Two Women Identified in Deadly Balochistan Attacks

February 2, 2026 – The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) has released images and video footage of two female suicide bombers who participated in a series of coordinated, large-scale attacks across Balochistan this past weekend. This development marks a chilling escalation in the group’s “Operation Herof 2.0,” which has left nearly 200 people dead.

The Identity of the Attackers

The BLA, an outlawed separatist group, identified one of the women as Asifa Mengal, a 24-year-old resident of Nushki. According to a BLA statement, Mengal joined the group’s elite suicide squad, the Majeed Brigade, on her 21st birthday in 2023. She reportedly carried out a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) attack targeting the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) headquarters in Nushki on Friday night.

The second woman, identified by the group as Hawa Baloch, was reportedly involved in operations on the Gwadar front. In a propaganda video released shortly before her death, Hawa is seen holding a large firearm and addressing the camera, calling for a “nationwide awakening” against the Pakistani state.

A “Deadly Weekend” for Balochistan

The release of these photos follows a 40-hour period of intense violence that started late Friday night. The BLA launched synchronized strikes across 12 districts, including Quetta, Gwadar, and Mastung. The scale of the assault was unprecedented:

• Casualties: Provincial officials confirmed that 17 security personnel and 31 civilians were killed.
• Counter-Operations: Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti stated that security forces killed at least 145 militants during intense clearance operations.
• Tactics: Beyond suicide bombings, the militants torched vehicles, bombed railway lines, and even stormed a high-security prison in Mastung, freeing approximately 30 inmates.

The Shift Toward Female Combatants

The inclusion of women in frontline suicide missions marks a strategic and symbolic shift for the BLA. While the group first deployed a female suicide bomber, Shari Baloch, in 2022 at Karachi University, the recent attacks suggest that women are now being integrated more frequently into high-profile operations.

Defense Minister Khawaja Asif condemned the move, stating that militant groups are “polluting the minds of young women” to carry out acts of terror. Analysts suggest that using female attackers is a tactical attempt to bypass security checkpoints, where women are often subjected to less scrutiny than men.

Government Response

The Pakistani government has accused “foreign hands”—specifically pointing toward India—of backing the BLA to destabilize the region, a claim New Delhi has consistently denied. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the security forces for repelling the majority of the attacks and vowed to continue the war against terrorism until it is “completely eradicated.”

As of Monday morning, a “mopping-up” operation is still underway in several remote areas of the province to ensure no sleeper cells remain.