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Bugti rules out political solution as BLA attacks claim lives in Balochistan

Published on: February 2, 2026 10:37 AM

QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti has said that the challenges facing the province are not political in nature and can only be addressed through a military response, as he confirmed heavy casualties following recent attacks by the outlawed Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).

Read More: Balochistan frees families of banned BLF, BLA militants

Speaking on Geo News programme Naya Pakistan, the chief minister said at least 31 civilians and 17 security personnel embraced martyrdom during coordinated attacks carried out across several districts of Balochistan. He rejected claims circulating on social media that thousands of militants were involved, saying the actual number of attackers was far lower.

“The figures of 1,000 to 2,000 being quoted are completely incorrect,” Bugti said. “Their maximum number was not more than 200 to 250, and most of them have either been chased out or killed.” He added that militants deliberately use civilians as human shields, particularly during attacks in urban areas.

Bugti estimated the total strength of terrorists, their facilitators, and sympathisers in the province to be between 4,000 and 5,000. Linking the resurgence of militancy to policy shifts after 2018, he said a strategy of appeasement allowed militant groups to regroup and reorganise.

“Before 2018, they were on the run. After the policy changed, they became organised by 2021 and even stronger in 2023 and 2024,” he said, adding that his government reviewed the approach after taking office in 2024.

Commenting on reports about senior militant commander Bashir Zeb, Bugti said official assessments strongly suggested he was operating from Afghanistan, though the information could not be independently verified. He reiterated that Afghan soil was being used against Pakistan.

Read More: 145 terrorists killed in 40-hour Balochistan clearance operation

The remarks came after Bugti confirmed that at least 145 terrorists were killed in nearly 40 hours following coordinated BLA attacks across 12 towns, including Quetta, Gwadar, Panjgur and Pasni. He said the bodies of the terrorists were in official custody and accused India-sponsored elements of attempting to destabilise Pakistan.

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