Independent Baloch media outlets and social media activists report that Baloch freedom fighters, led by Bashir Zaib Baloch, commander of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), have initiated the second phase of Operation Herof (also referred to as Herof 2.0) in Pakistan’s Balochistan province as of January 31, 2026.
Kabul 24: According to BLA statements and reports from sources like The Balochistan Post, the operation involves simultaneous and coordinated attacks in at least ten key cities and districts, including Quetta (the provincial capital), Nushki (Noshki), Mastung, Dalbandin, Kalat, Kharan, Gwadar, Pasni, Tump, and Buleda.
The BLA describes these as large-scale, multi-front operations targeting Pakistani military positions, security installations, police stations, and government facilities, with claims of inflicting heavy casualties on security forces, including dozens of soldiers killed and some captured.
Bashir Zaib Baloch, who has led a prominent faction of the BLA since around 2018–2019 following earlier leadership changes, has reportedly released video messages urging broader participation and framing this phase as a decisive escalation in the long-standing struggle for Baloch rights and self-determination.
Pro-Baloch sources emphasize that the operation responds to ongoing grievances, including alleged enforced disappearances, military repression, resource exploitation, and marginalization of the Baloch population.
Local reports indicate emergency measures in affected areas: hospitals are on high alert to handle potential casualties, public spaces face restrictions, and there are accounts of explosions, intense gunfire, road blockades, and temporary control of certain locations (such as parts of highways or government buildings in Quetta and elsewhere).
Internet disruptions and heightened security deployments have also been noted in several districts.
Pakistani authorities and mainstream media have not fully confirmed the scale claimed by BLA but acknowledge coordinated militant attacks, reporting that security forces repelled many assaults, eliminated dozens of attackers (with figures around 37 in some statements), and suffered losses (at least 10 security personnel martyred in initial reports). Officials describe the incidents as failed terrorist attempts, with arrests made and operations ongoing to restore order.
The events highlight the persistent and intensifying insurgency in Balochistan, where separatist groups like the BLA have conducted increasingly sophisticated campaigns against Pakistani forces, often targeting strategic infrastructure and foreign-linked projects.
The situation remains fluid, with developments unfolding rapidly and requiring close monitoring for verified updates.
