{{Short description|Baloch separatist group in southwestern Asia}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}} {{Infobox militant organization | name = Balochistan Liberation Front | native_name = بلۏچستان آجوییءِ سنگر | native_name_lang = bal | logo = | founder = [[Jumma Khan Marri]] | spokesperson = Ghram Baloch | foundation = 1964 | dates = 1964–1977<br>2000–present | leader = [[Allah Nazar Baloch]] (2003–present)<br>[[Jumma Khan Marri]] (left the group) | military_leader = Wahid Kambar (until 2024) | clans = Sedu Battalion | headquarters = [[Quetta]], [[Pakistan]] | area = {{tree list}} * {{PAK}} ** {{flagicon|Balochistan, Pakistan}} [[Balochistan, Pakistan|Balochistan]] * {{flag|Iran}} ** [[Sistan and Baluchestan]] * {{flag|Afghanistan}} ** [[Kandahar Province|Kandahar]] {{tree list/end}} | ideology = [[Baloch nationalism]]<ref name="dopel"/><br>[[Socialism]]<ref name="dopel"/><br>'''Historical:'''<br />[[Marxism–Leninism]]<ref name="dopel">{{cite web|url=http://www.dopel.org/BalochistanLiberationFront.htm|title=Balochistan Liberation Front|work=Database of People with Extremist Linkages|access-date=1 December 2018|archive-date=3 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190603143040/http://www.dopel.org/BalochistanLiberationFront.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> | attacks = [[2022 Kech District attack]], [[2026 Balochistan attacks]] | status = Active | size = | partof = [[Baloch Raaji Aajoi Sangar]] | allies = {{flagicon image|Balochistan flag.svg}} [[Balochistan Liberation Army]] | opponents = {{flag|Pakistan}}<br>{{flag|Iran}}<br>{{flag|China}} | war = {{tree list}} * [[Insurgency in Balochistan]] ** [[Third Balochistan conflict]] ** [[Fourth Balochistan conflict]] ** [[Fifth Balochistan conflict]] ** [[Sistan and Baluchestan insurgency]] * [[Insurgency in Sindh]] {{tree list/end}} | designated_as_terror_group_by = {{flag|Pakistan}}<br>{{flag|Iran}}<br>{{flag|China}} | flag = [[File:Flag of Baluchistan.svg|200px|border]] }}
The '''Balochistan Liberation Front''' ('''BLF;''' {{langx|bal|بلۏچستان آجوییءِ سنگر}}) is an [[Afghanistan]]-based [[Baloch people|Baloch]] [[ethnonationalist]] [[separatist]] militant group actively waging an [[insurgency]] in the [[Balochistan, Pakistan|Balochistan]] province of Pakistan.
The separatist group was founded by [[Jumma Khan Marri]] in 1964 in [[Damascus]], [[Syria]] and played an important role in the 1968–1973 insurgency in the [[Sistan and Baluchestan province|Sistan-Balochistan province]] of Iran and 1973–1977 insurgency in [[Balochistan, Pakistan|Balochistan]] province of Pakistan.<ref name="stanford" />
The group re-emerged in 2004 after [[Allah Nazar Baloch]] took command of the militant group in 2003.<ref name="stanford" /><ref name="dopel" /> Since then, the BLF has taken responsibility for attacks on Pakistani soldiers and policemen.<ref name="ET">{{cite news|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1560848/1-security-forces-kill-blf-commander-involved-turbat-massacre/|title=Security forces kill 'BLF commander involved' in Turbat massacre|date=17 November 2019|publisher=Express Tribune}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2019/05/14/three-labourers-shot-down-another-injured-in-balochistan/|title=Three labourers gunned down in Balochistan|date=14 May 2019|publisher=Pakistan Today}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://rsf.org/en/news/bbc-correspondent-quetta-threatened-baloch-liberation-front|title=BBC correspondent in Quetta threatened by Baloch Liberation Front|date=1 August 2012|work=Reporters Without Borders (RSF)}}</ref> The group has also claimed responsibility for massacres of non-Baloch civilians inside Balochistan.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zafar |first=Muhammad |date=2015-04-12 |title=‘Outsiders’ targeted: Orgy of bloodshed let loose in Turbat |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/868547/outsiders-targeted-orgy-of-bloodshed-let-loose-in-turbat |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Shahid |first=Saleem |date=2015-04-12 |title=20 labourers gunned down in Turbat |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1175427 |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=Dawn |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1" />
