Daijiworld Media Network - Quetta

Quetta, Feb 2: The banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), which claimed responsibility for the large-scale coordinated attacks across cities and towns in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, has released images of two women involved in the assaults. One of them has been identified as 24-year-old Asifa Mengal. The deadly attacks claimed nearly 50 lives, including at least 17 security personnel, officials said.

Following the attacks, Pakistani security forces launched an extensive counter-operation that lasted nearly 40 hours, killing over 140 militants so far, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti said on Sunday. Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif also confirmed that at least two of the attacks involved female perpetrators.

In a statement, the BLA said Asifa Mengal was the daughter of Mohammad Ismail and a resident of Nushki district in Balochistan. Born on October 2, 2002, she joined the outfit’s Majeed Brigade on her 21st birthday. According to the BLA, she decided to become a ‘fidayee’ or suicide attacker in January 2024 and targeted an ISI headquarters in Nushki during the attacks on Saturday.

The identity of the second woman attacker has not yet been disclosed. However, a video that has surfaced shows her along with male BLA members, mocking the Pakistani government before carrying out the attack. In the video, she is heard saying that the government only displays its power over “oppressed mothers and sisters” and lacks the ability to confront Baloch fighters directly. She also urged the Baloch people to rise up and support the insurgents, stating there could be no compromise with what she described as the enemy.

The attacks, among the deadliest flare-ups in recent years, began on Friday night and continued through Saturday. Pakistan’s junior interior minister Talal Chaudhry said militants, dressed as civilians, entered schools, banks, hospitals and markets before opening fire.

Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind said attacks were reported from several regions, including Nushki, Hub, Chaman, Naseerabad, Gwadar and Makran. Chief Minister Bugti said authorities had prior intelligence about such an operation being planned, enabling security forces to respond swiftly.

The BLA said it had launched the second phase of its operation, dubbed ‘Herof’ or ‘black storm’, targeting security forces across the province. The Pakistani military stated that all attempts by militants to seize control of cities or strategic installations were successfully repelled.

Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest and poorest province bordering Afghanistan and Iran, has witnessed a decades-long insurgency led by Baloch separatist groups demanding independence and a greater share of the region’s natural resources.