With the suicide attack in Karachi on Tuesday, Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) sent a strong message to China. After the attack, in an email, the BLA spokesperson warned “even harsher'' attacks unless “exploitation projects'' are halted. The warning to China by the BLA is emerging as a serious security challenge to Pakistan.
In the past few years, the BLA—listed by the US as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT)—has been scaling up its attacks in a bid to make a statement. On June 18, 2020, the BLA tried to attack and take control of the Karachi Stock Exchange. In May 2020, a landmine attack by the group had killed six Pakistan army personnel, including an officer.
The attack on Tuesday was the first time the group used a woman suicide bomber. Shari Baloch, a teacher by profession and a mother of two, had an Mphil degree. Baloch, who was a member of the elite “majeed brigade'', had signed up for a second Master's degree at the Karachi University five months.
The use of a woman suicide attacker by the group has led to speculations on if the BLA has changed its tactics. Whether or not the group changed strategies, one this is certain, despite considerable efforts by Pakistan army, BLA refuses to disappear.
Unlike in the past in Gwadar where the BLA chose to attack the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, targeting the physical infrastructure of the Chinese, Tuesday's attack at the Confucius Centre in Karachi shows that it is now targetting soft diplomacy assets as well. “Targeting director and officials of the Confucius Institute, the symbol of Chinese economic, cultural and political expansionism, was to give a clear message to China that its direct or indirect presence in Balochistan will not be tolerated,” BLA has been quoted as saying.
China has strongly condemned the attack. “The Chinese side expresses strong condemnation and indignation over this major terrorist attack, and extends deep condolences to the victims and sympathies to the injured and bereaved families,” a statement said.
The Pakistan ambassador to China was called by Assistant Foreign Minister Wu Jianghao to express “extremely grave concern.” He demanded a “thorough investigation” into the incident and “ apprehend and punish the perpetrators to the full extent of the law, and take all possible measures to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens in Pakistan and prevent such incidents from happening again”. In an attempt to demonstrate the intent of the Pakistan government, Prime Minister Shabaz Sharif—who had began the CPEC project in Punjab in Pakistan—went to the Chinese embassy in Islamabad to convey his condolences. He promised an “in-depth’’ probe and “exemplary’’ punishment.
The BLA has attacked security forces in Baluchistan twice this year. These attacks took place at Pangur and Noshki district on one day and at the Kech checkpost on January 25. Experts were led to believe that the militant group might have been getting assistance from the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), even thought they had different goals.
“The BLA strives for the creation of a sovereign state of Greater Balochistan, which would include Pakistan, Iranian and Afghanistan Balochistan territories,’’ a Stanford report stated. “The group has continually demanded that the Pakistani government invest greater economic resources in the region and stop exploiting Balochistan’s natural resources.’’
This attack by the BLA comes at a time when there is an increased violence by the TTP on Pakistan security forces. There is also continuing instability in Afghanistan and attacks on cities by the BLA adds to this complex mixture.
