Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations, will brief the media soon on recent developments in Balochistan’s security situation. Terrorism has surged in Pakistan, especially K-P and Balochistan, raising security concerns.
The UN Security Council report highlighted a series of attacks by the banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) against Pakistani forces and CPEC projects. On September 16, BLA ambushed a military convoy on the corridor, killing 32 troops. Despite counter-terrorism efforts, the BLA remains active.
Some member states reported BLA collaboration with TTP and ISIL-K via shared training camps and resources for attacks and meetings. However, no association or growing ties were found between the BLA and Al Qaeda or ISIL.
The report noted that various Afghan groups have acquired modern weapons through cross-border smuggling and black-market trade. TTP used advanced assault rifles, night-vision devices, thermal-imaging systems, sniper systems, and drone attack systems, mostly provided by de facto authorities with permits and travel documents.
Last year’s UN sanctions committee monitoring team annual report stated that BLA and TTP had “close coordination”. The UNSC report cited the high complexity and brutality of some BLA attacks, including the March 11 hijacking of the Jaffar Express in Balochistan, which killed 31 people.