Sarfraz Bugti, Balochistan's chief minister, announced that his provincial government will not negotiate with insurgents and will continue security operations that have killed hundreds of militants. He described the situation as a 'state of war' and called for 'major surgery' to eliminate terrorism amid rising attacks by the Baloch Liberation Army, a U.S.-designated terrorist group. Longstanding grievances in the province—including enforced disappearances and resource exploitation—remain unresolved, and some militants have surrendered while others remain active.
Balochistan Chief Minister Rejects Talks With Insurgents, Vows 'Major Surgery' as Attacks Rise
This is a locator map for Pakistan with its capital, Islamabad, and the Kashmir region. (AP Photo)
Sarfraz Bugti, the chief minister of Pakistan's southwestern province of Balochistan, on Saturday ruled out negotiations with insurgent groups and said the government will press on with security operations that have killed hundreds of militants in recent months.
Security Response and Official Rhetoric
'The fight against terrorism would continue until the last terrorist is eliminated,' Bugti said in a statement. 'There will be no negotiations with terrorists, those who have taken up arms against Pakistan and those raising slogans for the country's disintegration.'
Bugti framed the situation as a "state of war" and called for what he described as "major surgery" to eradicate terrorism in the province, where attacks by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) have increased. The United States has designated the BLA as a foreign terrorist organization.
Background And Local Grievances
Although Balochistan is Pakistan's largest province by area, it has the smallest population. Many Baloch activists and residents allege long-standing discrimination by state authorities and point to deep grievances over enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings and the exploitation of the province's natural resources as drivers of unrest.
Political Responses And Surrenders
Several regional parties and civil society groups have urged dialogue in recent years, but the BLA and several other Baloch organizations have not sought talks. Pakistan's federal government and provincial officials have repeatedly rejected broad negotiations, saying leniency can be considered only for militants who surrender. Some BLA members and associates have laid down their arms and been received by local officials in formal surrender ceremonies.
Recent Violence
In one of the deadliest coordinated attacks in Balochistan, the BLA killed 18 paramilitary security personnel in 2025. No spokesman for the BLA was immediately available for comment on Bugti's remarks.
Authorities say security forces are operating under extremely difficult conditions and that state institutions are working in coordination to confront the insurgency. Observers warn that without accompanying political and economic measures to address local grievances, violence risks continuing despite intensified security operations.
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