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Balochistan Liberation Front: Difference between revisions
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| name = Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) | | name = Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) | ||
| Date of establishment = 1964 AD | | Date of establishment = 1964 AD | ||
| Founder = Jumma Khan Marri | | Founder = [[Jumma Khan Marri]] | ||
| Leaders = Allah Nazar Baloch | | Leaders = [[Allah Nazar Baloch]] | ||
| Goals = Baloch Nationalism | | Goals = Baloch Nationalism | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''The Balochistan Liberation Front''' (Urdu: بلوچستان لبریشن فرنٹ؛, Balochi: بلۏچستان آجوییءِ مئیدان) is a paramilitary group that operates in the Balochistan region in southwestern Asia. This group was founded by Jumma Khan Marri in 1964 in Damascus and played an important role in the 1968-1973 uprising in Sistan and Balochistan province of Iran and the 1973-1977 rebellion in Balochistan province of Pakistan. However, this group's rebellion in Pakistan and Iran failed and the status of this group was unknown until 2004. This group re-emerged in 2004 after Allah Nazar Baloch took over the group's command in 2003, and since then this group has claimed responsibility for attacks on civilians, journalists, government officials, and military personnel.<ref>[https://tribune.com.pk/story/1560848/1-security-forces-kill-blf-commander-involved-turbat-massacre/ Security forces kill 'BLF commander involved' in Turbat massacre]</ref> | '''The Balochistan Liberation Front''' (Urdu: بلوچستان لبریشن فرنٹ؛, Balochi: بلۏچستان آجوییءِ مئیدان) is a paramilitary group that operates in the Balochistan region in southwestern Asia. This group was founded by [[Jumma Khan Marri]] in 1964 in [[Damascus]] and played an important role in the 1968-1973 uprising in Sistan and Balochistan province of Iran and the 1973-1977 rebellion in Balochistan province of Pakistan. However, this group's rebellion in Pakistan and Iran failed and the status of this group was unknown until 2004. This group re-emerged in 2004 after [[Allah Nazar Baloch]] took over the group's command in 2003, and since then this group has claimed responsibility for attacks on civilians, journalists, government officials, and military personnel.<ref>[https://tribune.com.pk/story/1560848/1-security-forces-kill-blf-commander-involved-turbat-massacre/ Security forces kill 'BLF commander involved' in Turbat massacre]</ref> | ||
==Foundation== | ==Foundation== | ||
This group was founded by Jumma Khan Marri in 1964 in Damascus, Syria. Four years after its formation, this group participated in the Baloch uprising against the government of Iran. During this period, the government of Iraq openly supported them and provided them with weapons and operational support. However, after five years of war, the Liberation Front and other Baloch paramilitary groups were destroyed by Iran. The paramilitary groups negotiated to end the war with the government of Iran and Iraq stopped its public support for them.<ref>[https://www.dopel.org/BalochistanLiberationFront.htm Baluchistan Liberation Front (BLF)]</ref> | This group was founded by Jumma Khan Marri in 1964 in Damascus, [[Syria]]. Four years after its formation, this group participated in the Baloch uprising against the government of [[Iran]]. During this period, the government of Iraq openly supported them and provided them with weapons and operational support. However, after five years of war, the Liberation Front and other Baloch paramilitary groups were destroyed by Iran. The paramilitary groups negotiated to end the war with the government of Iran and Iraq stopped its public support for them.<ref>[https://www.dopel.org/BalochistanLiberationFront.htm Baluchistan Liberation Front (BLF)]</ref> | ||
==Objectives== | ==Objectives== | ||
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==Rebellion in Pakistan== | ==Rebellion in Pakistan== | ||
After the end of the conflict with Iran, the Liberation Front and other Baloch paramilitary groups started a rebellion against the government of Pakistan from 1973 to 1977. Initially, the government of Iraq secretly provided them and other paramilitary groups with weapons and ammunition. On February 10, 1973, the government of Pakistan raided the embassy of Iraq in Islamabad and discovered boxes of small arms and ammunition that were apparently in the possession of the Liberation Front and other paramilitary groups. In response, the government of Pakistan launched a military operation against them that drove them out of Balochistan to Afghanistan by the end of 1974.<ref>[https://web.stanford.edu/group/mappingmilitants/cgi-bin/groups/view/457 Balochistan Liberation Front]</ref> | After the end of the conflict with Iran, the Liberation Front and other Baloch paramilitary groups started a rebellion against the government of Pakistan from 1973 to 1977. Initially, the government of Iraq secretly provided them and other paramilitary groups with weapons and ammunition. On February 10, 1973, the government of Pakistan raided the embassy of Iraq in Islamabad and discovered boxes of small arms and ammunition that were apparently in the possession of the Liberation Front and other paramilitary groups. In response, the government of Pakistan launched a military operation against them that drove them out of Balochistan to [[Afghanistan]] by the end of 1974.<ref>[https://web.stanford.edu/group/mappingmilitants/cgi-bin/groups/view/457 Balochistan Liberation Front]</ref> | ||
Afghanistan was a refuge for all anti-Pakistani paramilitary groups and it was estimated that from 1975 to 1980, it provided 875,000$ annually to their members stationed in Afghanistan. When they were exiled in Afghanistan, the Soviet Union helped the Liberation Front to reorganize. This paramilitary group rebelled against the government of Pakistan from 1973 to 1977, and this rebellion ended in November 1977 with the victory of the government of Pakistan. From 1977 to 2004, the status of this group was unknown. However, this paramilitary group did not dissolve and in 2004, after Allah Nazar Baloch took command in 2003, it reappeared. | Afghanistan was a refuge for all anti-Pakistani paramilitary groups and it was estimated that from 1975 to 1980, it provided 875,000$ annually to their members stationed in Afghanistan. When they were exiled in Afghanistan, the Soviet Union helped the Liberation Front to reorganize. This paramilitary group rebelled against the government of Pakistan from 1973 to 1977, and this rebellion ended in November 1977 with the victory of the government of Pakistan. From 1977 to 2004, the status of this group was unknown. However, this paramilitary group did not dissolve and in 2004, after Allah Nazar Baloch took command in 2003, it reappeared. | ||
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* May 2, 2004: Attacked Chinese workers who were working in the port of Gwadar in Balochistan, a project that this group considers an attempt by the government of Pakistan to colonize Balochistan. (3 killed). | * May 2, 2004: Attacked Chinese workers who were working in the port of Gwadar in Balochistan, a project that this group considers an attempt by the government of Pakistan to colonize Balochistan. (3 killed). | ||
* January 11, 2005: Attacked a pipeline under the control of the government of Pakistan located in Balochistan. (6 killed) | * January 11, 2005: Attacked a pipeline under the control of the government of Pakistan located in Balochistan. (6 killed) | ||
* October 11, 2011: A failed attempt to kill Sardar Sanaullah Zehri, the provincial minister, with a bomb. | * October 11, 2011: A failed attempt to kill Sardar [[Sanaullah Khan Zehri]], the provincial minister, with a bomb. | ||
* July 27, 2013: Attacked a Pakistani Coast Guard checkpoint near Gwadar. (7 killed) | * July 27, 2013: Attacked a Pakistani Coast Guard checkpoint near Gwadar. (7 killed) | ||
* April 11, 2015: Attacked 20 workers involved in the construction of a dam supported by the government of Pakistan. These workers were members of the Border Organization, which was affiliated with the Pakistani security forces. (20 killed). | * April 11, 2015: Attacked 20 workers involved in the construction of a dam supported by the government of Pakistan. These workers were members of the Border Organization, which was affiliated with the Pakistani security forces. (20 killed). | ||