What Happened
- On 31 January 2026, the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) launched "Operation Herof 2.0" — coordinated attacks across at least nine districts of Balochistan province, including Quetta, Gwadar, Nushki, Mastung, and Kharan.
- Militants targeted military installations, police stations, banks, and a high-security prison in what was described as one of the largest-ever BLA operations.
- Pakistani security forces engaged in a three-day battle to retake the town of Nushki (population ~50,000), deploying drones and helicopters.
- By 5 February, the Pakistan military reported 216 militants killed in counter-operations; 22 security personnel and 36 civilians were also killed, bringing the total toll to 274.
- The BLA released videos showing female fighters participating in the operations, signalling a broadening of the movement's base.
- The attacks follow "Operation Herof 1.0" of August 2024, indicating an escalating cycle of insurgency and military response.
Static Topic Bridges
History of the Balochistan Insurgency
The Balochistan insurgency has gone through five distinct phases since Pakistan's independence. The first phase (1948) began when the Khan of Kalat briefly declared independence before Pakistan's military forced accession. Subsequent phases occurred in 1958-59, 1963-69 (over Sui gas revenue sharing), and 1973-77 (a full-scale insurgency under Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's government, leading to 5,000-10,000 deaths). The current fifth phase began in the early 2000s, driven by grievances over resource extraction, enforced disappearances, and the marginalisation of Baloch communities from development projects in their own province.
- Phase 1 (1948): Khan of Kalat's accession dispute
- Phase 2 (1958-59): One Unit policy resistance
- Phase 3 (1963-69): Sui gas revenue demands
- Phase 4 (1973-77): Full insurgency; ended with military operations and amnesty
- Phase 5 (2000s-present): Driven by CPEC grievances, enforced disappearances, resource extraction
- Balochistan is Pakistan's largest province by area (~44% of Pakistan's land) but least developed
Connection to this news: The January 2026 attacks represent a dramatic escalation in the fifth phase, with the BLA demonstrating the capability to simultaneously strike across nine districts — a level of coordination not seen in previous cycles.
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and Gwadar
CPEC is a $62 billion infrastructure development framework launched in 2015 as part of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Gwadar Port, located in Balochistan, is a centrepiece of CPEC, providing China with a strategic maritime access point to the Arabian Sea and reducing its dependence on the Strait of Malacca. Baloch groups view CPEC as extractive colonialism — generating wealth from Baloch land and resources while local communities remain marginalised, with minimal employment or development benefits reaching indigenous populations. Chinese nationals and CPEC infrastructure have been repeatedly targeted by Baloch militants.
- CPEC launched: 2015; valued at $62 billion (initially; expanded subsequently)
- Gwadar Port: Deep-sea port on the Arabian Sea, operationally managed by China Overseas Port Holding Company
- Key CPEC attacks: Chinese engineers killed in Gwadar (2004), Pearl Continental Hotel attack (2019), Chinese nationals targeted in Gwadar convoy (2021), Karachi University Confucius Institute bombing (2022)
- Balochistan holds significant mineral wealth: copper, gold (Reko Diq mine), natural gas (Sui fields)
- Gwadar provides China an alternative to the Strait of Malacca chokepoint
Connection to this news: The BLA's targeting of Gwadar in Operation Herof 2.0 underscores the continuing nexus between Baloch separatism and opposition to CPEC, threatening both Pakistani sovereignty claims and China's strategic infrastructure investments.
Baloch Militant Groups and Organisational Structure
The Baloch insurgency is now conducted by a coalition of groups operating under the Baloch Raji Aajoi Sangar (BRAS), an alliance formed in 2018. The three principal groups are the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA, founded 2000), the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF, revived 2003-04), and the Baloch Republican Army. The BLA is designated a terrorist organisation by Pakistan, the United States, and the European Union. A significant development has been the BLA's Majeed Brigade, a specialised unit responsible for suicide attacks, and the increasing participation of women fighters.
- BRAS alliance: Formed 2018; unites BLA, BLF, and smaller groups for coordinated operations
- BLA: Founded 2000; designated terrorist group by Pakistan, US, and EU
- BLF: Originally founded 1964; revived under Allah Natar Baloch in 2003
- Majeed Brigade: BLA's suicide attack unit; responsible for attacks on Chinese nationals
- "Operation Herof 1.0" (August 2024): Coordinated attacks that served as precursor to January 2026 escalation
- "Operation Herof 2.0" (January 2026): Largest BLA operation to date across nine districts
Connection to this news: The scale of Operation Herof 2.0 demonstrates the BRAS alliance's ability to conduct battalion-level operations across a vast geographical area, signalling that Pakistan's military-first approach has not degraded insurgent capability.
India's Neighbourhood and Balochistan's Strategic Significance
Balochistan borders Iran (Sistan-Baluchestan province) and Afghanistan, making it strategically significant for India's regional connectivity. India's Chabahar Port in Iran is located approximately 170 km from Gwadar and serves as an alternative trade route to Afghanistan and Central Asia, bypassing Pakistan. Pakistan has repeatedly accused India of supporting Baloch separatists — a charge India denies. The instability in Balochistan also affects regional counterterrorism efforts and the security of energy pipelines (including the stalled Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline).
- Chabahar Port (Iran): ~170 km from Gwadar; 10-year India-Iran agreement signed May 2024
- Balochistan shares borders with Iran and Afghanistan
- Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline: Proposed but stalled due to sanctions and security concerns
- Kulbhushan Jadhav case: India denied Pakistan's allegations of using him for espionage related to Balochistan
- Balochistan's instability affects the Afghanistan-Pakistan-India regional security complex
Connection to this news: The escalating insurgency has implications for India's Chabahar connectivity strategy and the broader regional security environment in South Asia, regardless of India's formal non-involvement in the Balochistan conflict.
Key Facts & Data
- Operation Herof 2.0: 31 January 2026; attacks across 9 districts simultaneously
- Casualties: 216 militants, 22 security personnel, 36 civilians killed (total: 274)
- Balochistan: Largest Pakistani province by area (~44% of total area), least developed
- CPEC: $62 billion infrastructure framework; Gwadar Port is the centrepiece
- BRAS alliance: Formed 2018; unites BLA, BLF, and other groups
- BLA designated terrorist group by: Pakistan, United States, European Union
- Nushki: Town of ~50,000; retaken after 3-day battle using drones and helicopters
- Chabahar Port: ~170 km from Gwadar; India-Iran 10-year deal signed May 2024