Quetta, Feb 2 (NationPress) The recent operations by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), specifically 'Operation Herof Phase 2.0', signify a notable intensification of Pakistan's protracted conflict in Balochistan, as highlighted by a report. The BLA has taken credit for attacks across 14 cities and 48 locations on January 31, including Quetta, Gwadar, and resource-rich regions like Chagai, resulting in casualties on both sides. Discrepancies in casualty figures persist, with Pakistani officials claiming numerous fighters were killed while the BLA asserts that security forces endured significant losses.

The escalation in armed resistance is not a spontaneous phenomenon; it represents the harsh consequences of decades of systemic abuse, marginalisation, and state repression imposed on the Baloch populace by various Pakistani administrations. This violence is not isolated militancy but a stark reflection of a profound governance failure entrenched in exploitation, forced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and the stifling of peaceful dissent, which has radicalised generations and diminished any hope for dialogue or justice,” noted Daniel Kaplan in an opinion piece for 'One World Outlook'.

Balochistan, recognized as one of Pakistan's most impoverished and underdeveloped regions, possesses vast mineral wealth, including gold, copper, and natural gas. Despite the potential economic benefits from projects like Reko Diq and Saindak, local communities have seen minimal gains. The extraction of resources occurs with little local input or revenue sharing, fostering resentment among the Baloch people who feel that their province is being exploited as a colonial outpost for Islamabad and foreign interests. This economic disenfranchisement is exacerbated by heavy militarization, where the focus of security forces is on safeguarding investments rather than protecting the local populace.

“The fundamental grievance fueling the insurgency remains the practice of enforced disappearances, a serious international crime that has resulted in thousands going missing since the early 2000s. Pakistan’s Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances has documented countless cases, yet accountability remains elusive,” wrote Kaplan.

“Organizations such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have reported on how security forces abduct activists, students, journalists, and ordinary citizens, often subjecting them to torture or executing them extrajudicially. Bodies are frequently discovered showing signs of torture, a method derisively termed 'kill and dump.' In 2025, UN experts condemned the 'unrelenting use' of such disappearances in Balochistan, calling for independent investigations and a ban on the practice, which have repeatedly been ignored,” he added.

In recent years, Balochistan has seen a notable escalation in violence. The killing of student Hayat Baloch by paramilitary forces in 2025 ignited widespread outrage among residents, as per the One World Outlook opinion piece. Authorities responded with a severe crackdown, including internet shutdowns, following protests led by Haq Do Tehreek in Gwadar in 2023 against exploitation and human rights violations. The 2024 elections, perceived as fraudulent, further alienated the Baloch populace.

In March 2025, Mahrang Baloch, a prominent leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), was arrested during protests against violence and disappearances. Since her detention, Mahrang Baloch has faced multiple charges under anti-terrorism legislation, with reports indicating mistreatment while in custody. The cases of Mahrang Baloch and others exemplify how the state suppresses voices advocating for accountability, pushing more individuals towards armed struggle, including increased participation of women in 'Operation Herof Phase 2.0.'