Police in Sindh detained a teenage girl who authorities say was radicalized online by the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army and recruited to carry out a major suicide attack. She was stopped during a routine bus check while traveling from Balochistan to Karachi and will be placed under state protection rather than charged. Officials say she reported months of contact with militants via Facebook and Instagram, and police released a video statement detailing her online recruitment. Authorities warned the BLA and other separatist groups are increasingly targeting recruits, including women.
Teen Detained After Online Radicalization in Suspected BLA Suicide Plot
This is a locator map for Pakistan with its capital, Islamabad, and the Kashmir region. (AP Photo)
KARACHI, Pakistan — Police in Sindh province have detained a teenage girl whom authorities say was radicalized and recruited online by the banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) to carry out what officials described as a "major suicide attack." Sindh Provincial Home Minister Ziaul Hassan announced the detention at a news conference and said no criminal charges will be filed; the girl will be placed under state protection as a victim rather than treated as a suspect.
How She Was Stopped
Officials say the girl was stopped during a routine police check of buses while travelling from southwestern Balochistan to Karachi to meet a suspected handler. After being taken to a police facility, she disclosed months of contact with militants through social media platforms including Facebook and Instagram.
"The girl appeared confused when police officers asked her routine questions," Home Minister Ziaul Hassan said, adding that she provided details of online contacts and an agreement to carry out an attack.
The teen appeared at the news conference with her mother; her face remained covered and authorities withheld her name and age. Police also released a video statement in which she described her contact with BLA operatives and how she had been persuaded to accept a suicide mission.
Official Response and Context
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar condemned the BLA and other separatist groups for using online platforms to lure recruits, saying the girl's detention likely averted a significant loss of life. The BLA was designated a terrorist organization by the United States earlier this year, officials noted.
Baloch separatists have waged an insurgency since the early 2000s seeking greater autonomy or independence and a larger share of natural resources. Authorities say the group has increasingly sought to use female attackers; in 2022 a female bomber linked to the BLA killed three Chinese teachers near a Karachi university campus.
Police emphasize the case highlights the growing risk of online radicalization and the need for vigilance at transit hubs, while also stressing the decision to treat the detained girl as a victim rather than a criminal suspect.
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