The Baloch Militant group announced the formation of the “Hammal Maritime Defence Force” (HMDF), which it described as its official naval division….reports Asian Lite News
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed it has launched its first maritime operation and established a naval wing, marking what it described as a significant shift in its strategy, according to a report by The Balochistan Post.
In a statement released on Monday, the group announced the formation of the “Hammal Maritime Defence Force” (HMDF), which it described as its official naval division. The BLA said the move signals the beginning of what it termed a “national navy” aimed at asserting control over Baloch maritime areas.
According to BLA spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch, the newly formed unit carried out its first operation around 10 am in the Jiwani area near Gwadar. The group claimed its fighters targeted a Pakistani naval patrol vessel at a location referred to as “Mil Tiyab”.
The BLA alleged that three personnel aboard the vessel were killed in the attack, identifying them as Naik Afzal, Sepoy Jameel, and Sepoy Umar. It further claimed that its fighters returned safely to their bases after the operation.
The claims have not been independently verified, and there has been no immediate response from Pakistani authorities.
The group described the move into maritime operations as a “strategic shift” after years of conducting activities primarily on land. It said the establishment of HMDF marks a new phase in its campaign, warning that maritime zones would now become a key area of confrontation.
In its statement, the BLA said the naval wing would aim to disrupt what it called the exploitation of Baloch resources, challenge naval activities in the region, and defend the coastline.
The group’s media wing, Hakkal, also released a video reportedly showing the operation. The footage, lasting over two minutes, appears to show armed, masked fighters approaching the shoreline before boarding a speedboat.
In the video, voices attributed to the fighters issue warnings, stating that they would continue targeting their opponents across both land and sea.
The reported development highlights a potential escalation in the ongoing conflict in Balochistan, with the BLA signalling an expansion of its operational scope beyond traditional land based attacks.
