Baloch Nationalist Army (BNA) (Urdu: بلوچ نیشنلسٹ آرمی) was a militant group,[5] fighting for the separation of Balochistan province. The group was formed on January 11, 2022, out of a merger of the Baloch Republican Army (BRA), and the United Baloch Army (UBA). BRA and UBA also announced their dissolution following the establishment of Baloch Nationalist Army.[9]
Since its formation, the group was led by its founder, Gulzar Imam, who surrendered to the state of Pakistan in 2023. Following Gulzar's surrender, the group strength had considerably declined.[4] Sarfraz Bangulzai succeeded Gulzar and served as the head of the group until his surrender in December 2023.[1][10] The group was dissolved following the surrender of its top leader and remaining of its members.[5]
Background
Baloch Nationalist Army (BNA) was a Baloch nationalist militant umbrella group, which was seeking separation of Balochistan province from Pakistan. It was formed on 11 January 2022 and following its establishment, the Baloch Republican Army (BRA) and United Baloch Army (UBA) announced their dissolution and merger into Baloch Nationalist Army (BNA). BRA and UBA are a militant groups and were responsible for various attacks on civilians, government officials, and Pakistani security forces.[11][12]
Attacks
Some of the major attacks carried out by the groups are:
On 20 January 2022, at least three people were killed and over 20 others were injured by a bombing in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.[13][14][15] At 1:40pm, a 1.5 kilogramimprovised explosive deviceexploded on a motorcycle parked next to a pushcart outside a bank in a busy market chowk in the Anarkali area of the city.[14][15] It broke windows of nearby buildings and set fire to several parked motorcycles. The attack was claimed on Twitter by a spokesman for the Baloch Nationalist Army.[16]
The blast in Lahore was strongly condemned by leader of Baloch nationalist groups like Mehran Marri and Brahumdagh Bugti. The condemnation by the leaders of Nationalist group highlighted the clash between the leaders of terrorists groups aboard and by the fighters on ground.[17]
Gulzar Imam, the founder and leader of Baloch Nationalist Army, was arrested in a high-profile intelligence-based operation by Pakistan's Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) on 7 April 2023.[19] He was considered to be one of the key militant commanders operating in the Makran belt of Balochistan province.[2]
On 23 May 2023, Gulzar Imam alias Shambay appeared before media and announced his surrender to the law enforcement agencies of Pakistan. He also urged other militants operating in the province to surrender and adopt a peaceful life, saying that rights could only be achieved through political and constitutional struggle. Gulzar also said that he sought apology from the family members of the people that he killed while serving as the head of BNA.[2] Following Gulzar's surrender, Sarfraz Bangulzai alias Mureed Baloch was appointed as the new head of the Baloch Nationalist Army (BNA).[1] BNA's attacks in Pakistan had also considerably declined following the surrender of Gulzar.[4]
Surrender of Sarfaraz Bangulzai and fall of the group
On 20 December 2023, Sarfaraz Bangulzai alias Mureed Baloch alongside 70 other militants, surrendered to the Government of Balochistan. Sarfraz said that he has quit violence and joined the national mainstream to play a constructive role in the development of the province and the country.[20][21][22][23] Sarfraz joined the militancy in 2009 and carried out a number of attacks against civilians and law enforcement agencies of Pakistan. Sarfraz said that thousands of Baloch youth were killed during the past 20 years, adding that only in 2014, 155 innocent Baloch people were killed as they refused to give extortion to the militants.[4] Sarfraz also said that he regretted his actions from the past 15 years. According to Sarfraz, he decided to surrender when he learned that his group was foreign funded and had the backing of India.[24] Sarfraz alleged that India was responsible for funding militant groups in the province, and also urged other militant to surrender before the state.[4][25]
Commanders like Sarfraz and Gulzar have been at the forefront of a low-level insurgency in Balochistan for more than two decades.[26] Experts have described their surrender as a significant boost for government of Pakistan.[24]
[1][2]
Pakistan