Security Forces Battle Sectarian, Ethnic, and Separatist Violence in Balochistan

Female Suicide Bomber Targets Pakistani Paramilitary Troops in Balochistan

QUETTA: A female suicide bomber targeted a convoy of Pakistani paramilitary troops in the restive southwestern province of Balochistan today, killing at least one soldier and injuring four others, officials said.

“At least one Frontier Corps (FC) soldier was killed, and four others were injured when a female suicide bomber targeted an FC convoy in Kalat district,” a senior administration official Bilal Shabbir told AFP.

Habib Babai, a local police official, also confirmed the toll to AFP.

No group has claimed the attack.

The Baloch Liberation Army: A Major Player in the Region

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) is the most active group in the region and often carries out deadly attacks against security forces or Pakistanis from other provinces.

Women Suicide Bombers: A Rare but Increasing Trend

Women suicide bombers are rare in Pakistan. However, the BLA has previously carried out attacks with women fighters.

In April 2022, three Chinese academics and their Pakistani driver were killed when a woman suicide bomber detonated her device as they were driving into the University of Confucius Institute in Karachi, in the south. The BLA claimed responsibility for that attack.

Targeting Energy Projects and Foreign Financing

The BLA has also targeted energy projects with foreign financing – most notably from China – accusing outsiders of exploiting the resource-rich region while excluding residents in the poorest part of Pakistan.

Decades of Violence in Balochistan

Security forces have been battling sectarian, ethnic, and separatist violence for decades in impoverished but mineral-rich Balochistan, which borders Afghanistan and Iran.

Deadliest Year in a Decade for Pakistan

Last year was the deadliest in a decade for Pakistan, with a surge in attacks that killed more than 1,600 people, including 685 members of the police or security forces, according to the Islamabad-based Center for Research and Security Studies.

Violence Limited to Border Regions

The violence is largely limited to the country’s border regions with Afghanistan, with attacks in major cities increasingly rare.

Recent Attacks in Pakistan

At least 81 people have been killed in attacks in Pakistan this year, according to an AFP tally – the majority security forces targeted by anti-state rebels.

Conclusion

The ongoing violence in Balochistan highlights the complex and challenging security situation in the region. The use of female suicide bombers is a new and concerning trend, and the targeting of energy projects and foreign financing is a clear indication of the BLA’s opposition to outside involvement in the region.

FAQs

* What is the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA)?
+ The BLA is the most active group in the region and often carries out deadly attacks against security forces or Pakistanis from other provinces.
* What is the significance of the use of female suicide bombers?
+ Women suicide bombers are rare in Pakistan, but the BLA has previously carried out attacks with women fighters, making this a new and concerning trend.
* How has the violence in Balochistan affected the region?
+ The violence has led to a surge in attacks, resulting in over 1,600 deaths last year, including 685 members of the police or security forces, according to the Islamabad-based Center for Research and Security Studies.