Operation Herof

The operation began on 25 August 2024. A female fidayeen, named Mahal Baloch, also known as Zilan Kurd, along with Fidayee Rizwan Baloch detonated their Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) at the gate of Pakistan’s Bela military camp, while several checkpoints and blockades were erected on major highways across the area.

After the VBIED detonation, the elite arm of BLA, the Majeed Brigade, led by Commander Ghous Bakhsh Simalani, known as Talib, infiltrated the army camp and managed to take control of a large portion of the camp, killing more than 40 military personnel. According to the BLA, Pakistan military reinforcements were forced to retreat and were unable to buttress the efforts to counter the attack on the camp.

Simalani is reported to have joined BLA in 2019 and was the son of Meshedar Simalani, who was killed in November 2022 during a BLA attack on the Pakistani forces.

According to Jeeyand Baloch, the spokesperson of BLA, the “Fidayeen unit” of the BLA – the Majeed Brigade – had succeeded in holding down the Bela camp for 20 hours, during which 68 military personnel were killed, leaving several injured.

While the operation commenced within the Bela camp, major highways in Balochistan were blockaded by the BLA’s Fatah Squad Special Tactical Operations Squad (STOS). Checkpoints and surveillance was conducted by the outfit to restrict the movement of the military and law enforcement personnel. During the blockades, 62 military personnel were reported to have been killed in the clash with the BLA unit. Further reports of BLA taking over 22 military, police, and Levies personnel as hostages surfaced.

During the course of the operation, several highways such as the Gwadar-Jiwani Coastal Highway, Mand-Turbat Highway in the Hotabad area, Abdoi Highway in Tegran, Turbat-Heronk CPEC Highway, Quetta-Taftan Highway, Noshki-Kharan Highway, Mastung-Khadkucha Highway, Kalat- Karachi Highway, Bolan and Koh-e-Sulaiman’s main highways, Balgtar-Panjgur and Sibi-Mithri Highway were reported to have been cordoned off by the outfit.

Reports of a military convoy being attacked on the Mand-Turbat road in the Hotabad area, resulting the deaths of five Pakistani soldiers also made the news.

Attacks also carried out at toll plazas such as the Garari in Kalat, which was captured by the BLA, and resulted in the deaths of at least 15 soldiers. In Bolan, 16 Frontier Corps personnel were attacked and their weapons confiscated.

In the process of seizing maximum ground and obstructing military reinforcement to the affected region, the railway tracks running through Bolan were also destroyed by the BLA.

On 26 August, Operation Herof concluded with BLA reiterating its objective to drive Chinese presence out of Balochistan. It might be noted, this was not the first time when the BLA had issued a warning to China.

Additionally, China’s military delegation led by General Li Qiaoming, visited Pakistan on the death anniversary of Akbar Bugti. Several meetings were held between the Chinese delegation and Pakistan prime minister Shehbaz Sharif, defence minister Khawaja Asif, and chief of army staff Gen Asim Munir. At the time of the meetings, BLA had already struck a terror chord in Balochistan and was looking towards the completion of its operation.

Post operation Herof, the Balich media handle on behalf of their leader Aslam Baloch released the names of its martyrs and praised their efforts.

Amongst the dead fighters he mentioned Muhammad Baloch, known as Mirak, from Panjgur, Sangat Fazal Gul Zehri, known as Shavez, Sangat Tayab, known as Lala, from Noshki, Sangat Junaid Zehri, known as Kami, from Khuzdar,Muhammad Asif Nechari, known as Naveed, and Muhammad Bakhsh Simalani, known as Khalid.

Muhammad Baloch joined BLA in 2022 was also related to Sangat Raees, who died in the 2018 Karachi consulate attack. It is worth mentioning that Sangat Tayab, was a soldier in Pakistan military prior to joining BLA. After getting discharged from the Pakistani military, he offered his services to BLA for the Baloch cause.

