Baloch Women Suicide Commandos, IED Attacks: BLA Strikes Blow to Pakistani Army, Claims 200 Soldiers Killed

Quetta, Pakistan: Baloch insurgents have carried out the largest coordinated attack in two decades in Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the assault, which reportedly included female suicide commandos and targeted multiple cities across the region.

The BLA has named this campaign HeroF 2.0 and asserted that the operations are ongoing. According to the group, Pakistani security forces suffered heavy casualties, and the insurgents temporarily gained control over several urban and rural areas. BLA spokesperson Jiyand Baloch stated that Islamabad’s military presence was pushed back, while clashes continued at multiple locations.

Pakistani Soldiers Abducted
The BLA said its fighters struck Pakistani Army, police, and Frontier Corps personnel in Mastung, Pasni, Noshki, and Quetta. The group claimed more than 200 security personnel were killed and at least 17 soldiers were captured. Independent verification of these figures is not yet available. However, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti confirmed that 17 security personnel were killed during the attacks.

Bugti added that authorities had recovered the bodies of 145 militants. The BLA acknowledged the deaths of its own fighters, though it reported a lower number: 18 militants, including 11 suicide attackers from the Majid Brigade, four fighters from the Fateh Squad, and three from the STOS Unit.

Female Commandos Involved
A significant aspect of the operation was the participation of female combatants. Among them was Asifa Mangal, who reportedly carried out an IED attack on the ISI office in Noshki. She had joined the BLA’s Majid Brigade on 2 October 2023 and was killed during the operation.

Another female fighter, Hawa Baloch, also took part in the offensive at the Gwadar front alongside fellow commandos. The group released her final message and video via its media channel, Hakkal. Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed that women were actively involved in the attacks.

Scope of the BLA Attack
According to the BLA, attacks were carried out across 14 cities at 48 separate locations, resulting in the reported deaths of over 200 Pakistani soldiers and the capture of 17 more.

Official Pakistani Response
The Pakistani military stated that 92 militants were killed during the operation on Saturday. Prior reports had confirmed the deaths of 42 Baloch fighters. Chief Minister Bugti noted that authorities had received advance intelligence on the planned attacks, which allowed them to initiate pre-emptive operations.