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Author | Cyber Hunter Notes

Editor of this issue | Zhang Mimi

Reviewer of this issue | Shan Minmin

Image source: the Internet

"Baloch Liberation Army" (BLA) has long been characterized by its tactics of attacking Pakistani military and security forces. However, observations at the end of April 2025 indicate signs of evolution in this strategy—BLA is gradually expanding its strategic focus to the economic sphere while maintaining traditional military targets. In the Chuto area of Mastung, BLA attacked mineral transport vehicles described as "participating in the looting of Baloch national resources." Although not the first such incident, this action, as part of the organization's recent activities, deserves close attention.

I. Strategic Continuity: Evolution from Military to Economic Targets

(1) The Evolution of Operational Objectives

Since its establishment in the 2000s, BLA's operational objectives have undergone a gradual evolution. During the initial phase (between 2000 and 2015), BLA mainly targeted military facilities and security forces. As the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project advanced in Balochistan province, signs of expansion in BLA's operational objectives emerged, with increasing attention given to targets related to economic interests.

The attack on mineral transport vehicles in Mastung in late April 2025 should be viewed as an observation point within BLA's operational pattern, rather than definitive evidence of a strategic shift. Notably, BLA's framing of such actions—defining them as necessary measures to protect national resources—reflects its efforts to establish the legitimacy of economic operations.

(2) Continuation of Traditional Military Operations

BLA's activities this week remain primarily focused on military and security targets:

- April 21: Temporary control of Lewis Police Post and main road in Hoshab area

- April 24-25: Multi-point military attacks in Zamuran, Kolwah, and Kalat

- April 25: IED attack on a military convoy near Margat, Quetta

- April 26-27: Operations targeting military objectives in Turbat and Hoshab

This indicates that BLA's primary strategic focus remains on military targets, with economic targets possibly serving as a supplement rather than a replacement.

(3) Strategic Value of Economic Targets

The attack on mineral transport vehicles in the Chuto area of Mastung on April 27 carries multiple strategic significances:

1. Cost-effectiveness: Compared to well-defended military facilities, economic targets are typically less protected, resulting in lower attack costs.

2. Symbolic significance: Directly challenging Pakistan's control over Baloch resources.

3. Strategic narrative: Combining military operations with the narrative of "resource nationalism" to enhance political impact.

This kind of operation suggests that BLA may be attempting to expand its strategic toolkit, incorporating limited economic objectives into its overall operational strategy.

II. Resource Nationalism: The Theoretical Basis of Strategic Thinking

(1) The "Resource Colonialization" Narrative of Baloch

BLA defines the attack on mineral transport vehicles as an act of resistance against the "looting of Baloch national resources," a statement deeply rooted in the core discourse of Baloch nationalism. Baloch intellectuals have long argued that the province possesses abundant natural gas, coal, copper, and gold resources, but the benefits of their development primarily flow to the federal government and foreign investors, creating a state of "resource colonialization." BLA's actions are essentially a militarized manifestation of this theory.

From the perspective of the "Means-Ways-Ends" strategic analysis framework, attacking mineral transport vehicles is a means, blocking the outflow of resources is a way, and the ultimate goal is to challenge Pakistan's control over Baloch resources, thereby advancing political objectives.

(2) The Factor of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is an important context for understanding BLA's actions. CPEC, the flagship project of China's Belt and Road Initiative, has built the Gwadar Port, roads, and energy infrastructure in Balochistan province, with a total investment of $62 billion.

Especially the development of Gwadar Port could attract BLA's strategic attention. Located not far from Mastung, it serves as a key node connecting resource development to external markets. Attacking mineral transport can be seen as a strike against this resource circulation chain.

(3) Changes in Organizational Structure and Personnel Composition

Changes in BLA's internal structure and personnel composition are factors influencing its strategic thinking. In recent years, BLA has incorporated more highly educated members. Members like Sharif Baloch (a teacher with multiple university degrees), Sangat Mehzain, and Sangat Didaq show that BLA has evolved from a purely tribal armed group into an organization with intellectual backgrounds.

