The Baloch Republican Army (BRA) ( ur, بلوچ ریپبلکن آرمی) was an armed militant group in

Balochistan Balochistan ( ; bal, بلۏچستان; also romanised as Baluchistan and Baluchestan) is a historical region in Western and South Asia, located in the Iranian plateau's far southeast and bordering the Indian Plate and the Arabian Sea coastline. ...

Pakistan Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...

. It was believed to be militant wing of

Baloch Republican Party The Baloch Republican Party (Urdu: بلوچ ریپبلکن پارٹی) is an organization in Balochistan Balochistan ( ; bal, بلۏچستان; also romanised as Baluchistan and Baluchestan) is a historical region in Western and South Asia, l ...

. In September 2010, the Government of Pakistan banned the Baloch Republican Army. Brahumdagh Bugti was the head of BRA, until its merger with

United Baloch Army United Baloch Army (UBA; ) was a militant group, fighting for the separation of Balochistan. The group has been designated as a terrorist organisation by the Pakistani government. The government of Pakistan banned the group on 15 March 2013. The g ...

(UBA). In 2017 Bugti's asylum request was rejected by Swiss authorities. The Swiss authorities said that Bugti's asylum request was rejected because he was involved in terror-related activities. In January 2022, BRA merged with UBA, to form Baloch Nationalist Army (BNA). BRA and UBA also announced their dissolution following the establishment of

Baloch Nationalist Army Baloch Nationalist Army (BNA) (Urdu: بلوچ نیشنلسٹ آرمی) is a militant group, fighting for the separation of Balochistan. The group was formed on January 11, 2022, out of a merger of the Baloch Republican Army (BRA), and the United ...

History

The Baloch Republican Army was formed after the military operation in Dera Bugti and murder of a renowned Baloch leader, Nawab Akbar Bugti, by the Pakistan Army in 2006. In the beginning, the group was mostly joined by Bugti tribesmen but later years it gained popularity among Baloch students and in urban areas of Balochistan to fight against the “Pakistani oppression”. It is currently led by Brahumdagh Bugti. In 2017, Bugti's asylum request was rejected by the Swiss government on the basis of Bugti's links with “incidents of terrorism, violence and militant activities". The same year also saw surrender of 143 militants belonging to Baloch Republican Army to the Pakistani authorities. In 2018, another group of 70 militants belonging to Baloch Republican Army and their commander surrendered to Pakistani authorities. In 2021, BRA claimed responsibility for destroying a statue of Pakistan's founding father,

Muhammad Ali Jinnah Muhammad Ali Jinnah (, ; born Mahomedali Jinnahbhai; 25 December 1876 – 11 September 1948) was a barrister, politician, and the founder of Pakistan. Jinnah served as the leader of the All-India Muslim League from 1913 until the ...

. In January 2022, the Baloch Republican Army (BRA) and the United Baloch Army (UBA) announced their dissolution and the formation of a new organisation the Baloch Nationalist Army (BNA).

References

{{Baloch nationalism Baloch nationalist militant groups Balochistan Paramilitary organisations based in Pakistan National liberation movements Rebel groups in Pakistan Separatism in Pakistan Research and Analysis Wing activities in Pakistan