A recent security operation in the Machh area of Balochistan’s Kachhi district has sent shock-waves through the province’s political landscape, as one of the five terrorists of Fitna-e-Hindustan killed was identified as the personal guard of Sardar Akhtar Mengal, the head of the Balochistan National Party (Mengal).
The militant, identified as Ikhlaq, son of Muhammad and a resident of Wadh, had been serving on Akhtar Mengal’s close protection team since 2020, according to local police records. However, intelligence obtained during the operation revealed a far more sinister role.
Recovered weapons and communications gear have confirmed direct links between the terror group and the Baloch Liberation Army’s (BLA), or the Fitna-e-Hindustan as declared by the state, command and control network. Telemetry and decrypted satellite phone data further disclosed that Ikhlaq was not only a field commander within the BLA, but also a participant in the planning meetings for the attack on the Surab police station.
The data also implicates him in facilitating safe passage routes for terrorists through the mountainous terrain between Wadh, Khuzdar, and Surab, a critical operational corridor for insurgents.
The revelation has raised serious concerns about terrorist infiltration into mainstream political circles and the exploitation of official cover for subversive activities. Authorities are now probing the extent of Ikhlaq’s role and potential lapses in vetting protocols for political security staff.
Further investigations are ongoing.