In 2016, Allah Nazar Baloch expressed openness to receiving financial and other forms of support from [[India]]. He also vowed to continue targeting the [[China–Pakistan Economic Corridor]] (CPEC), segments of which pass through Balochistan.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hashim |first=Asad |title=Baloch separatist says help from India ‘welcome’ |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/9/30/pakistan-blf-chief-baloch-says-indian-help-welcome |access-date=2025-05-24 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}</ref>
==History and relations==
=== 1964–1969 === The group was founded by [[Jumma Khan Marri]] in 1964 in [[Damascus]], [[Syria]]. Four years after its formation, the group took part in the [[third Balochistan conflict]] against the government of [[Pahlavi Iran|Iran]],<ref name="Irpk2">{{cite book |last1=Dashti |first1=Naseer |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JP9UswEACAAJ |title=Baloch conflict with Iran and Pakistan |date=17 November 2017 |publisher=Black Lacquer Press & Marketing Incorporated |isbn=978-1-948288-08-8}}</ref> which had also spilled over into Pakistan,<ref name="Irpk">{{cite book |last1=Dashti |first1=Naseer |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JP9UswEACAAJ |title=Baloch conflict with Iran and Pakistan |date=17 November 2017 |publisher=Black Lacquer Press & Marketing Incorporated |isbn=978-1-948288-08-8}}</ref> because of the BLF launching raids on Pakistani outposts.<ref name="Irpk" /><ref name="drone">{{cite book|title=The Thistle and the Drone |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n_YMKlVfFLkC&dq=nawab+Nauroz+Khan&pg=PA139 |date=27 February 2013 |isbn=978-0-8157-2379-0|last1=Ahmed|first1=Akbar|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield}}</ref><ref name="native">{{cite book |url=https://www.bartleby.com/essay/Othe-Native-Population-And-Original-Form-Of-PKZY3CVKL847Q |title=Native Population And Original Form Of Government}}</ref><ref name="stanford3">{{cite web |title=Baluch Liberation Front – Mapping Militant Organisation |url=https://web.stanford.edu/group/mappingmilitants/cgi-bin/groups/view/457 |work=web.stanford.edu |access-date=1 December 2018}}</ref>. During this time, the [[Ba'athist Iraq|Iraqi government]] publicly supported the BLF, providing them with weapons and operational support to fight against the Iranian government.<ref name="stanford">{{cite web |title=Baluch Liberation Front – Mapping Militant Organisation |url=https://web.stanford.edu/group/mappingmilitants/cgi-bin/groups/view/457 |access-date=1 December 2018 |work=web.stanford.edu |archive-date=8 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190308224614/http://web.stanford.edu/group/mappingmilitants/cgi-bin/groups/view/457 |url-status=dead }}</ref> However, after five years of fighting, the BLF and other Baloch militant groups were decimated by [[Imperial Iranian Army|Iranian]] and [[Pakistan Army|Pakistani forces]]. The militant groups involved in the conflict negotiated an end to fighting with the government of Iran, and Iraq had stopped openly supporting the BLF with arms. However, the government of Iraq had still maintained relations with the group's leadership.<ref name="stanford"/> [[Syria]] had also provided support to the group.<ref name="stanford4">{{cite web |url=https://web.stanford.edu/group/mappingmilitants/cgi-bin/groups/view/457|title=Baluch Liberation Front – Mapping Militant Organisation|access-date=1 December 2018|work=web.stanford.edu}}</ref><ref name="Soviet2">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LLnCAAAAIAAJ&q=Third+Balochistan+conflict+-wikipedia|title=Baloch nationalism and Soviet temptation|isbn=978-0-87003-029-1|last1=Harrison|first1=Selig S.|date=1981|publisher=Carnegie Endowment for International Peace}}</ref>
