A banned BLA terrorist arrested in the aftermath of the deadly Kharan attacks has claimed that he was trained in Afghanistan and paid to target Pakistani security forces, according to a video statement released following his capture.
The suspect, identified by officials as a member of the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), was apprehended during operations launched after armed terrorists carried out coordinated attacks, firing incidents and road blockades in Kharan on August 24.
In the video, the arrested terrorist confessed that terrorists were recruited and trained across the border before being sent into Balochistan to carry out attacks. He further claims that operatives were offered Rs25,000 for every attack on security personnel and remained in contact with handlers through satellite phones and the encrypted messaging platform Telegram.
The confession offers a rare glimpse into the operational methods employed by terrorist groups that have stepped up attacks across Balochistan in recent months.
Security officials say the suspect was directly involved in the Kharan assault, one of the latest in a series of coordinated attacks claimed by BLA-linked terrorists. Security forces are now examining the information provided during interrogation to identify facilitators, financiers and communication networks connected to the attack.
The arrest comes as security forces intensify operations against what authorities describe as Fitna-ul-Hindustan networks operating in the province.
Over the past several weeks, security agencies have reported a succession of operations targeting terrorist hideouts and facilitators. Earlier this month, security forces said 18 terrorists were killed in Surab district during a major operation aimed at dismantling insurgent infrastructure.
In separate actions carried out in Mach and Margand on August 11 and 12, seven terrorist were killed during raids on hideouts believed to be linked to militant activity.
Authorities had earlier released the video confession of Habibullah, a captured terrorist from Ornach in Khuzdar district, who described recruitment routes and support structures used by militant groups.
The latest confession has also reignited debate over allegations of cross-border support for anti-state militants.
Speaking to Balochistan Plus, Interior Minister Mir Ziaullah Langove alleged that the banned BLA and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were working in coordination and claimed that Afghan territory continued to be exploited by groups involved in attacks inside Pakistan.
He further accused the Afghan Taliban of failing to prevent militant groups from using Afghan soil for activities targeting Pakistan, saying recent arrests and interrogations had strengthened concerns about external support networks.
Officials say investigations are continuing and that intelligence gathered from the arrested suspect could lead to further arrests and operations in the coming days.