Such educated members may be more inclined to place military operations within a broader political and economic framework, considering resource control as part of strategic goals.

III. Tactical Execution: From Ideology to Action

(1) Target Selection and Intelligence Capabilities

BLA's operation of attacking mineral transport vehicles demonstrates its ability to identify and track specific economic targets. This is not a random attack, but rather based on knowledge of mineral transport routes, timing, and vehicle characteristics. The precise selection of targets indicates that BLA may be developing intelligence collection capabilities beyond merely targeting military objectives.

(2) Role of Professional Combat Units

BLA's organizational structure changes are closely related to its operational capabilities. BLA has professional combat units such as the Majeed Brigade and the Special Tactical Operations Squad (STOS). The former mainly handles high-impact attacks, while the latter focuses on precision strikes and complex tactical operations.

Especially STOS, whose members like Sangat Didaq possess combat capabilities in different environments, this diversity of abilities provides a tactical foundation for executing different types of operations.

(3) Operational Coordination and Strategic Rhythm

BLA's activities in multiple regions this week indicate its capability for cross-regional coordination. From a strategic rhythm perspective, BLA employs a diversified combination of operations, including attacks on military targets, temporary control of specific areas, and strikes on economic targets, demonstrating tactical diversity and flexibility.

This operational model suggests that BLA may be forming a more complex strategic approach, rather than a single type of strike strategy.

IV. Comprehensive Analysis: Strategic Evolution and Its Significance

Although the recent BLA attacks on mineral transport vehicles are currently only a single event, when viewed in historical context, their potential strategic significance should be noted.

(1) Dual Challenges of Security and Economy

BLA's attention to economic targets creates dual challenges of security and economy:

1. Increased Protection Difficulty: Compared to fixed military targets, scattered economic lines are harder to protect. Mineral transport lines usually span remote areas, making full monitoring difficult. Traditional concentrated force counter-terrorism models struggle to effectively respond to these dispersed threats.

2. Economic Chain Reactions: Disruption of mineral resource transportation could lead to a series of economic chain reactions, including production delays, investor confidence damage, and higher security costs for projects like CPEC. These impacts go far beyond the direct losses of a single attack.

3. Cost Asymmetry: The cost of BLA implementing such attacks is relatively low, while the protective side needs to invest significant resources to protect long-distance economic lines, creating a clear cost asymmetry, which may be one of the strategic factors considered by BLA in targeting economic objectives.

(2) Strategic Significance and Prospects

BLA's attack on mineral transport vehicles and its description of the action as "protecting national resources" reflects several important strategic trends:

1. Strategic Narrative Shift: BLA is trying to combine military operations with the narrative of "resource nationalism" to grant greater political legitimacy to its actions. This narrative shift may enhance its recognition among the Baloch people.

2. Composite Resistance Model: BLA seems to be moving from pure military confrontation to a composite form of resistance that combines political and economic demands. This evolution is not a complete strategic transformation, but a subtle adjustment of focus and an expansion of the tactical toolkit.

3. Deepening Political Impact: Introducing resource control into the conflict framework may shift the Baloch issue from a simple security challenge to a political and economic problem of resource distribution, increasing the complexity of resolving the conflict.

To determine the actuality and continuity of this strategic adjustment, the following key indicators should be monitored in the future:

- Whether the frequency of economic target attacks increases

- Whether the proportion of "resource nationalism" in BLA's propaganda changes

- Whether the organizational structure makes adjustments to adapt to the new strategy

- The degree of participation of professional combat units in economic target operations

This article is reprinted from the WeChat official account "Cyber Hunter Notes" on April 29, 2025, titled "【Pakistan】Resource Struggle: Evolution of BLA's Strategic Focus."

Original text: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7562236469478179366/

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