Baloch leader Dr Allah Nazar Baloch reported dead

Islamabad: The home minister of southwestern Balochistan province of Pakistan Tuesday reported the death of the top leader of banned secessionist Baloch Liberation Front (BLF), but said a final confirmation was awaited.

Sarfraz Bugti reportedly told a news conference in the provincial capital Quetta that BLA chief Dr Allah Nazar Baloch was believed to have been killed in an operation by security forces recently.

The separatist leader’s killing has been rumoured since July 18 when security forces conducted an operation in Balochistan’s Awaran district, but the reports were denied by a BLF spokesman at the time.

Bugti also announced that security forces have destroyed a communication network of terrorists in an operation in Balochistan’s Dalbandin region.

He said seven terrorists along with weapons were arrested during the operation.

“Security forces seized 600 mobile SIMs, 1000 antennae and ammunition from the communication centre,” Bugti said.

Bugti revealed that the suspected terrorists were using Indian, Afghan, Iranian and European SIMs to carry out subversive activities in the province.

Dr Allah Nazar Baloch, who hailed from Awarn district, had been directing attacks in various parts of Balochistan against security force, civilians and national installations.

The BLF had claimed responsibility for many attacks including the one in Turbat in April in which 20 labourers were shot dead.

The report about killing of the BLF leader follows recent claims by authorities that hundreds of ethnic Baloch militants from different groups had surrendered.

Authorities in Balochistan have also report progress in efforts to initiate a dialogue with some Baloch leaders living in exile and others in order to find a political solution to the prolonged unrest.

BLF’s area of operations reportedly stretches across Awaran, Panjgur, Washuk, Turbat and Gwadar districts in southern Balochistan.