Participation of females in insurgencies and even terrorism is nothing new in South Asia but in the specific context of Pakistan, particularly in Baluchistan, it remains a relatively new phenomenon. There has been growing incidents of involvement of females in terrorism, suicide bombing in particular, in Baluchistan or terror groups like BLA. This trend is alarming as it depicts the deteriorating social fabric in Baluchistan and demands an in-depth analysis of this phenomenon to better comprehend it.

Shari Baloch became the first known female suicide bomber for the BLA, symbolizing a tactical shift in their operational strategy.

Baluchistan has been in the eye of the storm for the last 2 decades. Current phase of violence in the province was initiated around 2005 with the death of Akbar Bugti, former governor, and CM Baluchistan. Mysterious circumstances of his death were used by hostile forces to trigger linguistic and ethnic fault lines. Initially, unrest in Baluchistan was considered a classic insurgency like witnessed during the 1970s with guerrilla assaults, targeted killings, and hit-and-run tactical approaches.

But later on, it became evident that groups like BLA, BLF, etc. were involved in high-profile terrorist activities as well. In fact, now widespread terrorism has become the primary operational strategy of these groups and they are recognized as terrorist groups globally. In 2019, BLA was declared a terrorist organization by the US due to its role in terrorism against civilians and the state.

Since then, BLA has intensified its terrorism campaign. Formation of Majeed Brigade as a specialized unit responsible for carrying out multiple suicide attacks. Its terrorists have hit many sensitive installations in the province. Unlike regular insurgents, these terrorists always wear suicide vests which they blow at the end of each attack. Along with this, there has been 2 other noticeable changes in BLA’s operational strategy.

1. Use of social media for propaganda and PsyOps.
2. Use of female terrorists to carry out suicide bombing

Both these tactics have been employed in tandem by BLA. Social media propaganda is part of recruitment and strategic communication tools while female suicide bombers have been used to increase the success rate of suicide missions as females, in Pakistan’s peculiar social norms, face less scrutiny by security forces on the ground enabling them to evade security measures around sensitive installations.

In April 2022, the first incident of a BLA female suicide bomber was witnessed when Shari Baloch became the first known female suicide bomber for the BLA. She was tasked to target the Karachi University’s Confucius Institute where Chinese nationals were deputed as instructors to teach Chinese language.

Adila Baloch’s testimony reveals the manipulation and coercion tactics employed by BLA to recruit vulnerable women for suicide missions.

Shari Baluch was able to kill three Chinese nationals when she blew up her suicide vest near the vehicle carrying Chinese nationals along with their Pakistani counterparts. This pivotal incident not only represented a tactical shift but also symbolized a broader acceptance of the leading role of female terrorists in the ranks of BLA and other terror groups of Baluchistan.

The next female suicide attack was witnessed in June 2023 when another female suicide bomber, Sumaiya Qalandrani carried out a suicide bombing targeting a military convoy moving in Turbat. This attack was also carried out in a protected area. Sumaiya, while on foot, was not stopped and searched by security forces personnel due to her being a female. This attack gave new impetus to BLA to use female suicide bombers in sensitive areas to carry out high-profile, high-impact suicide bombings.

The latest case of involvement of female suicide bombers was reported in September 2024 when Adila Baloch, a former WHO worker, was arrested for her role in planning and executing a suicide attack in Turbat, Baluchistan. Luckily, she was apprehended by security forces before she could carry out the planned attack. What she revealed during her detention depicts the scale of BLA’s recruitment drive and the tactics being used. She revealed that manipulations, coercion, false promises, and temptations; all being part of BLA’s strategy to use females for suicide bombings.

According to her account, BLA’s recruitment of these female bombers begins with identifying vulnerable individuals in society who are likely to be manipulated by psychological tactics. Once entrapped psychologically, the victims are taken to various locations, mostly in the mountains, for further training and brainwashing. Adila revealed that many young men are also trapped and are being exploited through similar tactics.

Socio-economic challenges in Baluchistan are fueling recruitment into terrorism, highlighting the state’s failure to address underlying issues.

She further accentuated details of the BLA recruitment strategy according to which militants offer false hopes of a happy life and personal fulfillment to victims using Baluch nationalism which works almost always due to socio-economic challenges in the province and ultimately this strategy leads them to consider participating in violence including suicide bombing without fully understanding the consequences.

Adila sought to challenge the prevailing narrative that Baloch women willingly become suicide bombers. She asserted that many are coerced into these roles, stating, “It is all a lie. Terrorists blackmail women into this.” Her testimony aims to shed light on the manipulation faced by women in conflict zones.

Adila’s family was visibly supportive during her press conference, with her father expressing gratitude towards the authorities for recovering his daughter. He highlighted the need for vigilance among parents regarding their children’s activities, especially in light of how easily young people can be misled. Adila’s family interaction with the media further cements this revelation about BLA tactics. According to her father, they lost their daughter gradually once she began interacting with BLA operatives. She was slowly brainwashed and finally, she left her home to become a suicide bomber.

This trend of BLA’s recruitment of female suicide bombing highlights many disturbing facts like the ability of the group to penetrate educated individuals’ psyches and alter their thoughts against their security forces and the state. At the same time, it also highlights the failure of the state to address the underlying socio-economic challenges in Baluchistan.

Kinetic actions alone cannot counter the complex insurgency in Baluchistan; a holistic socio-economic approach is imperative.

Kinetic actions alone can’t defeat such complex insurgency and terrorism that has ideological, ethnic, linguistic, and sub-nationalistic facets. It is high time for the state of Pakistan to accept and address the socio-economic challenges posed by multiple fault lines in the province. Ignoring this aspect will mean an invitation to more female suicide bombers in the province!

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not represent the views, beliefs, or policies of the Stratheia.