{{Short description|Militant organization}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}} {{Infobox war faction | name = Baloch Republican Army | native_name = بلوچ ریپبلکن آرمی | native_name_lang = bl | war = Insurgency in Balochistan | image = Flag of Balochistan nationalism.svg | caption = | active = 2006–<!--(Sarbaz Baloch faction) 2018--->2022 <!-- (Gulzar Imam faction)<ref>https://jamestown.org/the-evolution-of-gulzar-imam-a-look-at-the-leader-of-the-baloch-nationalist-army/</ref> --> | ideology = Baloch nationalism<br>Separatism<br>Ethnonationalism | leader = Brahumdagh Bugti<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://web.stanford.edu/group/mappingmilitants/cgi-bin/groups/view/571|title=Balochistan Republican Army &#124; Mapping Militant Organizations|website=web.stanford.edu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1185401|title=Situationer: Who's who of Baloch insurgency|first=Naziha Syed|last=Ali|date=1 June 2015|website=DAWN.COM}}</ref> | clans = | headquarters = | area = Balochistan, Pakistan<br>Kandahar, Afghanistan<ref>{{cite web|url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Belt-and-Road/Pakistani-militants-against-Belt-and-Road-targeted-in-Afghanistan|title=Pakistani militants against Belt and Road targeted in Afghanistan|work=NIKKEI Asia|date=9 January 2021}}</ref> | size = Unknown | partof = Baloch Nationalist Army (2022-2023) | predecessor = Bugti militia | successor = {{flagicon image|Flag of Balochistan nationalism.svg}} Baloch Nationalist Army | allies = {{tree list}} * {{flagicon image|Flag of Balochistan nationalism.svg}} Balochistan Liberation Army ** {{flagicon image|Majeed brigade logo.svg}} Majeed Brigade ** Fateh squad * {{flagicon image|Flag of Balochistan nationalism.svg}} Balochistan Liberation Front * {{flagicon image|Flag of Balochistan nationalism.svg}} United Baloch Army {{tree list/end}} | split = | merged_into = {{flagicon image|Balochistan Flag.svg}} Baloch Nationalist Army }}

The '''Baloch Republican Army (BRA)''' ({{langx|bal|بلوچ ریپبلکن آرمی}}) <!-- i-->was an armed militant group in Balochistan, Pakistan.<ref>{{citation |last=Samad |first=Yunas |chapter=Understanding the insurgency in Balochistan |editor1=Roger D. Long |editor2=Gurharpal Singh |editor3=Yunas Samad |editor4=Ian Talbot |title=State and Nation-Building in Pakistan: Beyond Islam and Security |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nzivCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA124 |date=2015 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-44820-4 |pages=118–145}}</ref> In September 2010, the Government of Pakistan banned the Baloch Republican Army.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-international/Five-militant-outfits-banned-in-Balochistan/article15908477.ece|title=Five militant outfits banned in Balochistan|first=Anita|last=Joshua|newspaper=The Hindu |date=9 September 2010|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref>

Brahumdagh Bugti was the head of BRA, until its merger with United Baloch Army (UBA). In 2017 Bugti's asylum request was rejected by Swiss authorities. The Swiss authorities said that Bugti's asylum request was rejected because he was involved in terror-related activities.<ref name="::"/><ref name=":"/>

In January 2022, <!--Beebarg faction of--> Baloch Republican Army merged with <!--Mureed group of--> United Baloch Army, to form Baloch Nationalist Army (BNA).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hummel |first=Kristina |date=2025-04-30 |title=The Baloch Insurgency in Pakistan: Evolution, Tactics, and Regional Security Implications |url=https://ctc.westpoint.edu/the-baloch-insurgency-in-pakistan-evolution-tactics-and-regional-security-implications/ |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=Combating Terrorism Center at West Point |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Pakistani police: Bomb in city of Lahore kills 3, wounds 28|url=https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-taliban-pakistan-lahore-bombings-0873c2a18839a7ea19f3baa932f10d5c|date=20 January 2022|publisher=Associated Press}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Bomb blast kills 2 people in Lahore; 26 injured|url=https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/pakistan/bomb-blast-kills-2-people-in-lahore-26-injured-1.1642675200355|date=20 January 2022|publisher=Gulf News}}</ref> BRA and UBA also announced their dissolution following the establishment of Baloch Nationalist Army.<ref name=baaghitv>{{cite news|title=Anarkali Bomb Blast: BNA Claims Responsibility|url=https://en.baaghitv.com/anarkali-bomb-blast-bna-claims-responsibility/|date=20 January 2022|publisher=Baaghi Tv}}</ref>

==History== The Baloch Republican Army was formed in Dera Bugti, after the death of renowned Baloch leader, Nawab Akbar Bugti in 2006. In the beginning, the group was mostly joined by Bugti tribesmen but later years it gained popularity among Baloch students and in urban areas of Balochistan to fight against the Pakistani state. It was led by Brahumdagh Bugti.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1634362|title= Reconciliation in Balochistan?|author=Muhammad Amir Rana |work=Dawn News|date=11 July 2021}}</ref>

