United Baloch Army Explained
United Baloch Army (UBA; Urdu: {{nq|یونائیٹڈ بلوچ آرمی) was[4] a militant group, fighting for the separation of Balochistan. The group has been designated as a terrorist organisation by the Pakistani government. The government of Pakistan banned the group on 15 March 2013.[5] The group has also been classified as a terrorist organisation by Switzerland's government.
The group is led by Mehran Marri and was created as a result of an intrafamilial dispute between Mehran and his brother Hyrbyair Marri, the head of the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA). BLA fighters accused Mehran of stealing $3 million dollars from their funds and $800 million rupees worth of weapons from the BLA. The BLA and the Baloch Republican Army have both condemned UBA attacks as self-destructive.[6] Both Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and United Baloch Army (UBA) have clashed with each other. The deadliest clash took place in Dera Bugti where 20 militants from both groups were killed.[7] [8]
On 29 May 2015, United Baloch Army (UBA) militants stormed two buses in Mastung district that were in transit from Pishin to Karachi. The militants emptied the buses and then shot and killed 22 ethnic Pashtuns.[9]
United Baloch Army (UBA) also claimed responsibility for attack on the Jaffar Express in Sibi on 8 April 2014. The attack claimed the lives of 16 people and wounded 44 others.[10]
On 16 November 2017, Mehran Marri was arrested at Zurich Airport by Swiss immigration authorities. Mehran Marri was placed under a lifetime ban from entry into Switzerland. Swiss authorities issued a chargesheet in which they stated that Mehran Marri is the head of United Baloch Army (UBA).[11] The chargesheet further stated that "if Marri was to enter Switzerland and work with Brahamdagh Bugti to coordinate terrorist operations, it could jeopardize the internal security of the country".[12]
In January 2022, The Baloch Republican Army merged with the UBA, to form Baloch Nationalist Army (BNA).[13] [14] BRA and UBA also announced their dissolution following the establishment of Baloch Nationalist Army.[15]
Notes and References
- Web site: Banned outfit commander among 34 killed in Kalat operation. 10 April 2016. The News.
- Web site: 34 suspected militants killed in Kalat. 10 April 2016. Dawn News. dmy-all.
- Web site: Militant leader surrenders in Quetta. 5 June 2015. Dawn News. https://web.archive.org/web/20150605073205/https://www.dawn.com/news/1186242. 5 June 2015. live. dmy-all.
- Web site: Baloch Nationalist Army (BNA) formed from the merger of Baloch Republican Army (BRA) and United Baloch Army (UBA) . Defense Politics Asia . January 13, 2022.
- News: Names of 61 banned outfits in Pakistan, JuD under observation. Dispatch News Desk. December 18, 2015.
- News: Situationer: Who's who of Baloch insurgency. Dawn. 1 June 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150601040135/http://www.dawn.com/news/1185401/situationer-whos-who-of-baloch-insurgency. 1 June 2015. live. dmy-all.
- Web site: Up to 20 killed in clashes between separatist groups in Dera Bugti. https://web.archive.org/web/20150630112020/https://tribune.com.pk/story/912110/up-to-20-killed-in-clashes-between-separatist-groups-in-dera-bugti/. dead. 30 June 2015. 30 June 2015. Express Tribune.
- Web site: Clash between two militant groups leaves 20 dead in Dera Bugti. 30 June 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150702144100/https://www.dawn.com/news/1191250. 2 July 2015. live. dmy-all.
- Web site: Muhammad Akbar Notezai. 18 June 2015. Balochistan Grapples With Sectarian Violence. The Diplomat. https://web.archive.org/web/20150618211045/https://thediplomat.com/2015/06/balochistan-grapples-with-sectarian-violence/. 18 June 2015. live. dmy-all.
- Web site: UBA bomb attack on Jaffar Express in Sibi leaves 16 dead, 44 injured. https://web.archive.org/web/20180721193711/https://tribune.com.pk/story/692865/blast-on-jaffar-express-leaves-6-injures-20-others/. dead. 21 July 2018. 8 April 2014. Express Tribune.
- Web site: Baloch human rights activist Mehran Marri detained. 17 November 2017. Times of India. The Swiss chargesheet, a copy of which TOI received from sources, said Marri was "a Pakistani national of Great Britain and leader of United Baloch Army (UBA) terrorist organisation".. https://web.archive.org/web/20171117094849/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/baloch-human-rights-activist-mehran-marri-detained/articleshow/61682369.cms. 17 November 2017. live. dmy-all.
- Web site: Swiss banned Mehran Baluch over 'risks' to security. 17 November 2017. The News International. https://web.archive.org/web/20171118052402/https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/245377-swiss-banned-mehran-baluch-over-risks-to-security. 18 November 2017. live. dmy-all.
- News: 20 January 2022. Pakistani police: Bomb in city of Lahore kills 3, wounds 28. Associated Press.
- News: 20 January 2022. Bomb blast kills 2 people in Lahore; 26 injured. Gulf News.
- News: 20 January 2022. Anarkali Bomb Blast: BNA Claims Responsibility. Baaghi Tv.
