UAE behind BLA attacks on Pakistani Army

Claim by Pakistani experts

Islamabad (Pakistan) – For the past week, clashes have been ongoing in several parts of Balochistan between the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and the Pakistani military. The Pakistani government and army have accused India of supporting these operations; however, according to some Pakistani experts, the real hand behind the violence may be that of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Pakistani analyst Ali Mustafa has claimed in an analysis that the UAE may have played a significant role in the recent violence in Balochistan. According to him, it would not have been easy for the BLA to carry out simultaneous attacks on 12 cities in the province. Considering the use of advanced weaponry and the level of planning involved, it is evident that the group received substantial foreign assistance.

How is the UAE connected to violence in Pakistan's Balochistan? pic.twitter.com/VIuK8GMNKa

— علی مصطفی | Ali Mustafa (@Ali_Mustafa) February 5, 2026

UAE–Saudi tensions strain Pakistan relations

According to Ali Mustafa, toward the end of last year the UAE President Al Nahyan had visited Pakistan and spoken about improving bilateral relations; however, the situation has changed rapidly in recent times. In particular, rising tensions between the UAE and Saudi Arabia have begun to distance Pakistan from the UAE. While Pakistan currently appears closer to Saudi Arabia, the UAE maintains close relations with Israel and India.

Gwadar port as the key factor

Apart from tensions with Saudi Arabia, it is claimed that economic interests lie behind the UAE’s alleged attempts to create instability in Balochistan and Gwadar. Mustafa argues that any disruption at Gwadar port benefits the UAE. If Gwadar becomes fully operational, the UAE’s influence over maritime trade could diminish. Therefore, instability at Gwadar caused by BLA violence serves UAE interests, according to him.

Allegation of creating chaos in Pakistan

Mustafa further stated that to maintain the dominance of Jebel Ali port in the Arabian Sea, it is in the UAE’s interest to divert global trade away from Gwadar. As a result, the UAE may want attacks in Gwadar—especially on Chinese engineers—to continue. Violence in Gwadar provides relief to Dubai’s cargo terminals. He also noted that by increasing chaos in Balochistan, the UAE may be attempting to retain its grip on maritime trade.

Indirect allegations against India as well

Ali Mustafa said that there is discussion about India’s involvement in Balochistan; however, there are no indications of assistance coming from India via Afghanistan or Iran. Given India’s influence in the UAE, he did not rule out the possibility that if India were supporting the BLA, Dubai could be one of the routes used for such assistance.

Growing suspicion against the United Arab Emirates

Ali Mustafa is not alone in expressing suspicion toward the UAE. Senior Pakistani journalist Absar Alam recently stated that the UAE has a major role behind the terrorism-related challenges facing Islamabad. He claimed that both Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan and the BLA receive support from the UAE, and that BLA members are being given shelter there.

India behind the Balochistan attacks: Pakistani Army

According to Pakistani media reports, Army Chief Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited those injured in the Balochistan attacks at a hospital in Quetta. During the visit, the Pakistani military informed Munir that the BLA carried out the attacks with India’s support. Following this, Munir told journalists that the terrorists involved in the attacks and those who assisted them would not be forgiven, and that every individual responsible would be punished.