Pakistan has witnessed the most devastating attack by the Baloch Liberation Army in years. Who is behind the attack?

A police officer searches charred vehicles on a remote road in Pakistan's Balochistan province.

The burned-out vehicles and bodies are all that remain of the attack that killed 23 civilians in the largest coordinated attack by an ethnic-separatist terrorist group in recent years.

Local authorities said they were killed in a roadside attack after gunmen checked passengers' identification documents, then shot them and set fire to their vehicles.

In a highly organised attack, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) attacked police stations, railway lines and highways across the province on Sunday and Monday.

At least 73 people were killed, including 21 BLA fighters.

“We have thousands of kilometers of highways. The BLA came to the highway and stopped people for about half an hour … and then took them to an area about 100, 200 meters from the road and brutally killed them,” said Pakistani Balochistan Prime Minister Sarfaraz Bugti.

The BLA said 800 of its fighters were involved in the attacks, which were part of an operation called “Haruf,” which roughly translates to “dark, windy storm.”

It was warned that the second phase of the attacks would be “even more intense and comprehensive”.

Load…

The group behind the attacks

The BLA consists of ethnic militants who want an independent state.

It is just one of several groups fighting with the Pakistani government over the exploitation of mineral and gas reserves in the province.

The biggest point of contention between the BLA and Pakistan is Pakistan's approval of foreign-funded mineral projects in the province.

The province is an important strategic hub for Pakistan and is the site of major Chinese-funded (and in some cases managed) projects, such as a major port facility and a gold and copper mine.

The BLA has been active in Pakistan since 2000 and is considered the most aggressive and dominant armed group of the ethnic Baloch.

However, the roots of the conflict go back at least to the 1970s, when ethnic Baloch groups began fighting the Pakistani military for control of the province.

The group was formed due to complex ethnic and political tensions between Pakistan's Baloch population and the country's ethnic-majority dominated government.

About 3.8 percent of Pakistan's population are ethnic Baloch.

The BLA has been considered a terrorist organization in the country since 2004.

In 2019, the United States designated the BLA as an international terrorist group.

Tensions in the region have continued to escalate, with Iran, where many BLA troops are stationed, also being caught up in these tensions.

In January this year, Pakistan carried out airstrikes on alleged BLA targets in Iran.

The airstrikes came shortly after a similar Iranian attack on Pakistani territory.

The BLA attacks on Monday also coincided with the death anniversary of Baloch nationalist leader Akbar Bugti, who was killed by Pakistani security forces in 2006.

Why did the BLA attack sites across the province?

The BLA also claims to be behind four suicide bombings in the southern port district of Gwadar and an attack on the Bela paramilitary base in Pakistan.

The aim of the BLA's operations was to create “anarchy” in the province and make it virtually ungovernable, said the country's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.

The BLA, for its part, said it was carrying out its attacks to drive out Chinese-backed projects from the province and establish an independent Baloch government.

What happens next?

Although attacks in Balochistan are not uncommon, an attack of this magnitude is likely to provoke a strong reaction from Pakistan's security services.

The Pakistani government has already announced retaliation for the attacks.

“Our cleanup campaign is currently still in progress.

“About 21 terrorists have been sent to hell,” said Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday that there would be no peace talks with the group.

Although Pakistan claims to have crushed the uprising, violence continues in Balochistan.

The greater risk that will worry the major powers, including Pakistan's former allies the United States and China, is that the attacks could lead to Pakistan launching cross-border attacks on Iran to target BLA positions there.

Any escalation involving Iran would further exacerbate the already highly unstable geopolitical zone.

ABC/Wires