image source; Arab news

BLA can be best described as a nationalist organisation that seeks independence for Balochistan while TTP has a completely different agenda and is primarily an Islamic militant organisation. The BLA is a secular nationalist organization that seeks independence for Balochistan while TTP wants the implementation of Taliban’s own version of Sharia law in Pakistan. Although their political beliefs are different, for the last few years, there are signs of these groups cooperating tactically.

The BLA was relatively quiet for most of the year until recent attacks took place.

On the 26 of August 2024 the Baloch Liberation Army launched highly coordinated strikes in Balochistan province which led to the death of more than 70 people and was one of the deadliest surge in the conflict in the region. These attacks took place on the occasion of 18th martyrdom anniversary of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, who’s death in 2006 further triggered the Baloch movement. They poses questions of improvement of the BLA cells, and more important, the external networks that the group may have.

In this paper I will argue that the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and the Tehreek Taliban Pakistan (TTP) collaborate together.

According to the information gathered from the government sources, BLA has been beefing up its strength which might have connections to RAW, India’s intelligence agency with the help of TTP. Although these assertions as of yet are rather hypothetical, there is evidence of indirect interaction between the groups. Both organisations are said to have provided the media content in favor of each other’s action; the TTP has encouraged the BLA attacks and vice-versa.

In its tactics, the BLA has borrowed some of the TTP’s practices: suicide bombings are not typical for Baloch fighters. In addition, the TTP has expressed a public support for Baloch separatists, broadcasting their message using the separatists’ media outlets such as Baloch missing persons and state persecution.

The Major Challenges That Stand in the Way of a Partnership Stop

These interactions have been observed yet a formal alliance between the BLA and TTP is improbable on the basic of ideological incompatibility. The BLA is concerned with the TTP’s previous actions of entering into talks with the Pakistani government and the possible ditching of the former once the talks progress and the TTP is possibly integrated into the state structure. Also, their nationalism is secular and their desire of a free Balochistan cannot be in consonance with the desired goal of TTP which is to enforce sharia law.

Conclusion

As far as the opportunities for tactical coordination between the BLA and the TTP are concerned, the identified prospects are rather scarce; however, a sustainable cooperation appears to be very unlikely due to the substantive discrepancies of interests. It is hypothetically very difficult for secular Nationalist BLA and religious militant TTP to come close and collaborate owing to multitude of divergent issues. However, the changing nature of the situation in Balochistan and Afghanistan may lead to temporary similar interests of both the groups in the future in case if they will both benefit from subversion of Pakistan.

Sources : https://www.dawn.com/news/

Read More News here: https://whatshappening.pk/kpk-police-protest-safety-demands/