United Baloch Army

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Wikipedia

United Baloch Army
یونائیٹڈ بلوچ آرمی
Leader
Dates of operation2013–
Dissolved2022 (Sarfraz Bangulzai faction only)[4]
Split from Baloch Liberation Army (BLA)
Merged into Baloch Nationalist Army
Active regions Balochistan, Pakistan
IdeologyBaloch Nationalism
Notable attacks
Allies Baloch Republican Army
Balochistan Liberation Front
Opponents Baloch Liberation Army
 Pakistan
WarsInsurgency in Balochistan
Designated as a terrorist group byPakistan Pakistan
Switzerland Switzerland
Flag

United Baloch Army (UBA; یونائیٹڈ بلوچ آرمی) is a militant group, fighting for the separation of Balochistan from Pakistan. The group was designated as a terrorist organization by the Pakistani and Swiss governments.[7][8] The government of Pakistan banned the group on 15 March 2013.[9]

The group is led by Mehran Marri and is created as a result of an inter-familial dispute between Mehran and his brother Hyrbyair Marri, the head of the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA). BLA fighters accused Mehran of stealing $3 million from their funds and $800 million rupees worth of weapons from the BLA. The BLA and the Baloch Republican Army have both condemned UBA attacks as self-destructive.[10] Both Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and United Baloch Army (UBA) had also clashed with each other. The deadliest clash took place in Dera Bugti where 20 militants from both groups were killed.[11][6]

On 29 May 2015, United Baloch Army (UBA) militants stormed two buses in Mastung district that were in transit from Pishin to Karachi. The militants emptied the buses and then shot and killed 22 ethnic Pashtuns.[12]

United Baloch Army (UBA) also claimed responsibility for attack on the Jaffar Express in Sibi on 8 April 2014. The attack claimed the lives of 16 people and wounded 44 others.[5]

On 16 November 2017, Mehran Marri was arrested at Zurich Airport by Swiss immigration authorities. Mehran Marri was placed under a lifetime ban from entry into Switzerland. Swiss authorities issued a chargesheet in which they stated that Mehran Marri is the head of United Baloch Army (UBA).[8] The chargesheet further stated that "if Marri was to enter Switzerland and work with Brahamdagh Bugti to coordinate terrorist operations, it could jeopardize the internal security of the country".[7]

In october 2021, the militant group split into two factions, one led by Sarfraz Bangulzai and the other by Mehran Marri.[13]

In January 2022, the Gulzar Iman group of Baloch Republican Army merged with the Sarfraz Bangulzai faction of UBA[14], to form the Baloch Nationalist Army (BNA).[15][16][17] BRA and UBA also announced their dissolution following the establishment of Baloch Nationalist Army.[18]


In May 2025, Mazar Baloch, spokesman of Mehran Marri faction of UBA claimed responsibility for burning a mobile tower machinery in Surab.[19]

References

  1. ↑ "Banned outfit commander among 34 killed in Kalat operation". The News. 10 April 2016.
  2. ↑ "34 suspected militants killed in Kalat". Dawn News. 10 April 2016.
  3. ↑ "Militant leader surrenders in Quetta". Dawn News. 5 June 2015. Archived from the original on 5 June 2015.
  4. ↑ https://www.thefridaytimes.com/16-Apr-2025/cross-border-spillover-baloch-insurgency-echoes-in-iranian-territory
  5. 1 2 "UBA bomb attack on Jaffar Express in Sibi leaves 16 dead, 44 injured". Express Tribune. 8 April 2014. Archived from the original on 21 July 2018.
  6. 1 2 "Clash between two militant groups leaves 20 dead in Dera Bugti". 30 June 2015. Archived from the original on 2 July 2015.
  7. 1 2 "Swiss banned Mehran Baluch over 'risks' to security". The News International. 17 November 2017. Archived from the original on 18 November 2017.
  8. 1 2 "Baloch human rights activist Mehran Marri detained". Times of India. 17 November 2017. Archived from the original on 17 November 2017. The Swiss chargesheet, a copy of which TOI received from sources, said Marri was "a Pakistani national of Great Britain and leader of United Baloch Army (UBA) terrorist organisation".
  9. ↑ "Names of 61 banned outfits in Pakistan, JuD under observation". Dispatch News Desk. December 18, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Situationer: Who's who of Baloch insurgency". Dawn. 1 June 2015. Archived from the original on 1 June 2015.
  11. ↑ "Up to 20 killed in clashes between separatist groups in Dera Bugti". Express Tribune. 30 June 2015. Archived from the original on 30 June 2015.
  12. ↑ Muhammad Akbar Notezai (18 June 2015). "Balochistan Grapples With Sectarian Violence". The Diplomat. Archived from the original on 18 June 2015.
  13. ↑ https://thebalochistanpost.net/2022/01/who-is-baloch-nationalist-army-tbp-feature-report/
  14. ↑ https://www.thefridaytimes.com/16-Apr-2025/cross-border-spillover-baloch-insurgency-echoes-in-iranian-territory
  15. ↑ "Baloch Nationalist Army (BNA) formed from the merger of Baloch Republican Army (BRA) and United Baloch Army (UBA)". Defense Politics Asia. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  16. ↑ "Pakistani police: Bomb in city of Lahore kills 3, wounds 28". Associated Press. 20 January 2022.
  17. ↑ "Bomb blast kills 2 people in Lahore; 26 injured". Gulf News. 20 January 2022.
  18. ↑ "Anarkali Bomb Blast: BNA Claims Responsibility". Baaghi Tv. 20 January 2022.
  19. ↑ https://english.zrumbesh.com/4249/