Security forces kill key BLA commander in Kech IBO

Saddam Hussain was involved in several terrorist activities in Balochistan

A key member and a hardcore Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) terrorist Saddam Hussain Muslim was killed in an intelligence-based operation (IBO) by the security forces, Express News reported on Sunday.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), another close associate of the killed terrorist, Maqsood, was also eliminated during the operation. Later, the security forces also recovered a large amount of arms and explosives from their possession.

Saddam was operating incognito by using different names like Muslim, Guru and Jabbar to hide his identity, ISPR said.
He became part of the Baloch Liberation Front in 2008.

The security forces already have killed a large number of terrorists, ISPR added, saying these individuals were involved in various terrorist groups in the two-decade-long war of terror imposed by Pakistan's enemies.

Read More: BLA and Balochistan insurgency

"A large number of the terrorists killed were directly involved in subversive activities against Pakistan," it shared. The security forces by eliminating terrorists have caused divisions and triggered infighting among their ranks.

The outlawed BLA, allegedly supported by the Indian intelligence agency RAW, employs deceptive strategies through social media campaigns to portray an illusion of success and discord within the country.

Saddam received training in operating light and explosive weapons and planting mines during his tenure at the BLA terrorist training camp in the Mashkai area of Balochistan. In 2014, he joined the Baloch Liberation Army, later assuming the role of camp commander in Kech district in 2017 and local commander in 2021.

Read More: Baloch unrest

From 2016 onwards, Saddam was involved in 93 terrorist incidents, including grenade attacks, landmine incidents, and targeted killings across southern Balochistan. These attacks resulted in the loss of 131 innocent lives and injuries to 177 individuals.

In September, Saddam was also implicated in the attack on FC Balochistan headquarters. He played a pivotal role in spreading terrorist activities in Kech district and recruiting local youth into terrorist groups.

Multiple FIRs were filed against Saddam in Gwadar and Turbat, and he was known to operate several terrorist cells in Kech. He often recruited impressionable youths by promising the establishment of an independent Baloch state.

The elimination of Saddam constitutes a significant setback for the organisation. His demise is expected to markedly curtail terrorist activities in the region, contributing positively to counter-terrorism efforts and the restoration of peace and stability in the area.