commission registering cases but delivering no accountability. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International document how security forces abduct activists, students, journalists, and civilians, subjecting them to torture or extrajudicial killings. Dumped bodies bearing torture marks, known as ‘kill and dump,’ have become tragically common.
UN experts in 2025 condemned these ongoing disappearances, urging independent probes and recognition as crimes against humanity—calls repeatedly ignored. Recent triggers include the 2025 killing of student Hayat Baloch by security forces, sparking outrage. In 2023, Gwadar protests by Haq Do Tehreek met with crackdowns, including internet blackouts. The 2024 elections, widely seen as rigged, further alienated Balochistan’s people.
The March 2025 arrest of prominent Baloch Yakjehti Committee leader Mahrang Baloch during a protest exemplifies state suppression of dissent. Detained since, she’s faced terrorism charges and reports of custodial abuse. Such actions push more toward armed struggle, including women participating in recent operations. As Kaplan notes, this isn’t isolated extremism but a profound failure of governance, eroding trust in dialogue or justice and radicalizing generations.