Over 50 Pakistani Soldiers Killed in Balochistan: BLF’s ‘Operation Baam’ Sparks Massive Unrest
BLF Claims Responsibility for 84 Attacks in Balochistan; Over 50 Pakistani Soldiers Reportedly Killed
Quetta, July 12, 2025 – The Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) has claimed responsibility for a major offensive codenamed ‘Operation Baam’, involving 84 coordinated attacks across Balochistan from July 9 to July 11, in what the group has called a “milestone” in its armed struggle against the Pakistani state.
In a public statement on Friday evening, BLF spokesperson Major Gwahram Baloch declared the operation a “successful completion”, asserting that the attacks targeted the Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps, Military Intelligence (MI), ISI, police, Levies, and Customs forces.
Reported Casualties and Attacks on State Infrastructure
According to the BLF’s claims reported by The Balochistan Post, the assaults left at least 50 Pakistani military personnel dead and over 51 injured. The group also claimed to have executed nine alleged intelligence agents at a checkpoint in the Musakhel region.
The scope of Operation Baam includes:
- 30+ direct assaults on military and intelligence targets
- 4 ambushes targeting convoys and patrols
- Destruction of 25 vehicles, including gas tankers and mineral trucks
- Arson of 7 telecom towers disrupting communication
- Downing of 5 surveillance drones
- Damage to a government bus and a local bank
The group’s detailed statement outlines a highly coordinated effort across multiple districts, indicating an escalation in militant capacity and strategy.
Strategic and Symbolic Messaging from the BLF
In a sharp rebuke of Pakistan’s economic reliance on Balochistan’s resources, the BLF stated:
“Balochistan will no longer be the provider of golden eggs to a parasitic state.”
The group labeled Operation Baam as a “new phase of organised resistance”, signalling an intent to shift toward more frequent, large-scale assaults in the region. The BLF continues to frame its struggle as part of a “national liberation movement”, appealing to anti-colonial sentiments within the Baloch community.
Pakistani Government Yet to Confirm Casualty Claims
As of now, the Pakistani military and federal government have not officially confirmed the death toll or the specific details of the operation. However, there has been a visible increase in military activity across affected zones, including Musakhel, Kech, Panjgur, and Gwadar.
Security analysts have expressed concern over the scale and sophistication of the operation. One former intelligence official, speaking on condition of anonymity, called it “the most extensive multi-day insurgent operation seen in recent years.”
Context: Long-Standing Insurgency in Balochistan
Balochistan has been a flashpoint of separatist violence for over two decades, with groups like the BLF, Baloch Republican Army (BRA), and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) demanding independence or greater autonomy from the central government. These groups cite economic exploitation, political marginalization, and human rights violations as the basis of their armed movements.
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a multi-billion-dollar infrastructure project that runs through Balochistan, has often been targeted by insurgent groups who oppose what they perceive as foreign occupation and resource plunder.
Implications for Regional Security
The magnitude of Operation Baam underscores increasing instability in Pakistan’s southwest and could have regional implications, especially as foreign investments in Gwadar and other key areas continue.
Counterterrorism officials are likely to increase surveillance, impose movement restrictions, and possibly conduct counter-offensives in high-risk zones.