# Aslam Baloch

Aslam Baloch (1975 – 25 December 2018), also known as Achu (variants include Aslam Achoo and Aslam Achou), was a founder of the Balochistan Liberation Army. He spent most of his life in Balochistan, Pakistan and Kandahar, Afghanistan. Aslam fought against Pakistani Establishment from 1995 to 2018 and was killed by a suicide attack in Ayno Maina, Kandahar.

## Early life

Aslam was born in 1975 in Haji Ghaibi Road Quetta at Raheem Dad Dehwar's house. He received his Primary Education in Quetta city. Soon after receiving his education Aslam joined Balochistan Independence Movement in 1994 at the age of nineteen. It all started when Nawab Khair Bakhsh Marri returned from his exile and stationed in Quetta. Aslam then started his work as a significant roler of BLA and started his struggles against Pakistan Army in 1995. After more a decade fight in Bolan he finally went to Kandahar, Afghanistan and got a special support of Afghan Government.

## Military career

Aslam Baloch emerged as a key commander within the BLA, becoming the operational chief of its hardline faction by the 2010s. During this period, internal divisions surfaced between exiled tribal leaders and younger field commanders. Aslam "Achu", as he was known, along with fellow commander Bashir Zaib, broke away from the BLA's nominal leader in exile, Hyrbyair Marri, to form a separate faction that operated on the ground. Under his leadership, the organization became more publicly visible.
He was responsible for establishing an elite unit within the BLA, the Majeed Brigade which was formed in 2010 to conduct suicide attacks on high-value targets. As the head of this unit, Aslam oversaw its operations until his death in 2018.
In 2018, authorities identified him as the mastermind behind an attack on the Chinese consulate in Karachi on November 23, in which militants from the Majeed Brigade attempted to storm the consulate, leading to the deaths of two Pakistani policemen and two civilians before the attackers were killed. Pakistani investigators linked the attack to foreign intelligence, naming Aslam "Achu" and other BLA figures, alongside exiled leader Hyrbyair Marri, in their case.
Under his command, the BLA carried out coordinated insurgent operations in both Balochistan and Pakistan's major cities. On August 11, 2018, his son, Rehan Baloch, carried out the unit's first known suicide bombing by attacking a bus carrying Chinese engineers near Dalbandin in Balochistan. The explosion injured several Chinese nationals and resulted in the death of his son. By late 2018, he was often referred to by the honorary title "General" within militant circles and was also known as "Ustad" (teacher) for his role in training younger fighters.
Pakistani security officials regarded him as a major insurgent operative. He faced numerous criminal cases, including charges related to bombings and targeted killings, and the provincial government had placed a bounty of Rs. 5 million on him. Despite several close encounters, including a serious injury during a Pakistani forces operation in Balochistan's Bolan area in 2017, he managed to evade capture by moving between safe havens. His two decades of involvement in militant operations greatly influenced the tactics and strategies employed by the BLA.

## Death

After two decades of fighting opposed of Pakistan, Aslam was killed on 25th December 2018 by a suicide attack in Ayno Maina.