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⚫ The '''Baloch Liberation Army''' ('''BLA''') is a ] militant organization. The stated goals of the organization include the establishment of an independent state of ] free of ]i and ] occupation. The name Baloch Liberation Army first became public in summer 2000, after the organization claimed credit for a series of bomb attacks in markets and railways lines. In 2006, the BLA was declared to be a ] by the Pakistani, US and ]s.<ref>'''', Katherine Baldwin, ], ], ]. Last accessed ], ]</ref>
The '''Baloch Liberation Army''' ('''BLA''')is a Baloch nationalist terrorist organization. The stated goals of the organization includes preservation of Baloch feudal system and undermines Pakistan`s efforts on helping US in war on terror.

⚫ The name Baloch Liberation Army first became public in summer 2000, after the organization claimed credit for a series of bomb attacks in markets and railways lines and killing of innocent civilians of non Baloch origins. In 2006, the BLA was declared to be a ] by the Pakistani, US and ]s.<ref>'''', Katherine Baldwin, ], ], ]. Last accessed ], ]</ref>


==Leadership== ==Leadership==

Revision as of 10:30, 21 April 2009

Balochistan Liberation Army
Baloch Ajoee Lashkar
File:Flag of the Balochistan Liberation Army.svg
LeadersUnknown
IdeologyBaloch nationalism
Statusunknown

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) is a Baloch nationalist militant organization. The stated goals of the organization include the establishment of an independent state of Balochistan free of Pakistani and Iranian occupation. The name Baloch Liberation Army first became public in summer 2000, after the organization claimed credit for a series of bomb attacks in markets and railways lines. In 2006, the BLA was declared to be a terrorist organization by the Pakistani, US and British governments.

Leadership

File:Balachmarri.jpg
Balach Marri

Some believe that Mir Balach Marri, son of Baloch tribal leader Nawab Khair Bakhsh Marri, was the head of the BLA but Balach denied this, stating he knew of the BLA and supports them morally and physically, but is not their chief. Balach Marri survived an attack by Pakistani law enforcement agencies on 26 August 2006. In addition to Balach Marri, the grandsons of Akbar Khan Bugti, Brahamdagh Khan Bugti and Mir Aley also survived. However, Balach Marri was killed in another attack on November 21, 2007.. His killing triggered a wave of violence in Balochistan and led to broad condemnation, Benazir Bhutto said the killing was “a bad omen for the integrity of the Federation”, whilst the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said "the incident was likely to increase the anger of the people of Balochistan against the Pakistan Government". The cause and location of his death are unknown. There are at least three locations quoted for the incident, ranging from Helmand province in Afghanistan (in a mistaken NATO airstrike), to the Pak-Afghan border in the Nushki area, to Kahan area in Kohlu district in the Marri tribal area, the latter two at the hands of the Pakistani security forces, his killing sparked a wave of violence in Quetta and several innocent men, women and children of ethnic Punjabi origin were kidnapped, tortured and killed. Although a BLA spokesman confirmed the killing of the BLA commander, he was reluctant to give out any further information as to location or how many of his comrades may have been killed with him, for fear, he said, of compromising the safety of other BLA fighters.

Allegations of Terrorism

The Balochistan Liberation Army has been listed as an organization that funds, and promotes terrorism. On 17 July 2006 the government of the United Kingdom listed the BLA as a terrorist outfit and banned their members from the UK. The group has also been listed a terror group by the US Dept. for homeland Security. Due to BLA's designation as a terrorist organisation by the British Home Office, any member associated with the group is barred from entering the UK.

Actions by the Baloch Liberation Army

The BLA has claimed responsibity of torturing and killing of innocent men, women and children of Punjabi origin. In an interview to private TV channel in Pakistan on 15 April 2009, one of their leaders appealed to Baloch people to kill any member of Punjabi origin of any profession to prove themselves as being Baloch.

June, 2000: By and large the victims of BLA are unarmed civilians specially of Punjabi origin. This includes doctors, professors and mostly barbers. A number of bombs were detonated by BLA activists in the commercial district of Quetta, the provincial capital of Pakistani Balochistan, an area often frequented by the Pakistani military personnel. The explosions resulted in the deaths of 26 soldiers and 5 civilians, and the wounding of many others.

