The spokesperson for the Baloch Liberation Front (BLF), Major Gwahram Baloch, issued a statement to the media, saying that 17 personnel from the Pakistan Army and allied death squads were killed, with several others wounded, during an operation in Barkhan. The BLF paid tribute to their fallen comrade, Imran Lango, also known as Marine, who belonged to an allied organization and was martyred in the operation.
According to the spokesperson, on the night of September 21, BLF sarmachars attacked a military post and a mobile tower in the Uchri area of Barkhan. The fighters set the tower and its equipment on fire. Immediately after the attack, death squad members rushed to the scene and began indiscriminate firing.
A group from the armed death squads pursued the BLF fighters, unaware that the fighters had already prepared an ambush.
Major Gwahram further explained that these occupied-state-backed death squads have been patrolling the area for a long time, engaging in extortion and harassing the Baloch population. The BLF attack on the Army post and mobile tower aimed to disrupt the activities of these squads, operating under the leadership of Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti and his brother Aftab Bugti. The goal was to drive them out of their secure zones and punish them for their extortion, which the BLF have successfully achieved.
The spokesperson said that after the operation, the fighters strategically waited at a secure location for the death squad members to pursue them. As expected, the squads followed, only to be ambushed by the waiting fighters.
Barkhan Operation
The confrontation began on the night of September 21 and continued into September 22. During the clash, 11 death squad members were killed, with many others injured, including Aftab Bugti, the brother of Sarfraz Bugti. Another skirmish took place on September 23, in which one more death squad member was killed. On September 24, two more death squad personnel were killed in a separate encounter.
The statement highlighted the involvement of fighters from allied groups, including the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and the Baloch Republican Guards (BRG), who supported the BLF fighters throughout the operation. After completing the operation, the fighters retreated to a safe hideout. However, on September 27, Pak forces and death squads attempted to surround the fighters in the Chathri Gorchani area, leading to another clash. In this engagement, three more security personnel were killed, but the BLA fighter Imran Lango, known as Marine, was martyred. The organization expressed deep respect and tribute for his sacrifice.
Major Gwahram Baloch described Imran Lango as a brave and patriotic warrior who had been part of the BLA for the past year and a half. He successfully blocked the enemy’s path, ensuring the safe escape of his comrades. Following the principle of “the last bullet,” he fought until the end and embraced martyrdom.
The spokesperson criticized Sarfraz Bugti, accusing him of trying to frame the BLF operation as a tribal conflict by aligning the Musuri Bugti tribe with the death squads. The BLF urged the Musuri Bugti tribespeople to distance themselves from Sarfraz Bugti and his associates, warning against becoming complicit in their crimes. The BLF emphasized that its fight is for the liberation of Balochistan and is not directed against any individual or tribe. However, any group or individual, Baloch or non-Baloch, collaborating with the occupying Pakistan military or intelligence agencies, will be treated as an enemy.
Major Gwahram Baloch concluded by asserting that the BLF fighters draw their strength from the people. He emphasized that the success of every BLF operation is made possible through public support, expressing confidence that, with continued public backing, Balochistan will achieve independence.