What is driving the latest surge of violence in Balochistan?

In Focus by The Hindu · Feb 9, 2026 · 29m

In late January and early February this year, coordinated attacks across multiple districts in Pakistan’s Balochistan province marked one of the most intense phases of violence in decades. The Balochistan Liberation Army described the offensive as Operation Herof Phase II—a “Black Storm”—involving simultaneous strikes on security installations, transport routes, and administrative targets.

For Pakistan’s security establishment, the attacks raise urgent questions about control, intelligence, and the protection of strategic assets. For the region more broadly, they have revived long-standing…