The unnamed official said that a BLA “secessionist plot” to create “mayhem” “with the help of external forces” has been broken by security forces. This official said that “sub-nationalist terrorists…with the help of India has been knocked off.” The proof that they have is that they found Indian and Russian weapons in Baloachistan and a claim that it had come in from Jaisalmer. Insinuating that India had deeper mal intentions in Baloachistan, the official was quoted to have said that India had more consulates in Afghanistan than in the US.

There is a lot of confusion on who leads the BLA. Bugti, who was a longtime ally of Islamabad, launched his own resistance movement demanding a better share of the monies from resources such as natural gas. However, the BLA itself was created by the Mari tribe in Baloachistan and it is not clear if they still have control over the organization.

This “senior official” also claimed that “The Bugtis are finished” as the security forces knew where he was hiding and was desisting arrest because of fear of collateral damage. He also refused to allow journalists, researchers, or non-Government troops into the province to independently verify Government claims.

Baloachistan is a fossil resource-rich province of Pakistan that never really integrated with the nation. Bordering Afghanistan and Iran, this province has been used widely and effectively by the resurgent Taliban for incursions in Southern Afghanistan. The Pakistan Army has been seriously impacted by repeated failures to take control of this important border area. It is strange that Pakistan is blaming India for inspiring terrorism in Baloachistan because India has arrested terrorists involved in the Varanasi blasts who have confessed to being field-trained in Baloachistan by the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Pakistan has been desperately trying to get India to reduce troop levels in Kashmir so it can focus more on the war on the west.