BLA Releases Images OF Two ‘Fidayeens’ Female Suicide Attackers Behind Deadly Pakistan Assault
The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), which claimed responsibility for the large-scale, coordinated attacks across cities and towns in Pakistan’s province, has released images of two of their attackers. Both attackers are women, with one identified as 24-year-old Asifa Mengal. The deadly assault claimed nearly 50 lives, including at least 17 security personnel. In response, Pakistani security forces launched a 40-hour operation to eliminate more than 140 militants so far, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti said on Sunday.
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed that two of the attacks involved female perpetrators.
According to the banned BLA, Mengal was the daughter of one Mohammad Ismail and a resident of Nushki in Balochistan. She was born on October 2, 2002 and joined the BLA’s Majeed Brigade on her 21st birthday. Mengal decided to become a ‘fidayee’ (suicide attacker) in January 2024 and was responsible for targeting the ISI headquarters in Nushki on Saturday, the BLA statement added.
She is Hawa Baloch, part of the ongoing Baloch rebel operation against Pakistani Islamist forces. After her two younger sisters were abducted, raped, and murdered by the Pakistani radical Islamist Army, she joined the resistance to free Balochistan and protect her people. pic.twitter.com/WlRmFWHHmx
— Baba Banaras™ (@RealBababanaras) February 1, 2026
Meanwhile, the identity of the other female attacker remains unknown. A video that has emerged shows her before executing the attack, in which she is seen ridiculing the Pakistani government alongside her fellow male BLA colleagues. “They (the Pakistan government) only show their power over our oppressed mothers and sisters; they can’t confront us directly. It’s beyond their capacity,” she is heard saying in the video, smiling broadly while holding a massive gun.
“We just need to awaken ourselves; the Baloch nation needs to awaken. We must stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Baloch Sarmachars. The enemy’s days are numbered; they don’t have much strength. The Baloch nation must understand that there can be absolutely no compromise with this enemy. Look, today our fighters are sacrificing their lives, blowing themselves to pieces, yet some still spy on them for a few pennies,” the woman attacker says in the video in Balochi.
This has been one of the deadliest flare-ups in years in the Pakistan province, which borders Afghanistan and Iran. Pakistan’s Junior Minister Talal Chaudhry said that attackers dressed as civilians entered schools, banks, markets and hospitals before opening fire.
The attacks started on Friday night and continued till Saturday. Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind said attacks were reported from multiple regions, including Nushki, Hub, Chaman, Naseerabad, Gwadar, and Makran. Balochistan CM said that the authorities had intel of an operation of this kind being planned, which is why they were able to counter-attack.