The Aftermath

The 25-26 August BLA attacks were condemned as acts of terrorism by Pakistan and sanitation operations were ordered in Balochistan. The US, too, backed Pakistan and condemned the attacks as an act of terror. Pakistan did not release the names of the military officers killed in Operation Herof. However, its Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) released a statement in regards to the attacks, stating “On behest of inimical and hostile forces, these cowardly acts of terrorism were aimed at disrupting the peaceful environment and development of Balochistan by targeting mainly the innocent civilians, especially in Musakhail, Kalat and Labela Districts. Resultantly, numerous innocent civilians embraced shahadat.”

Furthermore, the ISPR also stated that the BLA militants had indiscriminately targeted civilians by halting a bus in Rara Sham area in Musakhail district.

The BLA responded by claiming that the statements made by the ISPR were designed to control perception and instil doubt among the Baloch masses, who viewed the group as freedom fighters. It further clarified that the individuals targeted on the bus were indeed Pakistan’s military personnel, part of the death squad who were disguised as civilians. To clarify its motive, the BLA issued a warning to all the inhabitants of the region asking them to avoid the areas which it had planned to target prior the commencement of its operation. Its objective remained confined to targeting the military and the law enforcement agencies.

Pakistan’s consistent disregard for the Baloch grievances, extra judicial killings of the ethnic Baloch, arbitrary detainment, abductions and forced displacement of the Baloch to alter the demography in the region and to accommodate the Chinese immigrants has left feelings of despondency and resentment amongst the Baloch.

To exacerbate the already brewing hatred towards the Pakistan military, several Pashtuns, Sindhis and minority groups along with the Balochis hold Islamabad responsible for the atrocities afflicted and view Pakistan as an illegal occupier of their lands, exploiting their resources to benefit Punjab and the Chinese.

The presence of the Chinese due to China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has been a cardinal factor for the rapid uptick in the level of insurgencies and attacks on the Chinese nationals residing in Pakistan. This has become a root cause for China to demand a large-scale military operation such as Operation Zarb-e-Azb to contain the insurgent situation and protect its people. In order to smoothen the situation with a miffed China, Shehbaaz Sharif visited China and pledged to take necessary action to maintain strong ties with the “iron brother.”

In June 2024, Pakistan complied with China’s wishes and commenced Operation Azm-e-Istehkam. The announcement of the operation was met with several protests in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) area. The operation is expected to expedite the implementation of the Pakistan’s National Action Plan (NAP) which was conceived in 2014. The news of the operation was not well received by the locals of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and protests have prevailed ever since against the proposed operation.

It may be important to mention that the reservations from the citizens seem valid, given that Operation Ground Zero comes as a stark reminder of Pakistan’s propitiation policy towards the Chinese while cloistering off the Baloch. In 2021, Pakistani Major General Ayman Bilal confirmed that on orders of China, he led the operation to crush the Baloch freedom movement. The success of the CPEC was more essential to Pakistan’s interest and so was placating China.

Due to all the past factors, undoubtedly, the insurgent groups, such as the BLA, have consistently found fuel to spark their ongoing conflagration against Pakistan. Several offshoots or splinter groups along with Baloch insurgent groups, which are anti-Pakistan, such as Hafiz Gulbahadur group, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan or Sindhudesh Revolutionary Army, are seen to coordinate with one another to sometimes carry joint operations as well.

Pakistan’s unstable diplomatic relations with the Taliban may also add to Pakistan’s deteriorating security situation. It may be vital for Pakistan’s current regime to address the grievances of its citizens besides cleaning its political outhouse of rivals rather than simply doing somersaults on the Chinese whims.

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In a statement released on 3 August, the rebel group claimed responsibility for targeting and downing the low-flying Pakistan military helicopter in the mountainous areas of Windar and Noorani in Balochistan.

According to reports, the wreckage of the Pakistan Army helicopter carrying senior military officers that had gone missing on August 1 was found in Musa Goth, Windar, Lasbela on Tuesday, August 2. Six individuals who were on board including Commander 12 Corps were found dead.

