Pakistan Army Launches Grey Warfare against Baloch

Taking shelter of political wresting-ling occupying Islamabad, the Pakistan army has launched a surreptitious war against the Baloch people for demanding the return of missing persons. The army Generals have been incensed by the phenomenal success of a protest march led by a young Baloch doctor, Dr Mahrang Baloch early this year.

The Baloch villages and towns in the mountainous areas of Bolan and Harnal are being bombed by gunship helicopters, destroying houses and animal shelters across a vast area. Eyewitnesses report that forests in the area have caught fire during heavy bombing. Wildlife has been severely affected by the bombing missions. Natural reservoirs are being damaged by heavy strafing.

Heavy deployment of troops and ground weapon systems are closing in on Baloch villages of Saangaan, Jambado, Mia Kaur, Buzgar and Lakkad areas.

Taking on the military offensive, Baloch militant groups have launched a counter attack on Pakistan forces in Bolan. Unconfirmed reports cite casualties, both among the Baloch and the troops.

The Baloch believe that attacks on them are likely to increase in the days to come as PPP and PMLN take charge in Islamabad. Both the political parties have either been indifferent or party to the attacks on Baloch people in the past. In the 70s, during PPP founder Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s tenure, the army had bombarded Chamaling and other areas of Kohistan Marri region.

The army has, on and off, tried to punish the Baloch with sporadic military attacks. The last major offensive was during the Musharraf regime when veteran Baloch leader, Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti and his supporters were bombed to death. The Baloch were protesting the alleged rape of a young Baloch doctor by a junior army officer.

After a short hiatus, the Baloch militancy raised its head again, challenging the military through strategic attacks. These attacks have increased in intensity after General Asim Munir took over as the Army chief. Some Baloch groups have also joined hands with the militant group, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) which had launched a broadside attack against the army since November 2022, a few days after Munir became the army chief.

Munir, saddled with several complicated issues including TTP’s terrorist attacks, chose to adopt a `below threshold` military campaign against the Baloch. His objective has been to keep the casualties down so as not to attract any undue international attention. Such calculated offensives also send fear among the Baloch community, especially protesters who have had a successful stint in Islamabad early this year. The Mahrang Baloch-led protest in Islamabad had caused serious damage to the army’s image.