A Troubled Province: Iran's Sistan and Baluchestan Plagued by Protests and Violence

On Friday night, armed attackers stormed the Iranian port city of Chabahar in Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan province. At the same time, the district guards of the country’s Rask City also came under attack. During the initial...

Coal Mining in Balochistan: A Tale of Exploitation, Insurgency, and Security

Despite its environmental impact, Pakistan is looking to increase its dependency on fossil fuels for energy production. To that end, Pakistan and China signed a US$62 billion bilateral infrastructure, energy, and connectivity...

BNA's Internal Rifts, Surrenders Signal a Turning Point in Insurgency Dynamics

Following the arrest of Baloch Nationalist Army (BNA) founder Gulzar Imam alias Shamby in 2023, the militant group fractured into two factions, one led by Sarafaraz Bungulzai alias Mureed Baloch and another under Anwar alias ...

Baloch Armed Groups: Leadership Rifts and Accusations Amidst Changing Dynamics

In November last year, the Baloch Nationalist Army (BNA) confirmed in a statement that one of the founding leaders, Gulzar Imam alias Shamby, had been captured by the Pakistani security forces.BNA was split right after Gulzar...

The Story Ends Here: The Unabated Surge in Suicide Cases Across Balochistan

*Editor’s Note: The article contains mentions of suicide. Reader discretion is advised.Najma Bibi, a 21-year-old teacher hailing from the Awaran district of Balochistan, took her own life on May 15, 2023 by hanging herself in...

BNA’s Lynchpin: Shambay Arrested in Intelligence Based Operation – The most high profile arrest in decades

Gulzar Imam alias Shambay, a “high-value target”, “hardcore”, leader and founder of a key Baloch insurgent group, Baloch Nationalist Army (BNA), responsible for dozens of violent attacks in Pakistan, was arrested in a success...

Timeline of Insurgency In Balochistan

A violent insurgency with separatist tendencies broke out in southwestern Balochistan province in the early days of its accession to Pakistan. Baloch-dominated regions of the province, ever since, faced waves of violence with...