Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 04:14pm on 17 Aug 2026,Monday International
The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) has intensified its armed campaign against Pakistani security forces, claiming 22 attacks across Balochistan in eight days and alleging 26 personnel were killed. The separatist group said its struggle would continue until “independence of Balochistan.” Baloch leader Mir Yar Baloch claimed the organisation has around one lakh active members, uses guerrilla warfare and street-fighting tactics, and obtains weapons by capturing Pakistani soldiers and seizing arms. Violence has risen sharply, with the Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies recording 254 terrorist attacks and 1,026 casualties in Balochistan in 2025. The BLA also claimed extensive territorial control and continued attacks in 2026, while Pakistani forces launched counter-offensives. (PC: Reuters)