=== 1973–1977 === Following the end of the conflict with Iran, the BLF and other Baloch militant groups began an [[1970s operation in Balochistan|insurgency from 1973 to 1977]] against the government of Pakistan. Initially the Iraqi government covertly provided the BLF and other militant groups with arms and ammunition.<ref name="stanford"/> Due to Iraq's support for Baloch separatists, Pakistani forces had launched a [[1973 raid on the Iraqi embassy in Pakistan|raid on the Iraqi embassy in 1973]].<ref name="stanford2">{{cite web |title=Baluch Liberation Front – Mapping Militant Organisation |url=https://web.stanford.edu/group/mappingmilitants/cgi-bin/groups/view/457 |work=web.stanford.edu |access-date=1 December 2018}}</ref><ref name="Soviet">{{cite book |last1=Harrison |first1=Selig S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LLnCAAAAIAAJ&q=Third+Balochistan+conflict+-wikipedia |title=Baloch nationalism and Soviet temptation |date=1981 |publisher=Carnegie Endowment for International Peace |isbn=978-0-87003-029-1}}</ref>
The [[India]]n journalist Avinash Paliwal states that during the 1970s, Junior level Indian [[Intelligence agency|intelligence officials]] were actively involved in operations in Balochistan. The officers stated that: "we gave Baloch everything, too from money to guns, during the 1970s, everything".<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6WhNDwAAQBAJ|title=My Enemy's Enemy: India in Afghanistan from the Soviet Invasion to US Withdrawal|year=2017|publisher=Oxford University Press|last=Paliwal|first=Avinash|page=38|isbn=9780190685829}}</ref> On 10 February 1973, the Pakistani government raided the Iraqi embassy in Islamabad and uncovered crates of small arms and ammunition that were allegedly being supplied to the BLF and other militant groups.<ref name="stanford" /> In response, the Pakistani government launched military operations against the BLF, which pushed them out of [[Balochistan, Pakistan|Balochistan]] into [[Afghanistan]] by the end of 1974.<ref name="stanford" /> The [[Republic of Afghanistan (1973—1978)|Republic of Afghanistan]] was a sanctuary for all anti-Pakistani militant groups and from 1975 to 1980, it was estimated that it provided BLF members based in Afghanistan with $875,000 annually.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hLSICwAAQBAJ|title=Ethnicity and Nation-building in South Asia|publisher=Sage Publications India|last1=Phadnis|first1=Phadni|last2=Ganguly|first2=Rajat|date=22 January 2001|isbn=9788132119944}}</ref> While in exile in Afghanistan, the [[Soviet Union]] also allegedly helped BLF to regroup, allowing it rejoin the [[1970s operation in Balochistan|1973-1977 insurgency]]. The insurgency came to an end in November 1977 with the government of Pakistan emerging victorious.<ref name="stanford" />
=== 1977–2003 === From 1977 to 2004, the status of the BLF was unknown. However, according to reports, the group hadn't disbanded.<ref name="stanford" />
=== 2003 onwards === The group re-emerged in 2004 after [[Allah Nazar Baloch]] took command of it in 2003.<ref name="stanford" /> The group has been responsible for attacks on civilians, journalists, government officials and military personnel in Balochistan since it re-emerged in 2004.<ref name=":2" />
In 2015, ''[[The Hindu]]'' newspaper reported that it was once again contacted by the BLF to confirm its growing connections with [[India]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/pakistan-outraged-at-presence-of-baloch-activist-in-india/article7739733.ece|title=Pakistan outraged at presence of Baloch activist in India|date=9 October 2015|work=The Hindu|quote=The Baloch Liberation Front has once again contacted The Hindu to confirm its growing connection with India.}}</ref>
In February 2018, [[Jumma Khan Marri]], the founder of the BLF, stated that he and his followers had left the separatist groups. He stated that he had "sacrificed everything for a movement which turned out to be fundamentally faulty and empty from within". He also claimed that BLF and Baloch freedom struggle had been hijacked by [[India]]. Marri insisted that India is behind the unrest in Balochistan. He disclosed that if India stops the money supplies, the insurgency will end the next day.<ref name="TN_19_June_2018">{{cite news|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/330779-mainstreaming-estranged-baloch-leaders|title=Mainstreaming estranged Baloch leaders|date=19 June 2018|newspaper=The News|quote=If India stops the money supplies, the struggle will end the next day.}}</ref>
