Bashir Zaib
Bashir Zaib is a Baloch nationalist militant who is the leader of the Balochistan Liberation Army since 2018. The group is designated as a terrorist group by Pakistan, China, the United Kingdom, the United States, the European Union and several other countries and organizations.
Early life and education
Bashir Zaib was born in Nushki, Balochistan province, Pakistan, to a Baloch family belonging to the Muhammad Hasni tribe. He completed his diploma in mechanical engineering from the Quetta Polytechnic College. He later completed his master’s program in Balochi literature in 2008. During this time, he became involved in regional politics and became the chairman of the Azad faction of the Baloch Students Organization. The Azad faction was the perhaps the most radical BSO faction and campaigned for Balochistan to separate from Pakistan.Due to Zaib's activities in the BSO Azad, his admission in the University of Balochistan was prohibited in 2008. Zaib was also involved in distributing anti-Pakistan literature in Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan province. In 2010, Pakistani authorities launched a crackdown on BSO Azad, which possibly radicalized Zaib further.