Baloch rebels bring down Pakistan flag, hoist flags of liberation

The independence movement in Pakistan’s Balochistan province has once again intensified, with the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) ramping up its operations and posing renewed challenges to the Pakistani government. Amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, the BLA appears to be leveraging the current atmosphere to amplify its longstanding demand for a separate nation. In several parts of Balochistan, local Baloch residents have reportedly removed Pakistani national flags and hoisted flags of Balochistan in their place. Visuals circulating on social media show slogans being raised in support of Balochistan’s independence and against Pakistan."Baloch people have started hoisting their own flags and taking down Pakistani flags. Time for the world to pull back their diplomatic missions from Pakistan and shift them into the newly emerging country of Balochistan. Farewell to Pakistan, welcome to Balochistan," Baloch writer Mir Yar Baloch posted on X.

Baloch people have started hoisting their own flags and taking down Pakistani flags.

Time for the world to pull back their diplomatic missions from Pakistan and shift them into the newly emerging country of Balochistan.

Farewell to Pakistan, welcome to Balochistan.… pic.twitter.com/X5zD4syfta

— Mir Yar Baloch (@miryar_baloch) May 8, 2025

According to media reports, Baloch pro-independence groups carried out coordinated attacks on Pakistani security forces and their assets swept across Balochistan on Thursday.Baloch rebels on Friday attacked Pakistani forces in Quetta’s Faizabad area. In a separate attack, Islamabad's security forces were targeted in a hand grenade attack at a military camp in Sibbi, said report.Explosions and intense gunfire were reported across Quetta, according to Balochistan-based Radio Zrumbesh English.
Balochistan, Pakistan's largest province by area and mineral-rich yet least populated, has been plagued by a decades-long armed and peaceful movements by ethnic Baloch people over economic marginalisation, resource exploitation, and human rights abuses.