In the dead of night between July 8th and 9th, the restive province of Balochistan was shaken by a wave of violence as the BLF launched Operation Baam on Pakistan, executing a meticulously planned series of attacks. Dubbed Operation Baam, meaning “Dawn”, the offensive struck seventeen locations across remote districts, including Panjgur, Surab, Kech, and Kharan. The synchronised nature of the assaults, unfolding nearly simultaneously, marked a rare display of coordination and tactical precision, signalling a bold new phase in the long-running Baloch insurgency.
The attacks targeted military checkpoints, communication infrastructure, and government offices, plunging parts of the region into darkness as explosions severed phone and internet lines. While the full extent of the damage remains unclear, scattered reports suggest both material destruction and possible casualties. Pakistani authorities have yet to release an official statement, leaving local media to speculate on the true toll of the operation.
A Statement of Strength: BLF Declares a “New Dawn”
As the dust settled, BLF spokesperson Major Gwahram Baloch claimed responsibility, framing Operation Baam as a turning point in their struggle. The attacks, he asserted, were a deliberate demonstration of the group’s expanding capabilities—proof that they could strike across vast and varied terrain, from the Makran coast to the Koh-e-Suleman mountains. Major Baloch described the offensive as a strategic escalation, aimed at inflicting both human and infrastructural losses on Pakistani forces.
His statement painted a picture of an insurgency entering a more sophisticated phase, one where the BLF could launch precise, widespread attacks to pressure both military and civilian authorities. The timing of the operation, coming months after high-profile actions by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), suggests a growing boldness among separatist factions. Earlier this year, the BLA hijacked the Jaffar Express train in a dramatic show of force, prompting a military crackdown. Now, the BLF’s latest offensive raises the stakes further, challenging Islamabad’s grip on the troubled province.
Government Scrambles Amid Communication Blackouts
In the aftermath, Pakistan’s military and Frontier Corps rushed reinforcements to the affected districts, conducting sweeping security operations in Panjgur, Kech, Surab, and Kharan. However, communication breakdowns have hampered rescue and recovery efforts, leaving many areas cut off from the outside world. The lack of an official government report has fueled uncertainty, with local sources offering conflicting accounts of casualties and damage.
BLF launched Operation Baam, launched 17 simultaneous attacks across Pak-occupied #Balochistan.
Targets included army posts, government facilities & telecom infrastructure. Casualties among Pakistan Army & FC reported.Signs of disintegration are way more evident!@AdityaRajKaul pic.twitter.com/SdPTf7ZMGf
— Nighat Abbas (@Nighat_Abbass) July 10, 2025
What is clear, however, is that the Pakistani state has not downplayed the scale of the attacks. The silence from authorities speaks volumes, suggesting that Operation Baam was not just another sporadic raid but a significant blow. The BLF’s ability to disrupt communications and strike multiple targets in rapid succession points to a troubling evolution in insurgent tactics—one that could force a reassessment of Pakistan’s counterinsurgency strategy.
BLF launched Operation Baam: Signals a Dangerous Shift
For over two decades, Baloch separatist groups have waged a low-intensity war against the Pakistani state, fueled by grievances over economic exploitation, political marginalization, and heavy-handed military presence. Past attacks have often been isolated, hit-and-run strikes or bombings with limited reach. But Operation Baam breaks from that pattern, showcasing a level of planning and execution rarely seen before.
The ability to launch near-simultaneous attacks across multiple districts suggests improved logistics, intelligence, and possibly even external support. It also underscores a growing confidence among insurgents, who appear undeterred by recent military operations like Green Bolan, which sought to root out militant strongholds. If the BLF can sustain this level of coordination, it could mark the beginning of a more protracted and destabilizing conflict in Balochistan.
A Province on Edge: What Comes Next?
The immediate aftermath has left Balochistan on high alert. Checkpoints are reinforced, patrols intensified, and civilians brace for further violence. The psychological impact of such a widespread offensive cannot be understated residents now face the reality of an insurgency capable of striking at will, with little warning.
In the days ahead, more details will likely emerge official casualty figures, government responses, and potential retaliatory strikes. But the message from the BLF is already clear: they are no longer a fragmented force confined to sporadic attacks. Operation Baam has announced their arrival as a formidable, organized threat, one capable of bringing the fight to Pakistan’s doorstep with unprecedented scale and precision.
For Islamabad, the challenge is now greater than ever. The insurgency in Balochistan has entered a new phase, and if Operation Baam is any indication, the dawn of this new era will be anything but peaceful.