Baloch rebels escalate attacks on Pakistani forces amid rising independence sentiment

Amid heightened tensions along the India-Pakistan border, Baloch rebel groups have intensified their armed campaign against Pakistani forces in the restive province of Balochistan. At least three pro-independence factions have launched coordinated strikes across the region, targeting military outposts, supply convoys, and key infrastructure.

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According to Balochistan-based sources, on May 6, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for multiple attacks in Kech, Mastung, and Kachi. In Kech, a remote-controlled IED killed one soldier, while an assault on a military outpost in Katgan reportedly resulted in additional casualties. Explosions and gunfire were also reported across Quetta, Balochistan’s capital, with Pakistani forces facing at least four separate ambushes.

The surge in rebel operations comes as Islamabad focuses on countering India’s Operation Sindoor. Former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has publicly warned of the state’s diminishing control in Balochistan, describing it as a sign of the government's fading authority. He also rejected Army Chief Asim Munir’s claim that the unrest stems from a small rebel faction.

The ongoing insurgency, fueled by decades of economic neglect, human rights violations, and resource exploitation, has increasingly targeted Chinese assets tied to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Alongside armed resistance, peaceful protests led by figures like activist Mahrang Baloch—currently imprisoned—have drawn attention to enforced disappearances in the region.

Analysts warn that the escalating conflict marks one of the most significant challenges to Pakistan’s territorial integrity in recent years.