Balochistan Liberation United Front
Encyclopedia
The Balochistan Liberation United Front is a Baloch nationalist
militant organization in Pakistan
. It first became known for claiming the kidnapping of American UNHCR worker John Solecki
from Quetta
on February 2, 2009. The BLUF demanded the release of thousands of Baloch nationalist prisoners it claimed were being held by the Pakistani government
in Baloch insurgency. The group eventually released Solecki on April 4, 2009, on humanitarian grounds without any of its demands being met. Veteran Baloch nationalist leaders including Khair Bakhsh Marri had called on the BLUF to release Solecki, saying that targeting guests was not helpful for the Baloch struggle.
The BLUF claimed responsibility for a targeted attack on October 25, 2009 that killed Shafiq Ahmed Khan, the education minister of the Balochistan province
.
Few details are available about the BLUF, but it is believed to be made up of cadres from the Baloch Students Organization
.
Baloch nationalism
Baloch nationalism is a movement which claims that the Baloch people, an ethno-linguistic group mainly found in Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan are a nation...
militant organization in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. It first became known for claiming the kidnapping of American UNHCR worker John Solecki
John Solecki
John Solecki is a U.S. official for the UNHCR, working in Quetta, Pakistan. On February 2, 2009, he was kidnapped by a previously unknown Baloch nationalist militant group calling itself the Balochistan Liberation United Front. His driver Syed Hashim was shot and later died at a local hospital...
from Quetta
Quetta
is the largest city and the provincial capital of the Balochistan Province of Pakistan. Known as the "Fruit Garden of Pakistan" due to the diversity of its plant and animal wildlife, Quetta is home to the Hazarganji Chiltan National Park, which contains some of the rarest species of wildlife in the...
on February 2, 2009. The BLUF demanded the release of thousands of Baloch nationalist prisoners it claimed were being held by the Pakistani government
Government of Pakistan
The Government of Pakistan is a federal parliamentary system, with an indirectly-elected President as the Head of State and Commander in Chief of the Pakistani Armed Forces, and an indirectly-elected Prime Minister as the Head of Government. The President’s appointment and term are...
in Baloch insurgency. The group eventually released Solecki on April 4, 2009, on humanitarian grounds without any of its demands being met. Veteran Baloch nationalist leaders including Khair Bakhsh Marri had called on the BLUF to release Solecki, saying that targeting guests was not helpful for the Baloch struggle.
The BLUF claimed responsibility for a targeted attack on October 25, 2009 that killed Shafiq Ahmed Khan, the education minister of the Balochistan province
Balochistan (Pakistan)
Balochistan is one of the four provinces or federating units of Pakistan. With an area of 134,051 mi2 or , it is the largest province of Pakistan, constituting approximately 44% of the total land mass of Pakistan. According to the 1998 population census, Balochistan had a population of...
.
Few details are available about the BLUF, but it is believed to be made up of cadres from the Baloch Students Organization
Baloch Students Organization
The Baloch Students Organization, or BSO was founded in 26 November 1967 as nationalist student organization in Pakistani part of occupied Balochistan. The main objectives of BSO were to organize and educate Baloch youth politically for the liberation of Balochistan.It this time BSO is divided into...
.