Pakistan Defence Minister Says Security Forces Struggle to Control Vast Balochistan Amid Rising Insurgency

Quetta: Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has acknowledged that the country’s security forces face major operational challenges while tackling Baloch insurgents, describing them as “handicapped” due to the vast geographical expanse of Balochistan, where militant violence has recently intensified.

His statement comes after ongoing counterterrorism operations in the province reportedly resulted in the deaths of 197 Baloch individuals, including members of armed groups labelled as ‘Fitna al-Hindustan’ and other militant outfits. Additionally, 22 Pakistani security personnel were killed during the past three days, according to state media reports.

Addressing Pakistan’s National Assembly, Asif said that Balochistan accounts for more than 40 per cent of the country’s total land area, making it significantly harder to control compared to densely populated regions. He stated that while troops are deployed and actively conducting operations, they face logistical and physical challenges in patrolling such a large and sparsely populated territory.

The remarks followed coordinated attacks launched by separatist forces across at least 12 locations, triggering one of the most serious security crises in recent years. Reports suggest that about 177 insurgents were killed during large-scale counterterrorism actions across the province.

Asif ruled out any possibility of negotiations with the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), which claimed responsibility for the attacks. He maintained that the government would not hold talks with groups involved in attacks on civilians, including women and children.

The defence minister further alleged a nexus between separatist groups, criminal networks, and certain local power structures. He claimed that smugglers had previously generated up to 4 billion Pakistani rupees daily through illegal oil trade, which was allegedly protected by militant outfits.

The developments come amid ongoing tensions in Balochistan, where separatist movements have long accused security forces of human rights violations, including enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and false prosecutions.

Asif said the government had intensified enforcement actions against smuggling, which recently triggered protests at the Chaman border. He claimed that these protests were driven more by commercial interests than political or nationalist motives.

Meanwhile, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti described the recent crackdown as one of the largest intelligence-based operations conducted within a short period. He said the action followed multiple coordinated attacks attributed to the BLA.

Balochistan, which shares borders with Iran and Afghanistan, has witnessed a prolonged insurgency led by ethnic Baloch groups demanding greater autonomy and a fair share of the region’s natural resources. The resistance dates back to the integration of the princely state of Kalat into Pakistan, with insurgencies recorded in 1948, 1958–59, 1962–63, 1973–77, and continuing from the early 2000s.

Despite being rich in minerals, natural gas, coal, copper, gold, and housing strategic infrastructure such as the Gwadar port, Balochistan remains Pakistan’s poorest province, with limited access to basic infrastructure, healthcare, education, electricity, and employment opportunities.

Separatist groups, including the BLA, have frequently targeted security installations, infrastructure, and projects linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), particularly the Gwadar port. These attacks reflect local resentment toward development projects perceived as exploitative and lacking benefits for the indigenous population.