Bashir Zaib

Bashir Zaib
Native name	بشیر زیب
Rank	Leader of the BLA
Commands	Balochistan Liberation Army
Conflicts	Insurgency in Balochistan August 2024 Balochistan attacks 2026 Balochistan attacks

Bashir Zaib ^[a] is a Baloch nationalist militant who is the leader of the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) since 2018. The group is designated as a terrorist group by Pakistan, China, the United Kingdom, the United States, the European Union and several other countries and organizations. ^{[2] [3] [4] [5] [6]} The BLA is a militant separatist organisation fighting against the Pakistani state, demanding greater autonomy or independence for Balochistan.

Early life and education

Bashir Zaib was born in Nushki, Balochistan province, Pakistan, to a Baloch family belonging to the Muhammad Hasni tribe. ^[7] He completed his diploma in mechanical engineering from the Quetta Polytechnic College. ^[7] He later completed his master’s program in Balochi literature in 2008. ^[7] During this time, he became involved in regional politics and became the chairman of the Azad faction of the Baloch Students Organization (BSO). ^[7] The Azad faction was the perhaps the most radical BSO faction and campaigned for Balochistan to separate from Pakistan. ^[7]

Due to Zaib's activities in the BSO Azad, his admission in the University of Balochistan was prohibited in 2008. ^[7] Zaib was also involved in distributing anti-Pakistan literature in Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan province. ^[7] In 2010, Pakistani authorities launched a crackdown on BSO Azad, which possibly radicalized Zaib further. ^[7]

Militant career

Zaib joined the Balochistan Liberation Army in 2012. Following the death of his brother, Aslam Baloch, who had led the organization from 2006 to 2018, Zaib succeeded him as the leader of the BLA in 2018. ^{[7] [8]}

Notes

1. Balochi: بشیر زیب; also rendered as Bashir Zeb. ^[1]

References

1. "WHO IS 'BASHIR ZEB'? SUSPECTED MASTERMIND BEHIND PSX ATTACK". Whenwherehow. July 2020. Archived from the original on 27 November 2020. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
2. "List of banned organisations in Pakistan". Tribune. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
3. Office, Home (15 July 2016). PROSCRIBED TERRORIST ORGANISATIONS (PDF). Home Office. p. 9. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 October 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
4. "Terrorist Designations of Balochistan Liberation Army and Husain Ali Hazzima and Amendments to the Terrorist Designations of Jundallah". U.S. Department of State. 2 July 2019.
5. "US declares BLA as terrorist outfit". Express Tribune. 2 July 2019.
6. "US declares Baloch separatist group BLA a terror outfit". National Herald India. 3 July 2019.
7. "A Profile of Bashir Zaib: The Radical Leader of the Baluch Liberation Army in Pakistan - Jamestown". Jamestown. Retrieved 2026-02-02.
8. "Bashir Zeb, brother of Chinese consulate attack's mastermind, could be behind PSX attack". The News International . 1 July 2020.