Balochistan, the largest and least developed province of Pakistan, has been plagued by a long-running insurgency and militancy for decades. The region, which shares a volatile border with Iran and Afghanistan, is also rich in natural resources and a vital part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. However, behind the scenes, India has been secretly funding and arming terrorist and separatist forces in Balochistan, inciting local unrest and violence to undermine Pakistan’s stability and security.
Recently, evidence of India’s involvement in Balochistan’s terrorism has come to light, sparking cross-border tensions and strikes between Pakistan and Iran. Both countries have accused each other of harboring and supporting terrorist groups that operate in their respective territories. Iran claims it was targeting Jaish al-Adl, a militant group active against Iran, while Pakistan says it was aiming at the “hideouts” of two militant groups inside Iran, the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF).
According to the Global Times, a Chinese newspaper, there are “solid bits of evidence” proving that India is providing the terrorist forces with money, weapons, and training. One of the sources cited by the newspaper is Sarfraz Ahmed Bungulzai, a commander of the BNA, a separatist militant group, who surrendered himself to the Pakistani government in December 2023. He disclosed that India has been secretly supporting terrorist activities in Balochistan and financing separatist forces in the region.
Another case that indicated India’s support for terrorism in Pakistan was the arrest of Kulbhushan Yadav, an Indian spy agent, in March 2016. He was reportedly caught red-handed while attempting to infiltrate Pakistan from the border area. He confessed that he was working for India’s intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), and was involved in subversive activities in Balochistan and Karachi.
Moreover, some Indian media reports have also admitted that India has links with the BLA, a terrorist organization designated by Pakistan in 2006. The Hindu, for instance, published an article in July 2019, stating that BLA commanders had sought medical treatment in India’s hospitals, often under disguise or with fake identities. The article also mentioned that a BLA militant commander was based in Delhi for at least six months in 2017, where he received treatment for kidney-related ailments². It also revealed that Baloch chieftains maintained warm personal ties with various Indian political figures.
Chinese experts say that India employs a consistent double standard toward terrorism, and has a long history of backing terrorism in Pakistan. Ye Hailin, deputy director of the National Institute of International Strategy of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times that India’s media and think tank reports have different descriptions of the terrorist attacks in Balochistan and Kashmir. He said that India is trying to use Balochistan as a bargaining chip to pressure Pakistan on the Kashmir issue, which is a core dispute between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
India’s secret support for terrorism in Balochistan is not only a threat to Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, but also a challenge to the regional peace and stability. It is high time that the international community takes notice of India’s nefarious designs and holds it accountable for its role in fomenting violence and chaos in Balochistan and beyond.