Mumbai: The situation in Balochistan is becoming increasingly for the Pakistan government to handle. Attacks on Pakistan armed forces have become almost a daily occurence. In this context, the Free Press Journal spoke to Munir Mengal, president of the Baloch Voice Association and the Baloch representative at the U.N. and the European Parliament. Excerpts from an interview:
What is the stage at which the Baloch liberation movement is at present? Has it reached critical mass?
The movement has recently intensified, marked by both heightened militant activities and significant peaceful protests. In March 2025, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), executed a high-profile hijacking of the Jaffar Express train in Balochistan.
This attack resulted in numerous casualties and hostages, underscoring the group’s growing operational capabilities and the escalating insurgency in the region. Concurrently, peaceful demonstrations have gained momentum. In December 2023, the Baloch Long March, led by activist Mahrang Baloch and the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), highlighted grievances over enforced disappearances and human rights violations.
This movement, involving a 1,600-kilometer march from Kech district to Islamabad, faced resistance from authorities, including detentions and dispersals. Despite these challenges, the protests drew national and international attention to the Baloch cause.
The Baloch liberation struggle has thus reached a critical juncture, with increased militant actions and a surge in peaceful activism. This dual approach reflects a broader mobilization within the Baloch community, signaling a significant phase in their efforts to end Pakistani occupation and regain their soverignity.
Today every corner of Balochistan is bleeding because of the Pakistani state atrocities but on the other hand the Baloch Youth, elderly people and Baloch women from every cornor of Balochistan are resisting against Pakistan and playing a role for the Libration of Balochistan.
This is an indication that if Baloch people got sincere support from International community will surely get their freedom. Pakistani state organs, I. e. Provincial Parliament, Judiciary, police, and military forces are facing very tough time for their survival as state bodies.
The recent surge in Baloch militant activity, including the train hijacking and sustained attacks on Pakistani security forces, suggests a new found confidence among fighters. What is the basis of this confidence?
a) There is improved organization & coordination now.
Groups like the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and Baloch Liberation Front (BLF) have become more organized, adopting advanced guerrilla tactics and engaging in high-profile, coordinated attacks.
b) There is expanded recruitment & popular support now.
The growing discontent over enforced disappearances, extra-judicial killings, and economic marginalization has led to increased recruitment. Movements like the Baloch Long March have mobilized public sentiment, indirectly strengthening militant groups. The people of Balochistan are seeing Pakistani military as an occupation force.
Therefore Balochs think that joining resistance forces is the only path for survival. The ability to execute a complex operation like the train hijacking indicates improved training, intelligence, and possibly better weapons and funding sources.
The economic crisis in Pakistan, coupled with its internal political turmoil and military overstretch, has likely emboldened Baloch fighters. The state’s inability to fully suppress and continue occupation by force.
The world community is sympathetic to the Baloch liberation struggle, but it is not doing anything substantial to help the freedom fighters.
While there’s no confirmed foreign backing, Baloch militants might be gaining indirect support due to shifting geopolitical alignments. Strained Pakistan-Iran relations and tensions with Afghanistan could be creating opportunities for Baloch fighters. The New Trump administration might also get interested in the virgin and resource full land of Balochistan. Balochistan already occupies a high geo-strategic location.
What is the ground situation currently?
A combination of factors suggests that Baloch militants are no longer operating from a purely defensive stance but are actively challenging Pakistani control in Balochistan.
The sustainability of the Baloch insurgency depends on several key factors, especially in the absence of substantial international support. While global sympathy exists, realpolitik and economic interests—particularly concerning Pakistan’s alliances with China, the U.S., and Gulf countries—have kept world powers from openly backing Baloch independence. Given this, the longevity of the insurgency hinges on the following:
a) The biggest factor sustaining the struggle is the support of the local Baloch population. As long as grievances like enforced disappearances, military operations, and economic marginalization continue, militant groups will find recruits. The rise of peaceful protests, such as the Baloch Long March, suggests that resistance is widespread, beyond just armed groups. Secondly occupation itself is a source of motivation.
The Baloch people had never accepted Pakistan as their mother state. They call it occupation and Baloch generations since 1948 had kept alive the resistance and the desire to regain sovereignty on their land. The abuse of fundamental rights, looting of resources, economic deprivation and use to force to control and eliminate Baloch are tools which keeps Baloch motivation to resist.
Groups like the BLA and BLF have improved their tactics, using guerrilla warfare, urban attacks, and high-profile operations like the train hijacking. Their ability to sustain momentum depends on continued recruitment, training, and intelligence networks. Are signs to keep the resistance alive for long term.