On 2 August, Director-General (DG) ISPR Tweeted that the initial probe revealed that the accident had occurred due to bad weather. “The wreckage of an unfortunate helicopter which was on flood relief ops found in Musa Goth, Windar, Lasbela. All 6 officers and soldiers including l Lt Gen Sarfraz Ali embraced shahadat. …Accident occurred due to bad weather as per initial investigations,” Director-General (DG) ISPR said in a tweet.

The Baloch Raaji Aajoi Sangar (BRAS) spokesperson Baloch Khan, however, said in a statement on 3 August, “Freedom fighters of BRAS targeted a low flying helicopter of Pakistan military. The targeted helicopter crashed near Moosa Goth in Dareji.”

“In the attack, carried out with anti-aircraft guns, the helicopter was badly damaged and later completely destroyed. All six enemy personnel on board the flight were killed in the attack. They included Core Commander 12 Core Lieutenant General Sarfaraz Ali, Director General Coast Guard Major General Amjad, Brigadier Khalid, pilot Major Saeed, co-pilot Talha and crew chief Naik Muddasir”, the statement by BRAS added.

The spokesperson for BRAS asserted that the helicopter was the target of its fighters and added that Lieutenant General Sarfaraz Ali, who had continued to serve as Director General of Military Intelligence and Inspector General of the Frontier Corps South of Balochistan, was directly involved in forced disappearances and the Baloch genocide. Lieutenant General Sarfaraz Ali was one of the six Pakistani commanders who were on board the helicopter, supervising the flood relief operations in Lasbela, Balochistan.

“Baloch Raaji Aajoi Sangar (BRAS) will continue to carry lethal attacks against the enemy (Pakistan army) until the full withdrawal of the enemy forces and the liberation of Baloch motherland”, the statement of BRAS added.

According to authorities, the helicopter left Uthal at 5:10 p.m. on Monday and was scheduled to arrive in Karachi at 6:05 p.m. but lost communication with the air traffic controller.

“A Pakistan army aviation helicopter which was on flood relief operations in Lasbela, Balochistan lost contact with ATC. 6 individuals were on board including Commander 12 Corps who was supervising flood relief operations in Balochistan. The search operation is underway,” Tweeted Director-General (DG) ISPR on Monday, August 1.

Balochistan has been devastated by flash floods and heavy rains, which have killed 147 people so far. Relief operations are now being offered to the displaced in the province by the Pakistan Army and civic authorities.

Police and Army officers combed the region on Tuesday in an effort to find the chopper. However, the hazardous hilly terrain and the region’s damaged roadways caused by the flooding hindered their attempts. Later, the Pakistan army’s media wing said in a statement that the wreckage of the helicopter was found and claimed that, “the accident occurred due to bad weather.”

Notably, in February this year, the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) had attacked two posts in Pakistan’s southwest province neutralizing more than 100 Pakistani personnel and destroying a large part of their camps. The BLA issued an official statement confirming that the major parts of both the camps were still under their control. Then too the Pakistan military’s media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) denied the intensity of the attack and declared a reduced number of deaths.

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Massive protests erupted in Pakistan’s port city of Gwadar against unnecessary checkpoints, a severe shortage of water and electricity and threats to livelihoods from illegal fishing, part of a growing backlash in the country against China’s multibillion-dollar belt and road projects.

The protests organised by workers of some political parties, civil rights activists, fishermen and concerned citizens went on for a week at Y Chowk on Port Road in Gwadar, a coastal town in the restive Southwest Balochistan province of Pakistan.

The protesters demand the removal of unnecessary security check posts, availability of drinking water and electricity, eviction of big fishing trawlers from the Makran coast and opening of the border with Iran from Panjgur to Gwadar.

Head of the ‘Give rights to Gwadar’ rally Maulana Hidayat ur Rehman said the protests would continue until their demands were met, asserting that the government had not been sincere in resolving the problems of the local people living in the region.

Rehman strongly criticised the government in the past for failing to resolve the basic problems of the people of Gwadar.

“We are demanding the rights of Gwadar, which were usurped by the rulers and the people were even deprived of basic needs. The fishermen were not able to earn their livelihood as big trawlers were allowed for fishing at Makran Coast,” he said at a public meeting in October.

