ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – It has been one year since former Baloch separatist Gulzar Imam alias Shambe’s life transformed as an ordinary citizen of Pakistan.
The year 2023 has been a significant era of the intelligence agencies' success when they arrested Indian terrorist Kulbhushan Yadav in Balochistan and took into custody a youth led astray by the adversaries of an ideological nation. The achievements of Pakistan’s intelligence was appreciated at the international level as well.
Gulzar, who was dubbed the leading force of a cluster of militant organisations active in southern Balochistan, was arrested following a highly sensitive and lengthy intelligence operation in April last year.
Born in 1978 in Prom village of Panjgur district, Gulzar worked as a contractor and a local newspaper reporter before joining a terrorist group in 2009.
In 2017, he undertook a long trip to India on forged documents where he was given money and advanced training in terrorism to fuel the militancy among the more naive and emotional Baloch youth.
Until 2018, he was the deputy of Brahmdagh Bugti in Baloch Republican Army (BRA). He has been a hardcore militant as well as founder and leader of the banned outfit Baloch National Army (BNA) which came into being by merger of Baloch Republican Army (BRA) and United Baloch Army (UBA).
He played an important role in the activities of militants in the whole province, especially in southern Balochistan.
According to ISPR, the media wing of Pakistan Army, BNA had been responsible for dozens of violent terrorist attacks in Pakistan including attacks on law-enforcement agencies (LEAs) installations in Panjgur and Noshki. Gulzar was also instrumental in formation of Baloch Raji Aajoi Sangar (BRAS) and remained its operational head. His visits to Afghanistan and India are also on record.
He had links with Hostile Intelligence Agencies (HIAs). Reportedly, HIAs also tried to exploit him to work against the state of Pakistan and its national interests.
Gulzar expressed great regret, while talking to media after his arrest, on his 15-year terrorist activities. He acknowledged that the path he took for the rights of the people of Balochistan was not correct.
It may be recalled that terrorist organisations have commandeered the youth in the name of nationalism thwarting Pakistan government’s efforts for the development of Balochistan through projects like CPEC.
However, Gulzar realised that he was led astray by the anti-Pakistan forces and his admission encouraged others like Sarfraz Bangalzai, the head of BNA, and 70 of his comrades to surrender.