‘Enemy paralysed’: Pakistan’s Baloch crisis deepens as BLA claims Surab city capture

Islamabad: The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed that its fighters have taken "complete control" of Surab city in Balochistan, Pakistan.

In a statement released on Saturday, BLA spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch said the armed operation lasted over three hours on Friday and resulted in the group occupying major government buildings and highways.

According to the BLA, their fighters seized the Levies station, police station, Deputy Commissioner’s office, banks, and guest house, and set fire to state-owned vehicles and infrastructure. The group also claimed to have captured and later released local police and Levies personnel, citing their Baloch identity. A total of 30 Kalashnikov rifles and other weapons were allegedly taken.

During the occupation, Assistant Deputy Commissioner Hidayatullah Buledi reportedly died due to suffocation after being locked in a room, which the BLA claims was unintentional.

The group also said it had established checkpoints on the Quetta-Karachi and Surab-Gidar highways to restrict state movement. This action coincided with a visit by Pakistani Army Chief General Asim Munir to Quetta, underlining the symbolic significance of the operation.

The BLA stated this was part of its ongoing campaign for Baloch independence, accusing the Pakistani state of colonial occupation and human rights abuses, including forced disappearances and targeted killings.

Earlier this month, the BLA issued a separate statement labelling Pakistan as a terrorist state and calling for international recognition of its alleged support for terror groups like LeT, JeM, and ISIS. The group declared that it would continue its armed resistance until Baloch national liberation is achieved.
(With IANS input)