Zareena Rafiq, also known as Trang Mahoo, has become the first Baloch Liberation Front (BLF) female fidayeen operative as she was recently used in a deadly assault on a Pakistani security complex in Chagai, Balochistan. The operative stormed a heavily guarded Frontier Corps facility that also houses a Chinese copper and gold mining project.
According to reports, six Pakistani security personnel were killed in the attack, though Islamabad has not officially confirmed the casualties.
Saddo Operational Battalion (SOB) Behind The Fidayeen Attack
According to a statement circulated on Telegram, BLF spokesperson Gwahram Baloch said the operation was carried out by the group’s “self-sacrifice” unit, the Saddo Operational Battalion (SOB), named after the slain commander Waja Sado, also known as Sadath Marri. A photograph of Mahoo was shared, showing that she detonated herself at the security barrier to allow other BLF fighters to breach the compound.
The Times of India reported that Mahoo’s suicide detonation was a tactical move to clear the way for rebel fighters. This is the first instance of a suicide attack by the BLF, a tactic previously employed exclusively by the Majeed Brigade of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), which has a history of high-profile operations including the Jaffar Express hijack.
Targeting of Chinese Mining Projects – BLF & BLA Changing Its Tactics As Pakistan Intensifies Crackdown
Analysts note that the choice of target, a complex linked to the Saindak and Reko Diq mining projects operated by Chinese and Canadian companies, shows an evolving strategy by Baloch insurgents, focusing on economic and foreign interests alongside military targets.
The BLA also released a statement detailing a series of coordinated attacks between November 28-29, claiming that 27 Pakistan army personnel were killed in 29 separate incidents. The group stated that it temporarily took control of motorways and seized weapons during these operations.
BLA’s Recent Attacks Against Pakistan Soldiers
A remote-controlled IED targeted military intelligence personnel in the Jiwani area of Gwadar while they were returning from vehicle extortion operations.
The residence of a Pakistani army major in Mastung city came under attack.
Six blasts were reported at defense installations in Quetta.
These attacks highlight the continued intensity and coordination of Baloch militant operations across Balochistan, with both the BLF and BLA increasingly targeting security forces and infrastructure linked to foreign investments.
Zubair Amin is a Senior Journalist at NewsX with over seven years of experience in reporting and editorial work. He has written for leading national and international publications, including Foreign Policy Magazine, Al Jazeera, The Economic Times, The Indian Express, The Wire, Article 14, Mongabay, News9, among others. His primary focus is on international affairs, with a strong interest in US politics and policy. He also writes on West Asia, Indian polity, and constitutional issues. Zubair tweets at zubaiyr.amin
