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One widely circulated video shows Baloch civilians bringing food to BLA fighters in Nushki, sitting with them and sharing meals. The visuals, which quickly spread across platforms, depict armed rebels interacting calmly with locals, a scene that sharply contrasts with official claims that the insurgents lack backing from locals.
A photograph showing locals standing unperturbed alongside armed rebels in Balochistan
UPDATED: Feb 1, 2026 04:46 IST
Even as Pakistani security agencies scramble to contain a wave of coordinated attacks by the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) across 12 cities in the province, images and videos showing apparent local support for Baloch rebels have gone viral on social media, reigniting debate over public sentiment in the restive region.
One widely circulated video shows Baloch civilians bringing food to BLA fighters in Nushki, sitting with them and sharing meals. The visuals, which quickly spread across platforms, depict armed rebels interacting calmly with locals, a scene that sharply contrasts with official claims that the insurgents lack backing from locals.
According to Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind, attacks were reported from multiple areas, including Nushki, Quetta, Gwadar, Makran, Hub, Chaman and Naseerabad. Security forces launched counter-operations across these regions following the assaults.
A photograph showing locals standing unperturbed alongside armed rebels drew strong reactions online. “This picture speaks volumes, showing people standing calmly amid terrorists,” one user wrote on X, reflecting the polarized interpretations of the images.
Balochistan has for decades witnessed an insurgency led by separatist groups demanding independence from Pakistan’s central government. The BLA, which is banned in Pakistan and designated a terrorist organization by the United States, has been responsible for a series of deadly attacks targeting security forces and state installations in recent years.
While Pakistan’s government and military insist that the local population does not support the separatists, the BLA continues to claim that it enjoys widespread backing among the people of Balochistan and that the insurgency reflects popular resistance against Islamabad.
The latest BLA offensive—described as the deadliest single-day assault in decades—left at least 70 militants and 10 security personnel dead, according to official figures. The attacks began late Friday night and continued into Saturday, targeting security forces, police installations and civilians at multiple locations, prompting large-scale counter-operations by the army and law enforcement agencies.
Pakistani officials said most of the attacks were thwarted and claimed the situation is now fully under control.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the security forces for foiling the attacks and paid tribute to the 10 personnel who were killed. “The entire nation is proud of its martyrs,” Sharif said, vowing to continue the fight against terrorism. “We will not rest until this menace is completely eradicated,” he added, stressing that the country stands shoulder to shoulder with its armed forces.
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Published By:
Nitish Singh
Published On:
Feb 1, 2026
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