Afghanistan–Pakistani terrorists sanctuary to keep Balochistan on the boil

Who is behind the attacks on forces in Balochistan?

 

By Jalal Noorzai

 

Inside Balochistan, there has been an increase in attacks on forces in the last one month. After October 8, 2001, when the Taliban regime in Afghanistan was overthrown, there were obvious incidents of insurgency, bombings, kidnappings for ransom and targeted killings in Balochistan. After the US occupation of Afghanistan and Indian hegemony, Balochistan became a haven for ethnic Baloch terrorist organizations.  

Afghanistan safe haven for Pakistani terrorists 

Afghanistan has also become a safe haven for these religious organizations since Operation Zarb-e-Azb, which began in June 2014 against the TTP and others in the former FATA. Even Syed Asghar Shah, head of Sindh's banned Sindh separatist organization, the Sindh Revolutionary Army, is based in Kandahar. The banned SRR is also involved in an alliance with other banned Baloch armed groups, the Baloch Liberation Front, the Baloch Liberation Army, the Baloch Republican Army and the Baloch Republican Guards, known as the "Baloch Raji Ajoi Singer'' or "Brass". It is as if all these organizations are sponsored by the Kabul government in Afghanistan and the vast network of Indian spies there. Despite the successes of Pakistan's intelligence agencies, the army and other forces, these organizations have not been dismantled. There is a government. That is why from time to time one or another tragedy occurs. In Afghanistan, members of the banned TTP, the banned ISIS and the banned Baloch armed groups are also targeted. On May 31, 2021, the Aslam Achho faction of the banned Baloch Liberation Army launched an attack on the FC in Marwar area. The area is located 80 to 90 km southeast of the provincial capital Quetta. Coal mines are spread over a wide area. The Frontier Corps has long been deployed to protect those involved in the industry. 

Coal miners-soft target 

 However, coal miners, contractors and mine owners are also dissatisfied with the forces. Who face problems and hardships from all sides. The attack took place at a time when the Pakistani Army Chief was on a visit to Quetta. One day after the attack, Prime Minister Imran Khan also arrived in Quetta to visit Ziarat. At Staff College Quetta, the two dignitaries addressed military officers. Later, he addressed a function at Quaid-e-Azam Residency in Ziarat. As a result, 12 officers were killed in the attack. However, the banned group put the number at 25 but this claim was not confirmed by independent sources. The group also took two officials with them, who were later killed.

 The organization released the identities of three of its operatives, released photos of them, who were shot dead by security forces. Hangal Murree alias Leela, Aftab Jattak alias Vashin and Chavez Zehri alias Sarang were associated with the organization for many years. Among them, Aftab Jattak was highly educated in economics from Punjab. An FC convoy was also attacked in Turbat on May 31, injuring four personnel, including Lt. Col. Atif. One officer later died.  

The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Balochistan said May 26 that four terrorists were killed in an encounter in the Aghberg area on the outskirts of Quetta. They were identified as Riazuddin, a resident of Pishin, Ramzan, Matiullah, a resident of Mastung and Fazlur Rehman Mehsud, a resident of South Waziristan.    

Mufti Khali of TTP 

On the next day, Mufti Khalid of the banned TTP was killed in Kunar Province, Afghanistan. His body was found on May 29. Mufti Khalid was one of the special confidants of Mullah Fazlullah. A resident of Buner area of ​​Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, this man was wanted by Pakistan in several serious terrorist incidents. Mufti Khalid was in charge of liaison between the TTP and the Indian intelligence agency RAW. ISIS Khorasan chief Aslam Farooqi (Abdullah) is also under the protection of the Kabul government. ISIS Khorasan chief was hiding from the Afghan Taliban in Nangarhar. When the siege took place on April 4, 2020, it immediately informed the Kabul forces. Helicopters came and took him away.  

BLA's HQ Kandhar 

Not all groups, whether from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa or Balochistan, are safe in Afghanistan. The BLA Aslam Achho faction carried out a suicide attack on the Chinese Consulate in Karachi inside Pakistan. They tried to infiltrate the Karachi Stock Exchange. Gwadar's Pearl Continental (PC) broke into the hotel. From there the Gwadar port and the Chinese were to be attacked. In Afghanistan, the TTP, a fugitive group, tried to assassinate the Chinese ambassador and other embassy staff at the Qhetta Serena Hotel in a suicide bombing a few weeks ago, including Chinese staff working the Siandak Company in Dalbandin. The coaster was attacked by a suicide bomber. The bomb was detonated by Aslam Achho's son. Aslam Achho was killed in a bomb attack along with four other militants in Aino Meena area of ​​Kandhar, Afghanistan. The incident took place in December 2018.  

The body of Hazrat Gul's son was found in Nimroz. Hazrat Gul was a facilitator for the accommodation of Baloch people from Pakistan in Afghanistan. Gulbahar Bugti of Dera Bugti along with his son Murad Ali were killed in a firing incident in Kandahar. It is also learned that another son, grandson and nephew of Gulbahar Bugti have also been targeted in Afghanistan. In April, four Bugti men were killed in the Spin Boldak area of ​​Afghanistan's border with Pakistan. Recently, on May 27, 2021, another important commander of the banned BLA, Abdul Nabi Bangalzai, was assassinated in Kandahar. The organisation's spokesman Jain Baloch confirmed this. Abdul Nabi Bangalzai alias aka Chhota Mir has been on the path of extremism/terrorism since 2002. He was involved in a number of kidnappings of investors, lawyers and businessmen. He used to receive huge sums of money as ransom in exchange for release. They do this for their own expenses and financial needs. On the other hand, pro-government supporters also commit such heinous crimes as kidnapping, extortion and land grabbing.  

More than 20 FC personnel have been killed in more than half a dozen attacks in different parts of the province in the past one month. On May 9, three personnel were killed in an attack on an FC outpost in Marwar. On May 5, seven FC personnel were killed when TTP militants attacked border guards in the Zhob district bordering Afghanistan.

Jalal Noorzai is a renowed journalist from Quetta and has been covering terrorism in Balochistan.