Balochistan separatist groups expand female armed units

Separatist groups in Balochistan are increasingly incorporating women into direct combat roles. The Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) has announced the formation of an all-female wing known as the ‘Karima Armed Assault Division’ (KAAD). The BLF claimed that this new unit was responsible for a recent attack on a Pakistani military convoy in the Turbat district near the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) highway.

KAAD is named after Karima Baloch, a prominent activist who died in Canada in 2020. This development follows a similar trend by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), which has also established a formal women’s wing and appointed a female commander. Reports indicate that women in these organizations are moving beyond political activism and support roles to participate in high-risk operations, including suicide bombings and ambushes against Pakistani security forces and military installations.