Rehman said despite building the Gwadar Deep Sea Port, the people of the city were still jobless and the government had done nothing about it.

“It is an insult for the sons of soil when they are stopped at checkpoints and inquired about their whereabouts,” he was quoted as saying.

The protests were part of growing discontent with China’s presence in Gwadar, whose port is an integral part of the $60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project (CPEC), the flagship project of China’s multi-billion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

India has protested to China over the CPEC as it traverses through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The massive infrastructure project connects China’s Xinjiang province with Gwadar port in Pakistan’s Balochistan province.

Gwadar port has long been portrayed as the jewel in the CPEC crown, but in the process, the city has become the very embodiment of a security state.

The authorities’ priorities are geared towards securing the port and its ancillary interests; the welfare of those for whom the area is home counts for little. Far from the port being a harbinger of an economic boom, the opposite has happened, The Dawn newspaper reported. Existing privations have deepened; people’s mobility is restricted by security forces and there is unwarranted questioning of their activities. Many say they are made to feel like strangers in their own land, it said.

Adding to the miseries of a large number of fishermen among the populace, the government, they complain, had issued licences to Chinese trawlers to fish in the waters off the coast. Their small boats cannot possibly compete, as a result of which their livelihoods were being squeezed. This was the petri dish of discontent from which the recent protests had sprung, it added.

Attacks Against Chinese

Balochistan is home to a long-running violent insurgency, and China’s presence in Gwadar has been the cause of much social unrest and led to anti-Chinese sentiment.

It has also given a fillip to Baloch militant insurgent groups, who have carried out terrorist attacks in protest at CPEC projects.

Baloch separatists, both militant and political groups, oppose China’s increasing involvement in the province. In November 2018, Baloch separatists attacked the Chinese consulate in Pakistan’s southern Karachi city.

On 21 August 2021, a convoy carrying Chinese personnel working on the East-Bay Expressway project was attacked by a suicide bomber in Gwadar. Two children were killed and three including one Chinese national was wounded in the attack.

On 14 July, 13 people, including nine Chinese engineers, died when a bus carrying the team working on the Dasu Hydropower Project was attacked by militants in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

In October last year, gunmen killed at least 14 people near Ormara on the coastal highway after ambushing a convoy of vehicles travelling from Gwadar to Karachi, and in 2019, five people, including a Pakistani Navy soldier, were killed in an attack on the luxury Pearl Continental hotel in Gwadar.

While the threat from religiously motivated militants having sanctuaries in Afghanistan is very real, Baloch separatists also operate out of Pakistan’s western neighbour. The banned Baloch Liberation Army claimed it had carried out the Gwadar attack.

Anti-Chinese Resentment

Balochistan remains Pakistan’s poorest and least populous province despite a number of development projects Islamabad initiated there in the past. Rebel groups have waged a separatist insurgency in the province for decades, complaining that the central government in Islamabad and the richer Punjab province unfairly exploit their resources. Islamabad reacted to the insurgency by launching a military operation in the province in 2005.

With the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Beijing aims to expand its influence in Pakistan and across Central and South Asia in order to counter US and Indian influence. The CPEC would link Pakistan’s southern Gwadar port in Balochistan on the Arabian Sea to China’s western Xinjiang region. It also includes plans to create road, rail and oil pipeline links to improve connectivity between China and the Middle East.

Brahamdagh Bugti, leader of the Baloch Republican Party living in exile in Switzerland, and grandson of slain nationalist leader Nawab Akbar Bugti, says that Chinese economic projects in Balochistan were aimed at “colonizing” the province, and must be resisted. “None of the previous development projects in Balochistan have ever been beneficial to the province or its people,” Bugti says.

Pakistani Opposition senators say that the Pakistan government was appeasing China and giving contracts to Beijing without taking the Baloch people into confidence. Despite Chinese investments, Balochistan remains extremely poor with no proper health facilities, education and housing or even clean drinking water.

Balochistan province was not getting its due share of royalties from the Chinese projects. The contractual process and terms with the Chinese companies were not transparent.

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