Pakistan has accused India of aiding Baloch separatists for decades. ISI links RAW to BLA and the controversy surrounding Kulbhushan Jadhav.

Is India Supporting Baloch Separatists? Pakistan’s Allegations Explained

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) is back in the spotlight after its fighters hijacked the Jaffar Express in Pakistan’s Bolan region, taking hundreds of passengers hostage.

Pakistan’s security forces claimed to have eliminated at least 30 insurgents, but the condition of the 200 remaining hostages remains uncertain.

Amidst the ongoing crisis, Pakistan has once again accused India of fueling separatist movements in Balochistan, a claim it has made for decades.

BLA and Its Operations in Balochistan

The BLA designated a terrorist organization by the US in 2021, has been active in resource-rich Balochistan for decades.

The group has intensified attacks on Pakistani security forces, mainly targeting China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects. Some of their high-profile attacks include:

The murder of nine Punjabi bus passengers in Noshki.
Attacking the Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) oil and gas site in Kalat.
Bombing a Chinese convoy near Karachi airport.

Pakistan’s Accusations Against India

Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has consistently alleged that India’s intelligence agency, RAW, is responsible for training and funding Baloch separatist groups.

According to the Journal of Law & Social Studies (JLSS) 2023 report, RAW played a role in forming not only BLA but also the Baloch Students Organization (BSO) in the 1960s and the Baloch Republican Army (BRA) in the 2000s.

The report claims that India provided arms, financial aid, and training camps for insurgents near the Pakistan-India border.

Historical accounts also suggest that India shifted its focus to Balochistan after the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, deploying RAW operatives to support separatist groups.

ISI’s Link Between India and Kulbhushan Jadhav

One of Pakistan’s most significant claims linking India to the Baloch insurgency is the arrest of Kulbhushan Jadhav, a former Indian Navy officer, in 2016.

Pakistan accused Jadhav of funding and supporting Baloch separatist groups and sabotaging CPEC projects.

He was sentenced to death, but India took the case to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which ordered Pakistan to grant consular access and suspend the execution.

India’s Response to the Allegations

India has denied all accusations of supporting Baloch separatists, stating that Pakistan uses such claims to distract from its internal conflicts.

New Delhi has, however, expressed concerns over human rights violations in Balochistan and has provided medical aid to some Baloch separatist leaders.

With tensions rising, the allegations continue to fuel diplomatic strains between India and Pakistan, with both nations standing firm on their respective narratives.