Baloch Republican Army Explained

Baloch Republican Army
Native Name:بلوچ ریپبلکن آرمی
Native Name Lang:ur
War:Insurgency in Balochistan
Active:2006–2022
Ideology:Baloch nationalism
Leader:Brahumdagh Bugti[1] [2]
Area:Balochistan, Pakistan
Kandahar, Afghanistan[3]
Successor:Baloch Nationalist Army

The Baloch Republican Army (BRA) (Urdu: بلوچ ریپبلکن آرمی) was an armed militant group in Balochistan, Pakistan. In September 2010, the Government of Pakistan banned the Baloch Republican Army.[4]

Brahumdagh Bugti was the head of BRA, until its merger with United Baloch Army (UBA). In 2017 Bugti's asylum request was rejected by Swiss authorities. The Swiss authorities said that Bugti's asylum request was rejected because he was involved in terror-related activities.

In January 2022, BRA merged with UBA, to form Baloch Nationalist Army (BNA).[5] [6] BRA and UBA also announced their dissolution following the establishment of Baloch Nationalist Army.[7]

History

The Baloch Republican Army was formed after the military operation in Dera Bugti and murder of a renowned Baloch leader, Nawab Akbar Bugti, by the Pakistan Army in 2006. In the beginning, the group was mostly joined by Bugti tribesmen but later years it gained popularity among Baloch students and in urban areas of Balochistan to fight against the “Pakistani oppression”. It is currently led by Brahumdagh Bugti.[8]

In 2017, Bugti's asylum request was rejected by the Swiss government on the basis of Bugti's links with “incidents of terrorism, violence and militant activities".[9] [10] The same year also saw surrender of 143 militants belonging to Baloch Republican Army to the Pakistani authorities.[11]

In 2018, another group of 70 militants belonging to Baloch Republican Army and their commander surrendered to Pakistani authorities.[12]

In 2021, BRA claimed responsibility for destroying a statue of Pakistan's founding father, Muhammad Ali Jinnah.[13]

In January 2022, the Baloch Republican Army (BRA) and the United Baloch Army (UBA) announced their dissolution and the formation of a new organisation the Baloch Nationalist Army (BNA).[7]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Balochistan Republican Army | Mapping Militant Organizations. web.stanford.edu.
  2. Web site: Situationer: Who's who of Baloch insurgency. Naziha Syed. Ali. 1 June 2015. DAWN.COM.
  3. Web site: Pakistani militants against Belt and Road targeted in Afghanistan. NIKKEI Asia. 9 January 2021.
  4. News: Five militant outfits banned in Balochistan. Anita. Joshua. The Hindu . 9 September 2010. www.thehindu.com.
  5. News: Pakistani police: Bomb in city of Lahore kills 3, wounds 28. 20 January 2022. Associated Press.
  6. News: Bomb blast kills 2 people in Lahore; 26 injured. 20 January 2022. Gulf News.
  7. News: Anarkali Bomb Blast: BNA Claims Responsibility. 20 January 2022. Baaghi Tv.
  8. Web site: Reconciliation in Balochistan?. Muhammad Amir Rana . Dawn News. 11 July 2021.
  9. News: Switzerland rejects Brahumdagh's asylum request after seven years. 23 November 2017. The News. Murtaza Ali Shah. https://web.archive.org/web/20201130023935/https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/247666-switzerland-rejects-brahumdagh-s-asylum-request-after-seven-years. 30 November 2020. live.
  10. Web site: Switzerland rejects Brahumdagh's plea for asylum. Brahumdagh Bugti’s asylum application was turned down because of his links with “incidents of terrorism, violence and militant activities” and the rejection letter clearly sets out these allegations. 23 November 2017. Business Recorder. https://web.archive.org/web/20210308143338/https://epaper.brecorder.com/2017/11/23/4-page/683864-news.html//. 8 March 2021. live.
  11. Web site: Pakistan says over 300 Baloch separatist militants surrender. Gul Yousafzai. Reuters. 10 December 2017.
  12. Web site: At least 70 militants, including commander, surrender in Balochistan. M Zafar. Express Tribune. 20 November 2018.
  13. News: 27 September 2021. Jinnah's statue destroyed in blast in Balochistan. The Hindu.