==Activities==
=== 2004 onwards === The group has been responsible for attacks on civilians, journalists, government officials and military personnel in Balochistan since it re-emerged in 2004. The group along with another separatist group, the [[Baloch Liberation Army]] (BLA), has claimed responsibility for killing 27 Journalists out of the total 38 journalists killed in [[Balochistan, Pakistan|Balochistan province]] since 2007.<ref name=":2">{{cite news|url=https://pressroom.rferl.org/a/balochistan-journalists/26629476.html|title=In Balochistan, Violence Continues to Target Journalists|date=9 October 2014|publisher=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty|archive-date=25 August 2019|access-date=29 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190825220519/https://pressroom.rferl.org/a/balochistan-journalists/26629476.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In August 2012, [[Reporters without borders|Reporters Without Borders]] (RWB) announced that [[BBC]]’s [[Urdu]] service correspondent in [[Quetta]] Ayub Tareen has been threatened by the BLF for his perceived partisan reporting on the group's political activities.<ref>[https://en.rsf.org/pakistan-bbc-correspondent-in-quetta-01-08-2012,43149.html BBC CORRESPONDENT IN QUETTA THREATENED BY BALOCH LIBERATION FRONT] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304075747/https://en.rsf.org/pakistan-bbc-correspondent-in-quetta-01-08-2012,43149.html |date=4 March 2016 }} [[Reporters without borders]], 1 August 2012</ref>
On early 27 July 2013, gunmen attacked a coastguard checkpost in Suntsar, [[Gwadar District]]. The attack was carried out by 24 gunmen which resulted in death of 7 coast guards and injured 7 others. Two injured coast guards were also kidnapped by the militants. The Baloch Liberation Front claimed responsibility for the attack on the coastguard checkpost. The BLF also stated that two of their militants were also killed in the attack.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/582934/bloodshed-in-gwadar-gunmen-storm-coast-guards-check-post/|title=Bloodshed in Gwadar: Gunmen storm Coast Guards check post|date=28 July 2013|work=The Express Tribune}}</ref>
On 12 April 2015, 20 construction workers from [[Punjab]] and [[Sindh]] province were gunned down in Turbat, which the BLF later claimed responsibility for. After the attack, the Home Minister of Balochistan, Sarfraz Bugti claimed that Indian intelligence agencies were involved in supporting the BLF in carrying out such attacks.<ref name=":0" /> The BLF claimed that the laborers were workers of the [[Frontier Works Organization]] (FWO) construction company.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://thediplomat.com/2015/06/cracking-pakistans-baloch-insurgency/|title=Understanding Pakistan's Baloch Insurgency|last=Zurutuza|first=Karlos|work=The Diplomat|access-date=10 December 2017}}</ref>
On 16 November 2017, the bullet-riddled bodies of 15 migrants were discovered in the city of Turbat. Security officials state that while attempting to cross the border, the migrants were kidnapped by armed men who later killed them. The BLF later claimed responsibility for the murder of the 15 migrants.<ref name=":1">{{cite news|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1559105/1-15-bullet-riddled-bodies-found-turbat/|title=15 men from Punjab found dead in Kech|work=[[The Express Tribune]]|date=15 November 2017|last=Zafar|first=Muhammad|access-date=24 February 2026}}</ref> The mastermind of the attack, Younas Taukali, was killed by Pakistani security forces in November 2017. Younas Taukali was one of the top eight commanders of the Baloch Liberation Front.<ref name="ET"/>
=== 2023 === {{see also|2022 Kech district attack|2022 Panjgur and Naushki raids}}
