The situation in Balochistan is becoming increasingly difficult for the Pakistan government to handle. Attacks on Pakistan armed forces have become almost a daily occurrence. In this context, the Free Press Journal’s  S Balakrishnan spoke to Munir Mengal, president of the Baloch Voice Association and the Baloch representative at the  UN and the European Parliament. Excerpts from an interview:

What is the stage at which the Baloch liberation movement is at present? Has it reached critical mass?

The  movement has recently intensified, marked by both heightened militant activities and significant peaceful protests. In March 2025, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), executed a high-profile hijacking of the Jaffar Express train in Balochistan. 

Concurrently, peaceful demonstrations have gained momentum. In December 2023, the Baloch Long March, led by activist Mahrang Baloch and the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), highlighted grievances over enforced disappearances and human rights violations. This movement, involving a 1,600-km march from Kech district to Islamabad, faced resistance from authorities, including detentions and dispersals.

Despite these challenges, the protests drew national and international attention to the Baloch cause. The Baloch liberation struggle has thus reached a critical juncture, with increased militant actions and a surge in peaceful activism. |

Today, every corner of Balochistan is Bleeding by the Pakistani state atrocities, but, on the other hand, the Baloch Youth, elderly people and Baloch women from every corner of Balochistan are resisting.

The recent surge in Baloch militant activity, including the train hijacking and sustained attacks on Pakistani security forces, suggests a new found confidence among fighters. What is the basis of this confidence?

a) There is improved organization & coordination now.  Groups like the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and Baloch Liberation Front (BLF) have become more organized, adopting advanced guerrilla tactics and engaging in high-profile, coordinated attacks. 

b) There is expanded recruitment & popular support now.  

The growing discontent over enforced disappearances, extra-judicial killings, and economic marginalization has led to increased recruitment. The people of Balochistan are seeing the Pakistani military as an occupation force.  Therefore, Balochs think that  joining resistance forces is the only path for survival. 

The world community is sympathetic to the Baloch liberation struggle, but it is not doing anything substantial to help the freedom fighters.

While there’s no confirmed foreign backing, Baloch militants might be gaining indirect support due to shifting geopolitical alignments. Strained Pakistan-Iran relations and tensions with Afghanistan could be creating opportunities for Baloch fighters. The New Trump administration might also get interested in the virgin and resource-full land of Balochistan. Balochistan already occupies a high geo-strategic location. 

What is the ground situation currently?

A  combination of factors suggests that Baloch militants are no longer operating from a purely defensive stance but are actively challenging Pakistani control in Balochistan.

Firstly, The rise of peaceful protests, such as the Baloch Long March, suggests that resistance is widespread, beyond just armed groups. Secondly, occupation itself is a source of motivation. The Baloch people had never accepted Pakistan as their mother state. They call it occupation and Baloch generations since 1948 had kept alive the resistance and the desire to regain sovereignty on their land. 

Groups like the BLA and BLF have improved their tactics, using guerrilla warfare, urban attacks, and high-profile operations like the train hijacking. Their ability to sustain momentum depends on continued recruitment, training, and intelligence networks.

Are signs to keep the resistance alive for the long term. 

Pakistan is facing economic collapse, political turmoil, and multiple insurgencies (including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan). If the state's control weakens further, Baloch fighters could expand their operational capabilities and territory. The immoral political tactics, rigging the elections, internal political conflicts, Pakistani establishment involvement and mingling in the politics, tweaking the Pakistani state and giving opportunity to Baloch groups to strengthen their resistance.