Emerging reports suggest that Balochistan-based militant groups have been equipped with drone technology by the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) or Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP), in what appears to be a growing operational alliance targeting Chinese interests in the region.
Security sources indicate that ETIM — group known for their jihadist ideology and opposition to Chinese policies in Xinjiang — consider China a shared enemy. Their support for Baloch militants represents a significant escalation in cross-border militant cooperation and highlights a potential shift in regional insurgency dynamics.
The reported drone transfers could mark a turning point in the capabilities of Baloch insurgents, enabling more precise and far-reaching attacks on Chinese infrastructure projects, particularly those linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Experts warn that this alliance may complicate counterterrorism efforts and pose a growing threat not only to regional stability but also to major foreign investments across Pakistan’s southwest.
