In a major escalation of the Balochistan insurgency, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed full control of Surab city, a strategically vital location in Kalat Division. According to a press release issued by the group on Friday, BLA fighters have seized the Levies station, the police station, and key road links connecting Surab to nearby towns, including Gidar.
The statement, attributed to BLA spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch, declared the takeover as a decisive move in the group’s long-standing fight for autonomy and control over Balochistan’s natural resources. The BLA vowed to issue further details to the media shortly.
Surab district, which was separated from Kalat in 2017, is home to nearly 280,000 people, many of whom live in underdeveloped conditions. As per the 2023 census, the region has a literacy rate of 37.44%, and over 41% of its population is under the age of 10. These socioeconomic challenges, alongside grievances over resource exploitation, have long fueled discontent in the region.
The BLA, designated a terrorist group by both Pakistan and the UK in 2006, has stepped up its operations significantly in the past year. In April 2025, it was responsible for multiple attacks that killed 14 Pakistani soldiers, while a major assault in August 2024 claimed 74 lives. The group is believed to operate from southern Afghanistan and has routinely targeted Pakistani security forces and infrastructure.
The Pakistani military has not yet commented on the BLA’s claim. However, given its history of swift counterattacks in similar situations—such as a 30-hour operation in Surab that killed 33 BLA fighters—a military response is expected.
This development occurs against the backdrop of a long-running insurgency in Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest yet least populated province. A 2012 Gallup survey revealed that while only 37% of ethnic Baloch support full independence, 67% of the province’s population—including nearly 80% of ethnic Baloch—favor greater autonomy. These aspirations have remained largely unaddressed, continuing to stoke conflict.
The situation in Surab remains fluid, with concerns mounting over possible clashes, civilian displacement, and further destabilization in the region. Updates are awaited as more information emerges from the ground.
