Pakistan Army Chief calls Balochistan militants 'foreign proxies' as attacks escalate
Pakistan's Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir on Friday described militants active in Balochistan as "foreign-sponsored proxies" working to destabilise the mineral-rich province. Speaking during an interaction with prominent figures and political leaders in Balochistan, he reiterated that the province's future is inseparable from Pakistan's.
"The present and future of Balochistan and Pakistan are one and forever," General Munir said, according to a statement from the army's media wing.
Without naming any country, he alleged that militants operating in the province "are foreign-sponsored proxies being employed by hostile elements to destabilise Balochistan, obstruct its development and create a wedge between the state and its people".
The general said the destiny of Balochistan rests only in the hands of its people.
Balochistan, Pakistan's largest province by area but sparsely populated, has been plagued by a low-level separatist insurgency for decades. Groups such as the outlawed Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) have been fighting for independence, claiming that the central government exploits the region's natural resources, including gas, minerals and a strategic coastline, while neglecting local development.
Insurgents have repeatedly alleged political marginalisation and systematic economic exploitation. The military and government, on the other hand, maintain that foreign powers are funding and arming insurgents to destabilise Pakistan and undermine the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which passes through the province.
In recent years, the BLA has escalated its attacks, targeting security forces, government installations, Chinese nationals and infrastructure linked to CPEC. The rise in violence has been accompanied by sophisticated tactics, including suicide bombings, coordinated attacks and hostage-taking.
In July 2026, militants attacked a police check post in the Ziarat area, killing 27 policemen. The attack was one of the deadliest against security forces in recent memory.
In May 2026, a suicide bombing on a shuttle train in Quetta killed at least 47 people and injured 98 others. In January 2026, coordinated attacks across several districts targeted security installations, government buildings and civilian areas, leaving at least 31 civilians and 17 security personnel dead.
In March 2025, the BLA hijacked a train in Bolan, killing at least 59 people and taking hundreds of hostages in a dramatic assault that drew global attention.
The recent surge in attacks has raised concerns about the stability of Balochistan and the safety of CPEC projects, which are a cornerstone of Pakistan's economic ambitions. Foreign investors, particularly Chinese firms, have become more cautious, and security has been tightened significantly across the province.
General Munir's remarks come at a time when the Pakistani government is trying to project a narrative of improving law and order in Balochistan, even as the BLA continues to demonstrate its capacity to strike high-profile targets. Analysts say the insurgency is sustained by a mix of local grievances and external support, but they caution that the government's focus on foreign sponsorship alone may not address the underlying disaffection among the Baloch people.
The army chief's latest comments echo a long-standing official position that Balochistan's troubles are externally fomented. While no specific country has been publicly named, Pakistani officials have in the past alleged that arch-rival India is supporting insurgent groups, a claim India strongly denies.
The Balochistan conflict, which has claimed thousands of lives over the past decades, remains one of Pakistan's most intractable security challenges. As the army chief continues to engage with Baloch leaders, the gap between the state's security-centric approach and the insurgents' political demands appears as wide as ever.
