Pakistan will work harder to curb Baloch insurgents

Significance

The attack, carried out by a woman, was claimed by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), an ethnic Baloch separatist group. The BLA has long targeted Chinese infrastructure and nationals as well as the Pakistani authorities, arguing that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor exploits Baloch people.

Impacts

• Tensions between Pakistan and Iran will grow as each continues to accuse the other of supporting Baloch militancy within its borders.
• Any sign of Baloch militants taking refuge in Afghanistan would become a sore point in Pakistan’s relations with the Taliban government.
• China will continue to put the onus on Pakistan to provide security to its locally based assets and citizens.