Pakistan is facing economic collapse, political turmoil, and multiple insurgencies (including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan). If the state’s control weakens further, Baloch fighters could expand their operational capabilities and territory.
The immoral political tactics, rigging the elections, internal political conflicts, Pakistani establishment involvement and mingling in the politics, tweaking the Pakistani state and giving opportunity to Baloch groups to strengthen their resistance.
What about the possibility of external assistance in future?
While no major power has formally backed the Baloch cause, changing regional dynamics could alter this. If tensions between Pakistan and its neighbors (India, Iran, Afghanistan) escalate, covert assistance to Baloch groups could become a strategic tool.
Even if no government openly supports them, non-state actors or diaspora groups could provide funding and advocacy. Secondly Balochistan occupies a very important Geo strategic location and it’s land is rich with mineral resources so has a high potential to attract the International powers to herself.
Baloch fighters are not seeking conventional military victory but aiming for a prolonged war of attrition. As long as they can keep Pakistan’s forces engaged and overstretched, they can sustain their movement for years, much like other protracted insurgencies worldwide.
How Long Can It Last?
If the current trajectory continues without major external intervention but with persistent internal resistance—the conflict could last for decades. Insurgencies sustained purely by local support and guerrilla tactics, like the Kurdish struggle have lasted for generations. The Baloch struggle, already ongoing for over two decades in its current phase, is likely to persist indefinitely. Till Balochs get victory.
There are frequent reports of enforced disappearances and extra judicial killings. Pl comment.
The Baloch people in Balochistan are facing significant human rights challenges, including enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and suppression of peaceful protests. Recent reports indicate that these issues persist, with ongoing concerns about the treatment of Baloch activists and civilians. Therefore Pakistan has opted a strategy to dominate the region and people by force.
Human rights organizations continue to document cases of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in Balochistan. In February 2025 report, our organization Baloch Voice Association received reports from our partering organizations working inside Balochistan , reported 39 enforced disappearances, five extrajudicial killings, and 45 instances of torture. These figures underscore a troubling pattern of human rights abuses in the region.
Peaceful demonstrations advocating for Baloch rights have often been met with heavy-handed responses from authorities. In December 2023, the Baloch Long March, led by activist Mahrang Baloch, aimed to protest enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.
Participants faced resistance from authorities, including detentions and the use of force to disperse gatherings. And today again Dr. Mahrang Baloch, Dr. Sammi Deen Baloch and many others are behind bars. The Sindh high court gave a verdict of releasing Dr. Sammi Deen Baloch but she was again arrested inside the court premises under MPO 16.
The international community has expressed concern over the human rights situation in Balochistan. In March 2025, United Nations experts demanded the immediate release of detained Baloch human rights defenders and an end to the crackdown on peaceful protesters.
They emphasized the importance of respecting the rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression. DR. Mahrang Baloch was called by a Norwagian organization PEN in 2023 for participating and delivering speeches. Similarly Dr. Samee Baloch was called and awarded by Netherlands Front Land Defenders Awards.
Baloch Voice Association had held many meetings with UN bodies and had submitted reports to UN committee against Torture to which Pakistan is a signatory. And the body aims to visit Pakistan soon.
Similarly UN working Group on Enforced Disappearances had visited Pakistan back in 2012 September, and has asked Pakistan for a follow up report. Baloch Voice Organization had also submitted reports to European Human Rights Commission about Enforced Disappearances and systematic abuse of rights in Balochistan.
And the International Organizations had shown concern and asking Pakistan for response. Unfortunately Pakistan is using delaying tactics in responsing those questions. Pakistan GSP plus status with the European Parliament for trades is also at stake due to abuse of rights particularly in Balochistan.
The Pakistani government has initiated military operations against Baloch separatist groups, which have sometimes resulted in civilian casualties and further human rights violations. In November 2024, reports indicated that Pakistan was preparing a major offensive against Balochistan separatists following a series of deadly attacks. Such operations have raised concerns about the potential for increased violence and further suppression of Baloch communities.
Overall, the ground situation in Balochistan remains tense, with ongoing reports of human rights abuses with impunity and a lack of accountability for violations. Recently in last week Pakistani Security Council made a decision to use force in Force Balochistan and Pakistani Army chief announced that “Pakistan Will be a hard state”.
That is a sign Pakistan will keep on systematically eliminating the Baloch more vigorously. The Baloch community continues to face significant challenges in their struggle for rights and recognition.
