The Baloch Liberation Front (BLF), the Baloch ethnonationalist militant group based in Afghanistan, announced it deployed a woman suicide bomber for the first time to strike a Frontier Corps complex that houses a Chinese copper and gold mining project. The group identified the attacker as Zareena Rafiq, aka Trang Mahoo, saying she stormed the heavily guarded office and detonated herself, killing six Pakistani personnel and clearing the way for rebels to enter the complex.
In a Telegram statement, BLF spokesman Gwahram Baloch said the operation was carried out by the Saddo Operational Battalion (SOB), the group’s “self-sacrifice” unit named after its martyred commander Waja Saddo, alias Sadat Marri. Sources say recent BLF attacks have targeted projects linked to China and a Canadian company, signaling a shift toward striking high-value, geopolitically significant targets.
The use of a female fidayeen is notable; such tactics have previously been employed mainly by the Baloch Liberation Army’s Majeed Brigade, which has carried out several major operations in recent years. The BLF attack also targeted the Saindak and Reko Diq projects, managed by Chinese and Canadian firms, and occurred in Nokkundi, Chaghi — an area usually considered peaceful but resource-rich.
Pakistan initially did not confirm the incident, though later reports acknowledged a suicide bombing followed by an armed assault. Locals reported that two helicopters were dispatched from Quetta to the scene.
