A political revolutionary group struggling for the rights of the Baloch people called BLA (Baloch Liberation Army) claim’s responsibility 

In an email sent to Balochvoice website a political revolutionary group struggling for the rights of the Baloch people called BLA (Baloch Liberation Army) has claimed responsibility for the rocket attacks in Quetta on 28^th May 2003. The email also stated that these attacks were on the 5^th anniversary of the nuclear tests conducted on 28^th May 1998 in Chaghai Balochistan.  

It said “This is a reminder to the Punjabi tyrants and their touts that the Baloch have not forgotten the grave injustice done to Baloch mother land by carrying out these nuclear tests, and contaminating our land and water for the future generations to come. This is a proof, that Punjabis are not only planning to enslave the Baloch people and loot their natural resources but they don’t treat the Baloch as humans beings, and the Punjabis are perpetrating to reduce the Baloch to nothing. If this is how Punjab wants it to be then BLA sons of Balochistan will also not sit still and watch the plunder of Baloch Nation without doing any thing.” 

The letter also stated “The nuclear test was a final nail in the coffin of Baloch patience, BLA will continue its struggle against Punjabi evil designs of enslaving and plundering Baloch people and Nation, it will continue doing so till they rid Balochistan of the Punjabi menace. It will make sure that the oppressors get a taste of their own medicine.”  

BLA also urged the Baloch “to unite and fight for their rights because that is the only way to deal with an oppressor, the weak nations have no other means of compelling an aggressor to come to a negotiating table until and unless the aggressor is left with no other options. For that the Baloch must unite and be strong and only then the Baloch can bring the Punjabi tyrants to their knees.” 

Email also stated that if any Baloch believing that the Punjabi oligarchy will develop Balochistan he would be befooling himself. Because it is an historical fact that no occupying force is interested in the development of the invaded land, the invader is only interested in the resources and what can it gain from the occupied land.  

It is worth mentioning that BLA has been responsible for many explosions and attacks in targeting the Punjabi establishment in Balochistan, and is an active member of the Baloch National armed resistance. 28.5.03

Official report

On 28 May 1998 Pakistan announced that it had successfully conducted five nuclear tests. The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission that the five nuclear tests conducted on Thursday 28^th May 1998 measured up to 5.0 on the Richter scale, with a reported yield of up to 40 KT (equivalent TNT).

According to local reports, these detonations took place over a two-hour period. One device was said to be a boosted uranium device, with the four other tests being low yield sub-kiloton devices. On 30 May 1998 Pakistan tested one more nuclear warhead with a yield of 12 kilotons. The tests were conducted at Balochistan, bringing the total number of claimed tests to six.

It has also been claimed by Pakistani sources that at least one additional device, initially planned for detonation on 30 May 1998, remained emplaced underground ready for detonation.