In 2017, Bugti's asylum request was rejected by the Swiss government on the basis of Bugti's links with “incidents of terrorism, violence and militant activities".<ref name="::">{{cite news|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/247666-switzerland-rejects-brahumdagh-s-asylum-request-after-seven-years|title=Switzerland rejects Brahumdagh's asylum request after seven years|date=23 November 2017|publisher=The News|author=Murtaza Ali Shah|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130023935/https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/247666-switzerland-rejects-brahumdagh-s-asylum-request-after-seven-years|archive-date=30 November 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":">{{cite web|url=https://epaper.brecorder.com/2017/11/23/4-page/683864-news.html|title=Switzerland rejects Brahumdagh's plea for asylum|quote=Brahumdagh Bugti’s asylum application was turned down because of his links with “incidents of terrorism, violence and militant activities” and the rejection letter clearly sets out these allegations|date=23 November 2017|work=Business Recorder|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308143338/https://epaper.brecorder.com/2017/11/23/4-page/683864-news.html//|archive-date=8 March 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> The same year also saw surrender of 143 militants belonging to Baloch Republican Army to the Pakistani authorities.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pakistan-militants-idUSKBN1E40L1|title=Pakistan says over 300 Baloch separatist militants surrender|author=Gul Yousafzai|work=Reuters|date=10 December 2017}}</ref> <!-- In October 2018, Gulzar Imam (alias Beebarg) was expelled from the BRA and created his own faction.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Evolution of Gulzar Imam: a Look at the Leader of the Baloch Nationalist Army - Jamestown |url=https://jamestown.org/the-evolution-of-gulzar-imam-a-look-at-the-leader-of-the-baloch-nationalist-army/ |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=jamestown.org}}</ref> -->

In 2018, another group of 70 militants belonging to Baloch Republican Army and their commander surrendered to Pakistani authorities.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1851153/militant-commander-70-militants-surrender-quetta?amp=1|title=At least 70 militants, including commander, surrender in Balochistan|author=M Zafar|work=Express Tribune|date=20 November 2018}}</ref>

In 2019, the<!--Gulzar Imam factionof the--> Baloch Republican Army joined Baloch Raaji Aajoi Sangar.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Baluch Raji Ajohi Sangar: Emergence of a New Baluch Separatist Alliance - Jamestown |url=https://jamestown.org/bras-emergence-of-a-new-baluch-separatist-alliance/ |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=jamestown.org}}</ref>

In 2021, BRA claimed responsibility for destroying a statue of Pakistan's founding father, Muhammad Ali Jinnah in Balochistan.<ref>{{Cite news|date=27 September 2021|title=Jinnah's statue destroyed in blast in Balochistan|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/pakistans-founder-jinnahs-statue-destroyed-in-blast-in-balochistan/article36690657.ece}}</ref>

In January 2022, the Baloch Republican Army (BRA) and the United Baloch Army (UBA) announced their dissolution and the formation of a new organization the Baloch Nationalist Army (BNA).<ref name="baaghitv2" /> <!-- In January 2022, the Beebarg faction of Baloch Republican Army (BRA) and the Mureed faction<ref>https://www.thefridaytimes.com/16-Apr-2025/cross-border-spillover-baloch-insurgency-echoes-in-iranian-territory</ref> of United Baloch Army (UBA) announced their dissolution and the formation of a new organization the Baloch Nationalist Army (BNA).<ref name=baaghitv/> The faction led by Sarbaz Baloch had continued to exist.

In June 2025, BRA, led by Sarbaz Baloch, claimed responsibility for killing of two police men in Dera Bugti.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Two police officers killed, two wounded in ambush in Pakistan’s Balochistan province |url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/2604580/amp |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=Arab News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-15 |title=BRA Claims Attack on CTD Office in Sui; Two Policemen Killed, Others Injured |url=https://thebalochistanpost.net/2025/06/bra-claims-attack-on-ctd-office-in-sui-two-policemen-killed-others-injured-%ef%bb%bf/ |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=The Balochistan Post |language=en-US}}</ref> In December 2025, over 100 militants, included a senior commander, surrendered to locals autorities.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Correspondent |first=Staff |date=2025-12-06 |title=Senior BRA commander, over 100 militants surrender in Sui |url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2025/12/06/senior-bra-commander-over-100-militants-surrender-in-sui |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=Pakistan Today |language=en}}</ref> -->

==See also==

* Separatist movements of Pakistan

==References== {{reflist}}

{{Baloch nationalism}}

Category:Baloch nationalist militant groups Category:Balochistan Category:Paramilitary organisations based in Pakistan Category:National liberation movements Category:Rebel groups in Pakistan Category:Separatism in Pakistan Category:Research & Analysis Wing activities in Pakistan