Sindhudesh Liberation Army

The Sindhudesh Liberation Army (also known as Sindh Liberation Army or SLA) is a Sindhi Militant organization based in the Sindh province of Pakistan. It became publicly known in 2010 after it claimed responsibility for a targeted bomb blast on railway tracks near Hyderabad, Pakistan.^[2] The group is currently active.^[3]

Sindhudesh Liberation Army
سنڌوديش لبريشن آرمي
Flag of Sindhudesh used by SLA
Also known as	SLA SDLA
Leader	Shafi Muhammad Burfat Darya Khan (Chief Commander)
Dates of operation	2010 – Present
Country	Pakistan Sindh
Motives	Independence of Sindh from Pakistan Establishing rights and determination of Sindhi people
Active regions	Sindh
Ideology	Sindhi nationalism
Major actions	Bombings
Notable attacks	List of Sindhudesh Liberation Army attacks on Pakistan infrastructure in Sindh
Status	Active [1]
Size	Unknown
Means of revenue	Sindhi diaspora in  United States  United Kingdom
Battles and wars	Insurgency in Sindh
Designated as a terrorist group by	Pakistan

Darya Khan is the leader of the group.^[4] Pakistan's media also stated that Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz's Chairman Mr. Shafi Muhammad Burfat is operating Sindhudesh Liberation Army from Kabul, however the claim doesn't have evidence.^[5]

Declaration as a terrorist organisation

Sindhudesh Liberation Army is designated as terrorist organisation by the government of Pakistan.^[6] Pakistan has repeatedly accused India of supporting Sindhudesh Liberation Army.^[7]

Attacks

See also: 2022 Karachi Saddar bombing

The group is responsible for low-intensity bomb explosions in parts of Sindh. In May 2012, the group claimed responsibility for low-intensity bomb explosions outside the bank branches and Automated Teller Machines (ATM) of the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) in different districts of Sindh. Four people were injured in the attacks.^{[8][9][10][11]} In 2016, a vehicle of Chinese engineer was targeted with remote control bomb at Gulshan-e-Hadeed Karachi. Chinese national and his driver were injured in the explosion. Sindhudesh Liberation Army (SLA) claimed responsibility for the attack.^[12]

On August 5, 2020, the Sindhudesh Revolutionary Army (SRA), a Group Allied with SLA, claimed responsibility for a grenade attack on a rally organized by the Jamaat-i-Islami in Karachi that injured about 40 people. The rally was taken out on the first anniversary of India government's decision to revoke the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.^[13]

See also

• Balochistan Liberation Army
• Sindhudesh
• Sindhi Nationalism
• List of Sindhudesh Liberation Army attacks on Pakistan infrastructure in Sindh
• Insurgency in Sindh

References

1. "Pakistan: Fragil Sindh Order". Eurasia Review. February 2022. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
2. "Sindhi separatists try to blow up Hyderabad railway track". tribune.com.pk. July 13, 2010. Archived from the original on February 3, 2014. Retrieved July 14, 2010.
3. "Terrorist Groups". South Asian Terrorism Portal Index (SATP). Retrieved 15 June 2019.
4. "Houses of six PPP leaders targeted in 'bomb attacks'". Dawn Newspaper. 9 October 2012. Archived from the original on 10 October 2012. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
5. "Fugitive Sindhudesh chief operating from Kabul". The News. Archived from the original on January 9, 2013. Retrieved October 17, 2012.
6. "Who is behind the attacks on PPP leaders?". The News. Archived from the original on October 12, 2012. Retrieved October 12, 2012.
7. "RAW-backed 'Sindhu Desh Liberation Army' claims responsibility for fatal bus shooting". Terminal X. Archived from the original on 2012-05-29. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
8. "Bombs target ATMs, bank branches across Sindh". Tribune. May 2012. Archived from the original on May 2, 2012. Retrieved May 2, 2012.
9. "Series of blasts hit targets in Sindh". Gulf News. May 3, 2012. Archived from the original on May 4, 2012. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
10. "18 blasts hit railway tracks in Sindh". Samma TV. Archived from the original on April 18, 2013. Retrieved February 25, 2012.
11. "14 bombs damage rail tracks". The Nation. February 26, 2012. Archived from the original on February 26, 2012. Retrieved February 26, 2012.
12. "Warnings were out about SDLA plan to attack Chinese nationals". Central Asia Online. Archived from the original on November 14, 2016. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
13. Ali, Qazi Hassan | Imtiaz (2020-08-05). "Nearly 40 injured in grenade attack on JI rally in Karachi". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2020-08-06.