Quetta: As many as 800 highly-trained fighters, along with 7 fidayeen, were involved in the ‘Operation Herof’, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has revealed and threatened to carry out a “more intense and widespread” attack in the future as part of the ultimate goal of expelling occupying Pakistani forces from the Baloch land.
The BLA said the 20-hour operation, called off last night, was carried out to demonstrate how much the outfit has grown in numbers, strength and professional capabilities.
It claimed to have lost 10 fighters but killed over 130 Pakistani soldiers and injured dozens of others during the simultaneous and coordinate attacks which began on the night of August 25 at multiple places across Balochistan, including at a highly-secured Army Camp in Bela area.
The operation also involved taking control of all major highways by setting up checkpoints, which were removed after about 12 hours.
The fighters of the BLA checked vehicles that were moving into Balochistan and found military personnel in civil clothes who were killed, the outfit said.
Altogether 62 Pakistani military personnel, including those deployed at the checkpoints, were killed at the national highways, it said.
At the Bela Army camp, 5 fidayeen fought for about 20 hours, while 2 of their colleagues, including a female, died by detonating a vehicle laden with explosives at the main gate to breach the security.
Over 68 Pakistani soldiers were killed and dozens were injured at the Bela camp, it said.
“In Operation Herof, 800 highly trained elite fighters from BLA’s Fatah Squad and STOS (Special Tactical Operations Squad) participated, along with seven fidayeen (suicide attackers) from the Majeed Brigade,” the outfit’s spokesman Jeeyand Baloch said.
“All seven fidayeen of the Majeed Brigade successfully completed their missions and embraced martyrdom, while one fighter from the Fatah Squad was martyred in a clash with the enemy forces in Bolan,” he said.
The Majeed Brigade is a unit which specialises in suicide attacks.
Jeeyand Baloch said the outfit “continues to grow in numbers, strength, and professional capabilities, which has enabled the BLA to begin preparations and exercises to defend the nation and expel the occupying forces, ultimately reclaiming control over Baloch land.”
He went on to add: “Operation Herof was the first phase of these preparations, and the second phase will be even more intense and widespread.”
During the Operation, “over 130 enemy personnel were killed, dozens were injured, multiple checkpoints, and one camp was destroyed, and a large quantity of enemy weapons and ammunition was seized,” the BLA spokesman said.
“After achieving the objectives of Operation Herof, the roadblocks on all highways were lifted, and the operation was declared complete with the objectives at Bela camp fully achieved,” he said in a statement late last night.
Significantly, the operation was carried out on the 18th death anniversary of Balochistan’s tallest freedom fighter Nawab Akbar Bugti, who was killed at the age of 80 years in the mountains of Balochistan by the Pakistani military through aerial bombing.
Pakistani forces had killed Nawab Bugti with the hope that it would extinguish the desire for freedom in Balochistan but it had a reverse impact as it gave tremendous impetus to the armed struggle with thousands of Baloch people joining it.
Noting that the Pakistani army has been an occupier on Baloch land for the past 76 years, the BLA spokesman said, “Fom the very first day of this occupation, the Baloch have resisted against the powerful enemy, striving to defend their land and regain control and sovereignty over Balochistan.”
He was referring to the forcible occupation of Balochistan by Pakistan in March 1948.
“The Baloch Liberation Army is a continuation of this historical resistance, now in a modern form.
“Through the great sacrifices, tireless efforts, determination, and steadfastness of Baloch men and women fighters, along with the strong support and assistance of the Baloch people, the BLA is evolving into a formidable national military force.”