  • July, 2000: Fifteen 82-mm mortar shells of Russian-made were fired from the Koh-i-Murdar mountain range near Quetta, targeting the city's military garrison. No official casualty report was issued by the Pakistani military to the press in Balochistan. * Numerous deaths of Pakistani soldiers have resulted from landmines planted by BLA.
  • Date 18-8-06.Asaap newspaper reported that on Thursday 17 August Pakistani army was conducting a search operation against BLA fighters 12 kilometres away from Karmo Wadh, near Sibi. At the time of operation Pakistani forces came under heavy barrage of rocket fire from Baloch fighters, in which three Pakistani soldiers were killed and seven became wounded. Names of the killed soldiers who died on the spot are NCO Amjad Ali, NCO Tasawer Hussen and NCO Matloob Hussen. Names of the critically wounded soldiers: Major Qaiser, Hawaldar Anser, Corporal Mudser Hussen, NCO Majid Hussen, NCO Ishfaq Ahmed, NCO Janzeb and NCO Ashraf, all the wounded were shifted to CMH (Combined Military Hospital) Hospital Sibi. In another such incident 40 kilometres away from Sangsila at Bambore-Top, Dera Bugti area. When Pakistani soldiers were digging trenches on Bambore-Top suddenly a landmine blasted with a big bang. In which Naib Subedar Kashmir Afridi and NCO Abdul Khaliq Afridi died on the spot, and five soldiers were critically wounded (names of the wounded were not confirmed).The rockets have been confirmed to be of Indian/Russian-made origin.

Note: Bambore is a mountain located in the east of Sibi and north of Dera Bugti. Top is an English word used by Pakistani army.

  • News, 25,August,2006. Four tribal militants were killed on Friday as security forces used helicopter gunships to launch another operation in parts of Kohlu district. Two members of the security forces were also killed while an officer was injured. Reports reaching here from Kohlu said the security forces moved in to Karmo Wadh and Tartani areas near Kahan and used helicopter gunships to attack militants? hideouts. The operation was launched two days ago, they added.

Militants have also claimed inflicting big losses on the security forces. Azad Baloch, a spokesman for the banded Balochistan Liberation Army, told newsmen at the Quetta Press Club on telephone from an unknown place that armed militants were resisting the attacks. He claimed that over a dozen security personnel had been killed and many others injured in the area. He also claimed killing FC men in a landmine explosion in Kamo Wadh area. However, official sources did not confirm any casualties to the security forces.

  • News, 29, May,2007. Dozens of blasts in Balochistan which disabled the railway links with the rest of the country were claimed by the BLA,.
  • Bungal Bugti was former ally of Nawab Akbar Shahbaz Khan Bugti. Bungal Bugti was killed on May 9, 2008 when his car blew up. It has been reported that the militants of Balochistan Liberation Army carried out the attack.

References

  1. "Four groups banned under anti-terrorism law", Katherine Baldwin, The Scotsman, 17 July, 2006. Last accessed 18 July, 2006
  2. BLA chief killed near Pak-Afghan border - The news
  3. Protests in Balochistan over BLA leader’s killing - The Hindu
  4. Benazir Bhutto condemns murder of Balaach Marri Says it is bad omen for the federation
  5. HRCP strongly denounces killing of Balach Marri Top News India
  6. IntelliBriefs: International Kashmir Alliance condemn the killing of Balach Mari
  7. Balach’s killing condemned
  8. Balach Marri killed: Violence in Quetta, schools closed - Dawn Pakistan
  9. Balach Marri's death adds to uncertainty in Balochistan - The Pulse
  10. Balach Marri’s killing - National Baloch Media Network
  11. "Four groups banned under anti-terrorism law", Katherine Baldwin, The Scotsman, 17 July, 2006. Last accessed 18 July, 2006
  12. "Militant Islamist groups banned under terror law", Richard Ford, Timesonline, 18 July, 2006
  13. BLA Profile - "MIPT Terrorism Knowledge base"
  14. "British Home Office: Proscribed terror groups"
  15. "BLA declared terrorist organization, banned", Syed Irfan Raza, Dawn, April 10, 2006. Last accessed July 18, 2006.
  16. ::: ASAAP Publications :::
  17. Six killed in fresh Kohlu operation - Dawn Pakistan
  18. Blasts cut rail links with Iran - IOL South Africa

See also

Baloch nationalism
Regions
Political parties
Student groups
Militant groups
Other groups
Key figures
History
National
myths/epics

External links

Reports from BBC

Clashes at Baloch tribal memorial

Pakistan kills '21 Baloch rebels'

Baloch rebels reject army claims

Pakistan kills '25 Baloch rebels'

The world according to the Baloch

Categories: