Sajid Aziz
Introduction
This Insight explores the evolving nature of the Baloch separatist insurgency in Pakistan, with a particular focus on how militant groups like the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) have used platforms such as Rumble and Telegram to disseminate propaganda, project their guerilla capabilities, and sustain public interest in their militant activities. It also analyses the extremist group’s messaging strategies, the role of encrypted communication tools in bypassing traditional media gatekeepers, the challenges posed by cross-platform information sharing and the implications for Pakistan’s counter-insurgency efforts.
On 3 September 2024, the BLA, a separatist militant group fighting for an independent state in Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest and most marginalised province, shared a video on its Telegram channel. It begins by showing a dummy paramilitary base, with its layout carefully mapped out. It includes miniaturized structures, vehicles, a walkway, and a small replica of a helicopter. The video also features the leader of the mission, with a stick in hand as he briefs his comrades. The camera then shifts to focus on one of the two gates of the mock base, where an image of Mahal Baloch, a female suicide bomber, pops up. A few moments later, a silver car parked outside the gate explodes, spilling a plume of smoke and dust into the air. Following this, a new version of Bella Ciao, rendered in the Balochi language, is played with lyrics glorifying the Baloch militants. Later on, the video transitions to red spots on a Google map, marking the districts targeted in attacks, followed by raw footage of actual assaults.
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