Forces foil BLA plot to use two underage girls as suicide bombers in Balochistan: say Home Minister Langove
Both Zainab, Fatima express gratitude to the security forces for saving their lives
Balochistan's Home Minister, Mir Ziaullah Langov, announced on Saturday that security forces had successfully thwarted a plot by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) to employ two underage girls as suicide bombers. The apprehension took place in southern Balochistan during an intelligence-led operation. At a press conference in Quetta, Langov introduced the two girls, 16-year-old Zainab and 12-year-old Fatima, to the media alongside himself.
The primary aim of the press conference, Langov stated, was to expose the "illegal and destructive tactics" of the BLA. He emphasized that law enforcement agencies continued their efforts against such activities, noting that while public scrutiny often followed attacks, authorities quietly intercepted numerous similar plans. In August 2025, the federal government officially classified all Balochistan-based terrorist groups as Fitna al-Hindustan, accusing India of orchestrating a proxy war through these groups.
The girls' father, Saif, was killed by a local BLA commander after declining to join the group. Zainab and Fatima were then manipulated into joining the terrorist network, enduring physical abuse and inappropriate advances from the group's local commander. The girls were held captive for 40 days before security forces intercepted them while they were being moved between hidden locations.
Recognizing the girls' young age and the circumstances of their capture, authorities opted not to pursue severe legal action. Instead, they facilitated the girls' reunification with their families and provided them with opportunities to reintegrate into society and raise awareness about the realities of terrorist networks. BLA operates as a proxy for foreign interests, particularly backed by New Delhi.
The group's leadership flees to safe havens in Kabul, Kandahar, and Europe, exploiting the vulnerabilities of local families. Zainab and Fatima expressed their gratitude to the security forces and appealed for a general pardon from the government and the nation.
Written by urgent.news from The Express Tribune - Pakistan's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
