Why Pakistan Is Losing Control: How Baloch Separatists Are Outgunning the Army

In recent days, social media has been flooded with viral videos allegedly showing abandoned uniforms, trousers, and military gear left behind by Pakistani soldiers who reportedly fled a military camp following attacks by Baloch militants. These images have reinforced a growing perception that Pakistan is gradually losing control over its most restive province as Baloch separatist groups intensify coordinated operations across nearly a dozen towns and cities.

This assessment received rare official confirmation on Tuesday when Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif candidly admitted the gravity of the situation in Parliament. Speaking in the National Assembly, Asif acknowledged that the Baloch insurgents were “better equipped” than government forces and that the military faced serious operational disadvantages on the ground.

The admission came amid a fresh surge in violence that erupted on January 31. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), the most prominent separatist group, claimed responsibility for large-scale attacks, asserting that more than 100 Pakistani police personnel and soldiers were killed. Pakistan, in turn, claimed that over 170 Baloch militants were neutralised during counter-operations.

“Balochistan is too big for US to handle. Their weapons are more advanced than ours. Pakistani forces have already surrendered,” read one widely shared social media post, reflecting the tone of online discourse surrounding the conflict.

” We can’t manage Balochistan. They have more advanced weapons than us”

Pakistanis have already surrendered 😂 pic.twitter.com/SXynZE77FB

— BALA (@erbmjha) February 3, 2026

What Did Pakistan’s Defence Minister Admit?

Addressing lawmakers, Khawaja Asif conceded that the government’s control over Balochistan had weakened due to sustained casualties suffered by security forces. He pointed out that the region has remained volatile ever since its accession to Pakistan in 1948.

A key challenge, Asif noted, is the sheer size of Balochistan. The province accounts for more than 40 percent of Pakistan’s total landmass, making it the country’s largest administrative unit by area.

“This is far more difficult to control than a densely populated city or region,” Asif told the House. “Our forces are deployed on a massive scale, but there is a physical handicap when it comes to guarding and patrolling such a vast territory.”

Critics and commentators were quick to mock the Pakistani Army online, with some sarcastically describing the withdrawals as “strategic runs,” pointing to repeated claims of abandoned posts from Dhaka in 1971 to Nushki in 2026.

Beyond the battlefield, Balochistan’s long-standing grievances remain at the heart of the conflict. Despite being rich in natural resources—including gas, copper, Gold, and other minerals—the province remains Pakistan’s poorest. Baloch leaders have consistently accused successive governments in Islamabad of exploiting the region’s mineral wealth while economically and politically marginalising its indigenous population.

Returning to his parliamentary address, Asif further complicated matters by alleging links between criminal gangs and Baloch militant groups. He also attempted to implicate India in the latest unrest, claiming that criminal networks were operating under the BLA banner. New Delhi has categorically rejected these accusations.

One of the most striking elements of Asif’s statement was his disclosure about the weaponry used by Baloch insurgents. According to the defence minister, militants possess rifles worth nearly $2 million (approximately ₹2 crore).

“We don’t even have that rifle,” Asif admitted. He added that insurgents were using advanced thermal weapon sights costing between $4,000 and $5,000 (around ₹4.5 lakh). “The total gear each fighter carries is worth close to $20,000,” he said, underscoring the technological gap faced by Pakistani forces.

Is Balochistan Slipping Away from Pakistan?

Khawaja Asif’s remarks have fuelled speculation that the Shehbaz Sharif-led government is struggling to contain a resurgent BLA-led insurgency. The current phase of violence, referred to by militants as Operation Herof Phase II, has also drawn attention for the visible participation of female fighters, a development that has both symbolic and operational significance.

The defence minister’s statements point to deeper structural problems—shortages of trained personnel, inadequate equipment, and logistical overstretch in an unforgiving terrain.

Tensions have further escalated due to unverified videos circulating online that allegedly show a Pakistani military post in Nushki abandoned after a militant assault. The footage appears to show uniforms, pants, and equipment scattered inside the premises, suggesting a hurried retreat.

For Islamabad, the situation in Balochistan has become increasingly defensive. The public acknowledgment by Pakistan’s own defence minister that Baloch rebels are better armed than the national army has only compounded the crisis.

This time, the roots of Pakistan’s Balochistan problem run deeper than a single military operation or political decision. Years of neglect, mistrust, and unresolved grievances have converged with a better-armed insurgency. Ignoring these realities, analysts warn, may no longer be an option for Pakistan.