On 6 May 2023, Mohammad Asa (with the [[Pseudonym|alias]] Mullah Ibrahim) was killed in a clash between different factions of the BLF over division of extorted money. Mohammad Asa was a top member of BLF and carried a bounty of [[Pakistani rupee|PKR]] 4 million placed on his head by law enforcement agencies of Pakistan. He had joined the ranks of the BLF in 2010 and quickly rose to become one of its leaders. He was responsible for attacks on workers involved in development projects, Iranian containers, and law enforcement agencies of Pakistan.<ref>{{cite news |title=Top BLF terrorist killed in clash over extortion dispute |url=https://www.samaaenglish.tv/news/40034214 |work=Samaa |date=6 May 2023 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Wanted terrorist killed by partners over ransom money distribution |url=https://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/721630-Wanted-terrorist-killed-by-partners-over-ransom-money-distribution- |work=Dunya News |date=7 May 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
On 18 June 2023, BLF commander, Ali Nawaz Rind, was killed under mysterious circumstances in "a neighboring country". Some sources attribute his death to be a result of in-fighting among the BLF's ranks. Rind was prominent BLF commander and was part of the BLF since 2014. He was also involved in number of attacks on law enforcement agencies in Pakistan.<ref>{{cite news |title=BLF commander Nawaz Rind killed in 'infighting' in neighboring country |url=https://www.samaaenglish.tv/news/40039412 |work=Samaa |date=18 June 2023 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=BLF commander Nawaz Ali Rind falls prey to militants' infighting |url=https://24newshd.tv/18-Jun-2023/blf-commander-nawaz-ali-rind-falls-prey-to-militants-infighting |work=24newshd.tv |date=18 June 2023 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Banned terrorist outfit BLF's Ali Nawaz Rind killed |url=https://minutemirror.com.pk/banned-terrorist-outfit-blfs-ali-nawaz-rind-killed/ |work=Minute Mirror |date=18 June 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=BLF commander Ali Nawaz Rind killed in internal fighting |url=https://www.aajenglish.tv/news/30324808/blf-commander-ali-nawaz-rind-killed-in-internal-fighting |work=Aaj English TV |date=18 June 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
=== 2024 === Wahid Kambar, who was regarded as the foundational architect of the BLF and mentor to [[Allah Nazar Baloch]], was abducted and subsequently arrested by Pakistani security agencies on 19 July of 2024 in either the [[Kerman province]] or the [[Sistan and Baluchestan province|Sistan-Baluchestan province]] of Iran. This was confirmed by the BLF itself on 28 July 2024. Wahid Kambar had been active throughout the [[Insurgency in Balochistan]], including both the [[fourth Balochistan conflict]] and the recent [[fifth Balochistan conflict]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-21 |title=What Does Wahid Kambar's Arrest Mean For The Baloch Insurgency |url=https://thefridaytimes.com/21-Aug-2024/what-does-wahid-kambar-s-arrest-mean-for-the-baloch-insurgency |access-date=2025-08-24 |website=The Friday Times |language=en}}</ref>
=== 2026 === The Baloch Liberation Front claimed to have participated in the [[2026 Balochistan attacks]] alongside the [[Baloch Liberation Army]] (BLA).<ref name=":TBP">{{Cite web |date=3 February 2026 |title=BLF Chief Says Public Response to ‘Herof 2.0’ Signals ‘Final Breaths’ of Pakistani Forces |url=https://thebalochistanpost.net/2026/02/blf-chief-says-public-response-to-herof-2-0-signals-final-breaths-of-pakistani-forces/ |work=The Balochistan Post}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{baloch nationalism}} {{Pakistan separatist movements}}
[[Category:Organisations designated as terrorist by Pakistan]] [[Category:Anti-Chinese sentiment in Pakistan]] [[Category:Baloch nationalist militant groups]] [[Category:Balochistan]] [[Category:Communist militant groups]] [[Category:Left-wing nationalism]] [[Category:Rebel groups in Pakistan]] [[Category:Rebel groups in Afghanistan]]