Pakistani Separatists Form New ‘Baloch National Army’ to Target Chinese Interests

Pakistani separatist groups have intensified their insurgency by uniting for the first time under a centralized force named the Baloch National Army. The new force, announced by the Baloch Raji Aajoi Sangar (BRAS) on Sunday, aims to target Chinese interests in Balochistan province, a region central to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The decision followed a three-day meeting of banned separatist groups that have previously carried out deadly attacks on Chinese nationals and infrastructure projects. The alliance pledged to escalate its resistance against the exploitation of Baloch resources by both Pakistan and China. The group vowed to intensify blockades on key highways in Balochistan to disrupt logistical, economic, and military interests of the Pakistani state and its Chinese partners.

Chinese nationals, who number around 20,000 in Pakistan, have been prime targets of Baloch separatist attacks in recent years. According to the National Counter Terrorism Authority of Pakistan, at least 20 Chinese nationals have been killed and 34 injured in more than a dozen attacks since 2021.

A day after the announcement, a female suicide bomber targeted a security forces convoy in Balochistan, and militants recently attacked a Chinese truck convoy transporting copper shipments, leaving several security personnel wounded.

Alongside armed operations, the alliance has also announced plans to launch a diplomatic campaign to draw international attention to what it calls the exploitation of Baloch resources by Chinese capitalists.

Observers say the formation of the Baloch National Army marks a turning point in the insurgency by merging the most influential and lethal militant factions under a single command. The new structure could significantly enhance the group’s capacity to carry out larger and more coordinated attacks on both Pakistani and Chinese interests.

Additionally, the Sindhudesh Revolutionary Army, a separatist militant group from Sindh province, has joined forces with BRAS, further strengthening the alliance. The two groups plan to coordinate activities in Karachi and other parts of Sindh to destabilize Chinese projects in the region.

Experts believe the growing participation of the educated middle class in the insurgency could help overcome traditional tribal rivalries, making the alliance more sustainable and effective than in the past. However, the long-term success of the alliance will depend on the ability to maintain unity among the disparate groups.

Pakistan is seeking to involve other major powers, including Canada’s Barrick Gold and Saudi Arabia, in Balochistan’s mining sector to attract international investment and garner support for its counterinsurgency efforts in the region.

Input From Agency