Balochistan Insurgency Monitor – July 2025

July 2025 marked a significant escalation in Balochistan’s insurgency, characterized by coordinated attacks, ethnic targeting, and intensified online propaganda. Official records confirm incidents in Mastung, Zhob, Loralai, Kalat, and southwestern regions, while militant groups like the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and Baloch Liberation Front (BLF) made unverified claims. This report leverages open-source intelligence from local media, government statements, and social media, distinguishing verified events from unsubstantiated narratives.

• July 1, Mastung Attack (Verified): Dozens of militants stormed a police station and two banks in Mastung, killing a 16-year-old boy and injuring nine. Security forces killed several attackers. The BLA is suspected due to its focus on government infrastructure near CPEC routes.
• July 10, Coordinated Attacks (Unverified): X posts reported simultaneous strikes in Kharan (CPEC blockade), Kalat and Dasht Goran (telecom towers burned), Kech (mortar strike on a camp), and Dasht (Levies post overrun). No official confirmation exists, though patterns suggest BLA/BLF involvement.
• July 10, Zhob-Loralai Bus Massacre (Verified): Nine Punjabi passengers were executed after ID checks on the Quetta-Lahore highway in Sur-Dakai. The BLF claimed responsibility; the BLA was initially blamed by Pakistan’s president. Local media corroborates the ethnic targeting.
• July 10–11, Operation Baam (Verified): The BLF executed 17 strikes across Kech, Panjgur, Surab, and Kharan, targeting CPEC infrastructure and security posts. The BLF claimed 50 security personnel killed and nine intelligence operatives executed, but Pakistan confirmed only the attacks, not casualties.
• July 11, Gunship Deployment (Unverified): X posts alleged Pakistani gunships responded to attacks in Kalat, Kharan, Dasht, and Kech. No evidence supports this claim.
• July 16, Kalat Bus Ambush (Verified): Gunmen killed three civilians and injured seven on a Quetta-Karachi bus in Kalat. No group claimed responsibility, but the method suggests ethnic targeting.
• July 19, Quetta Bombing (Verified): A bomb in Quetta killed an army major and injured three civilians. No group claimed responsibility, signaling urban escalation.
• July 20, Quetta Assassination and Artist Bus Attack (Unverified): X posts claimed the BLA assassinated an army major with a magnetic explosive and attacked a bus carrying artists, with security forces killing four militants. Unconfirmed.
• July 21, Drone Strikes (Unverified): X posts alleged Pakistani drone strikes killed 10–15 BLA militants, labeled “Indian-backed.” No official confirmation exists.
• July 22, Noshki Militant Liquidation (Unverified): X posts reported four BLA militants killed in Noshki and accused Pakistani forces of civilian targeting post-IED attack. Unverified.
• July 25, Multiple BLA Attacks (Partially Verified): The BLA claimed 10 attacks, citing 23 deaths, including Major Zeeyyad Salim Awal in Mastung (confirmed). Other claims (e.g., 13 in Kalat, Noshki “death squad head”) lack corroboration.

Verified incidents (16 deaths) reflect coordinated operations, ethnic targeting of Punjabis, and urban expansion. Unverified claims, often from militant-linked social media, exaggerate casualties and aim to amplify insecurity. Pakistan responded with investigations, arrests, and a July 26 Quetta meeting to counter “Indian-sponsored militants,” alongside development pledges. China, concerned for CPEC workers, urged enhanced security on July 25. Digital warfare escalated as Pakistan sought to block 481 militant accounts on July 25.

July 2025 highlights a shift to multi-pronged insurgent strategies targeting CPEC and state assets, amid an information war. Future monitoring should focus on urban attack trends, ethnic targeting, IED evolution, social media activity, and governance progress.

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Timeline of Balochistan Insurgency Events – July 2025

• July 1: Mastung Attack (Verified)
  • Militants attack police station and banks in Mastung; one civilian killed, seven injured. Security forces neutralize attackers. BLA suspected.
• July 10: Coordinated Attacks (Unverified)
  • X posts report attacks in Kharan, Kalat, Dasht Goran, Kech, and Dasht, targeting CPEC roads, telecom towers, and security posts. No official confirmation.
• July 10: Zhob-Loralai Bus Massacre (Verified)
  • Nine Punjabi passengers executed after ID checks on Quetta-Lahore highway. BLF claims responsibility; BLA initially suspected.
• July 10–11: Operation Baam (Verified)
  • BLF launches 17 strikes across Kech, Panjgur, Surab, Kharan, targeting government and CPEC infrastructure. Official casualty figures unconfirmed.
• July 11: Gunship Deployment (Unverified)
  • X posts claim Pakistani gunships deployed in response to attacks. No evidence provided.
• July 16: Kalat Bus Ambush (Verified)
  • Gunmen kill three civilians, injure seven on Quetta-Karachi bus in Kalat. No group claims responsibility.
• July 19: Quetta Bombing (Verified)
  • Bomb kills army major, injures three civilians in Quetta. No group claims responsibility.
• July 20: Quetta Assassination and Artist Bus Attack (Unverified)
  • X posts claim BLA assassinated an army major and attacked a bus carrying artists; four militants killed in response. Unconfirmed.
• July 21: Drone Strikes (Unverified)
  • X posts allege drone strikes killed 10–15 BLA militants. No confirmation; “Indian-backed” claim unproven.
• July 22: Noshki Militant Liquidation (Unverified)
  • X posts report four BLA militants killed in Noshki, allege civilian targeting post-IED attack. Unconfirmed.
• July 25: Multiple BLA Attacks (Partially Verified)
  • BLA claims 10 attacks, 23 deaths, including Major Zeeyyad Salim Awal in Mastung (confirmed). Other claims (e.g., 13 in Kalat, Noshki “death squad head”) unverified.