BNM Leader Vows Balochistan’s Independence Post-Operation Baam Attacks

Qazi Dad Mohammad Rehan, Information Secretary of the Baloch National Movement (BNM), declared on 13 July 2025 that Balochistan will never be part of Pakistan, following the launch of Operation Baam, a series of coordinated attacks by the Baloch Liberation Front (BLF) against the Pakistan Army. Rehan called the offensive, which targeted military infrastructure across multiple districts, the start of a renewed push for independence. This article examines the operation, its implications, and the Baloch struggle for sovereignty.

In an exclusive interview with Asian News International (ANI), Rehan described Operation Baam (meaning “Dawn”) as a pivotal escalation in the Baloch resistance, targeting Pakistan’s military in Panjgur, Surab, Kech, and Kharan. “It shows the Baloch people are prepared to take control of their destiny,” he stated, emphasising the operation’s aim to dismantle Pakistan’s control over the resource-rich province, as reported by The Tribune.

The BLF claimed responsibility for 84 attacks over two days, stating it had killed at least 50 personnel and destroyed infrastructure such as mobile towers and military vehicles, according to The Balochistan Post. Rehan highlighted the role of younger, tech-savvy fighters, marking a shift from tribal-led rebellions to a more modern insurgency.

Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest yet poorest province, has long been a flashpoint for separatist unrest, fuelled by grievances over economic marginalisation and military repression. Rehan criticised the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), particularly the Gwadar port projects, for exploiting Baloch resources while leaving locals impoverished. “Billions are poured into our land, but the Baloch remain oppressed,” he said. The BNM’s boycott of Pakistan’s parliamentary system underscores its rejection of limited autonomy, tracing the conflict back to Balochistan’s annexation by Pakistan in 1948, which sparked decades of resistance.

Operation Baam’s scale, with 17 reported attacks disrupting communication infrastructure and military checkpoints, signals a bold challenge to Pakistan’s authority. Rehan’s call for global recognition of the Baloch cause warns that continued silence emboldens Pakistan’s heavy-handed tactics. As the insurgency grows, fuelled by educated youth and strategic alliances like the Baloch Raaji Aajohi Sangar (BRAS), Pakistan faces mounting pressure to address Baloch grievances or risk further destabilisation in this critical region.