The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has announced the successful conclusion of a 20-hour operation named “Operation Herof.” According to a detailed statement released by BLA spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch, the operation resulted in the deaths of 130 enemy personnel. However, the operation also saw the loss of nine BLA Majeed Brigade fidayeen (self-sacrificers) and one member of the Fateh Squad.
The BLA spokesperson provided details of the fighters who lost their lives during the operation. Among them was Operational Commander Ghaus Bakhsh Sumalani, also known as Talib, who hailed from Tarkari in the Shahrag area. Sumalani had been affiliated with the BLA since 2019 and had served on the Bolan front for the cause of Baloch national freedom. The statement said that his father, Mishdar Sumalani, was also a BLA fighter who died in a fierce battle against the Pakistani army in November 2022. Ghaus Bakhsh’s younger brother, Muhammad Bakhsh Sumalani, was also a member of the Majeed Brigade and died fighting during the “Operation Herof.” Ghaus Bakhsh served as the operational commander during the attack on the Bela headquarters, where he led his team and engaged in intense combat, reportedly killing several enemy personnel before succumbing to his injuries after 20 hours of fighting.
The BLA said that another fighter, Mahal Baloch, also known as Zilan Kurd, from Surbandar, Gwadar, was among the fallen. The 22-year-old was a law student in the eighth semester at Law College Turbat before joining the BLA in 2022. She was involved in the attack on Bela headquarters, initiating the operation by ramming an explosive-laden vehicle into the main gate of the ‘enemy’ headquarters, enabling other fighters to enter the camp. The spokesperson highlighted her as a symbol of political awareness among Baloch women, emphasizing her role in demonstrating gender equality within the Baloch national liberation movement.
Among the other fallen fighters was Rizwan Baloch, known as Hammal, from Panwan, Gwadar. Aged 22, Rizwan joined the BLA in 2022 and participated in the operation by driving a second explosive-laden vehicle into the Bela headquarters, reportedly causing significant disruption to the Pakistani forces.
Muhammad Baloch, known as Meerak, from Surap Tasp, Panjgur, was also mentioned in the statement. He reportedly joined the BLA in 2022 and became part of the Majeed Brigade in 2023. He was related to Rais, a BLA fighter involved in the 2018 attack on the Chinese consulate in Karachi.
The BLA recognized Fazal Gul Zehri, also known as Shawaiz, from Pirshahar Zehri, Khuzdar, for his sniper skills, reportedly killing more than a dozen enemy soldiers during the Bela attack.
Another fighter, Tayyab, known as Lala, from Ahmedwal, Nushki, was also killed during the operation. Tayyab, who had previously served in the Pakistani army before leaving the service due to “a sense of subjugation,” joined the BLA in 2023 and was involved in the 20-hour battle, eventually taking his own life when his ammunition ran out.
Junaid Zehri, known as Kami, from Samwani Zehri, Khuzdar, was a 20-year-old who joined the BLA in 2023. He reportedly fought continuously for over 20 hours during the operation.
The spokesperson also mentioned that two other Majeed Brigade fighters, Muhammad Asif Nichari, known as Naveed, from Manguchar, Kalat, and Muhammad Bakhsh Sumalani, known as Khalid, from Tarkari, Shahrag, were en route to join the operation when they encountered Pakistani forces in Mastung on August 19, 2024. Both fighters engaged in a battle, reportedly killing seven enemy personnel before being killed themselves.
The statement said that in addition, the Fateh Squad lost one of its members, Shafqat Mengal, also known as Dayar, from Nag, Washuk, who died fighting Pakistani forces in Mastung’s Khad Kocha area. Shafqat was a student at the University of Balochistan and an active participant in Baloch student politics. He joined the BLA in 2023 and became part of the Fateh Squad, where he was involved in several key battles, the group said.
The BLA spokesperson praised the sacrifices of these fighters, stating that their contributions were crucial to the success of “Operation Herof.” The spokesperson emphasized that these sacrifices would not be forgotten and reaffirmed the BLA’s commitment to establishing an independent Baloch state as a realization of the fallen fighters’ dreams.