Balochistan: Security forces foil alleged BLA plan to use two girls as suicide bombers

Balochistan Home Minister Mir Ziaullah Langau says security forces have rescued two underage girls who were allegedly being prepared for suicide attacks by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) in an intelligence-based operation in southern Balochistan.

Speaking at a press conference in Quetta on Saturday, Mr Langau said the girls, identified as 16-year-old Zainab and her 12-year-old cousin Fatima, were taken into protective custody during the operation.

The minister said the case highlighted what he described as the “illegal and destructive tactics” of the BLA and its alleged efforts to exploit vulnerable families.

According to details presented at the briefing, Zainab told investigators that her husband, Saif, was killed by a local BLA commander after refusing to work for the group. She alleged that several other members of her family had also been killed by the same network.

The commander allegedly contacted Zainab repeatedly after her husband’s death and blamed state institutions for the killing in an attempt to persuade her to seek revenge.

Officials said Fatima was subsequently drawn into the network after her father was killed in a BLA attack and because of her close association with Zainab.

The girls were allegedly taken to a secret location, where officials said they remained for about 40 days. Authorities said they were subjected to physical abuse during their captivity.

Security forces eventually intervened after receiving intelligence while the girls were being moved between locations, according to the minister.

Because of their age and the circumstances in which they were allegedly recruited, authorities decided not to pursue strict legal action against the girls. Officials said they instead helped reunite them with their families and provided support to help them return to normal life.

Mr Langau said the operation demonstrated that security agencies were working to prevent attacks before they occurred, arguing that many such plots were stopped without becoming public.

The Pakistani government has previously designated militant groups operating in Balochistan as “Fitna al-Hindustan” and has accused India of supporting militant activity in the province. India has rejected accusations of sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan.

Officials at the press conference also alleged that the BLA receives support from foreign interests and that its leadership operates from locations outside Pakistan. These claims were presented by Pakistani authorities and were not independently verified.

Authorities further condemned the alleged recruitment of children for suicide attacks, saying such practices violated Islamic principles and traditional Baloch cultural values.

The two girls thanked security forces for rescuing them and appealed for forgiveness from the government and the public.