Militant leader surrenders in Quetta

E-Paper | February 23, 2026

QUETTA: A leader of the banned United Baloch Army (UBA) has surrendered to authorities along with his 50 supporters.

Wali Mohammad alias Haji Kalati, the UBA ‘commander’ for Kohlu, Kahan and Barkhan region, announced his surrender at a press conference at the residence of provincial Irrigation Minister Nawab Jangeez Khan Marri here on Thursday.

Kalati claimed that he had been fighting for independence of Balochistan since 1970 and spent 45 years on mountains.

“Now I have realised that this fight has been launched by tribal chiefs to protect their own interests,” he said, adding that internal fighting among leaders of banned organisations had helped him to come to that conclusion.

Mr Marri asked members of Marri tribe to say farewell to arms, join mainstream and play a role in development of the country and the province.

Published in Dawn June 5th, 2015

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Word Life

Jun 05, 2015 06:59am

Very positive news

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Ghalib

Jun 05, 2015 07:00am

Welcome back

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Hashim Khan

Jun 05, 2015 07:39am

He has a treasure of information of the inner workings of this militant campaign especially at the behest of our enemy nations. Let's get all the names and document everything before launching a stern operation against foreign agents.

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Omar

Jun 05, 2015 07:50am

Glad to see such a brave and wonderful realization by this man. We should help integrate these individuals back so they become productive members of society.

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Shaukat Ali

Jun 05, 2015 07:59am

It is never too late; welcome.

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Muhammad

Jun 05, 2015 08:00am

This is all due to the great leadership of Gen Raheel Sharif. Those Balouch militants have been mislead by their so called leaders. Those tribal chiefs have nothing to do with the interest of Baluchistan or Baluch people. They don't even want independence of Baluchistan. They just patronize criminals, and keep general public illiterate to maintain their power over them.

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Muneeb

Jun 05, 2015 08:06am

MashaAllah!

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imran

Jun 05, 2015 08:08am

No matter what at the end of the day we are all Muslims and Pakistani.

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Naveed

Jun 05, 2015 08:09am

Good news!! We need to encourage others fighting against goverment to look for alternative peaceful ways to find solution of their problems. More autonomous provinces is one of the solutions we need to look for. If it can happens in Northern Ireland, it can happens anywhere else in the world.

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Indian Dalit

Jun 05, 2015 08:19am

Great, please contribute towards the success of Pakistan.

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M Jamal

Jun 05, 2015 08:28am

Justice,equality and localisation is to be followed in all parts of Pakistan if we want to be called a civilised society.

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proud-winner

Jun 05, 2015 08:31am

Excellent news. They should be welcomed back into the mainstream with open arms and rehabilitated properly.

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shoaib

Jun 05, 2015 08:37am

now please give him and his supporters jobs and their children education so that disillusionment with the state doesnt take them back to their destructive ways

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Omar

Jun 05, 2015 08:49am

Good that you have realized as Pakistan hai tu hum hain Pakistan nahee tu kuch nahee

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Akil Akhtar

Jun 05, 2015 08:50am

Well done, I have been saying this in my own capacity that this insurgency is to stop any progress in Balochistan as that is a threat to the Sardari culture.

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Khasim baloch

Jun 05, 2015 09:09am

Alhumdulillah ,May sanity and wisdom prevails in other tribal chiefs who are fighting for their interests and ego. Everyone has the right to live happily and reap the seeds of the soil collectively. Its everyones land. All politicians who eat up the peoples money and don't divest in the development,education,health and other benefits must be behind the bars forever.

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Hussain

Jun 05, 2015 09:09am

Salute to all those whose efforts brought him back. All policies should be centered towards welfare of Baloch people so that they could be brought at par with other parts of the country.

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Umar

Jun 05, 2015 09:35am

That is a more pragmatic approach and baloch fighters are realizing that they r used by their chief on behest of foreign powers

Recommend 0

Jun 05, 2015 09:35am

Please treat him well now, spend some money to develop there area

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Sonny Afridi

Jun 05, 2015 09:35am

Good news. He should become part of solution. Expose the proxy forces who want to see the province be backward

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javed Hasrat

Jun 05, 2015 09:40am

Well Come in new Pakistan,n a new era and a new world.

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gul zaman

Jun 05, 2015 09:45am

Welcome back brother. It is never too late.

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imran khan

Jun 05, 2015 09:50am

good omen for pakistan. lets embrace our baloch brothers whole heartedly and give them there due rights and respect.

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Maverick

Jun 05, 2015 09:51am

We should welcome him, his entourage and those sharing his views with open arms, He and his entourage must be treated with respect in line with the tribal customs and Baloch culture. Welcome back

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Junaid

Jun 05, 2015 09:58am

goood moveeee

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RAGHVENDRA

Jun 05, 2015 10:03am

Positive symbol for both india and pakistan....

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Sukhera

Jun 05, 2015 10:05am

The UBA leader has finally realized after 45 years of fighting that he has been used by the tribal leaders to protect their interests. He has to ask for forgiveness from the family members of all the innocent people who were killed by his organization. He should also convince other UBA leaders to lay down their arms and support the govt. so that we can all work together to improve the lives of all people living in the province.

Recommend 0

bilal

Jun 05, 2015 10:20am

Well done

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Shaan

Jun 05, 2015 10:23am

Daer Aaed Durast Aaed Better late than never. Welcome to Pakistan

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Khan

Jun 05, 2015 10:41am

took 45 years of living in mountains to realize this....but better late than never.

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SIR Chin

Jun 05, 2015 10:47am

Good home coming.

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Nirvana

Jun 05, 2015 10:48am

It is never too late. Those who renounce violence should be welcomed back with open arms.

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NAEEM KHAN

Jun 05, 2015 10:53am

ALHAMDULILLAH

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Taha

Jun 05, 2015 11:14am

Give peace a chance. Lets genuinely respect such individuals who give up arms and anti state struggle for the love and betterment of the country and the people. Many such have been brain washed and abused by paid touts and Mir Jaffers fed by foreign as well as internal funding. On the other hand this means state machinery, media and general public respecting every one's rights and privileges the state guarantees under the constitution as well as Islamic principles of life.

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Patriotic Indian

Jun 05, 2015 11:21am

@imran "No matter what at the end of the day we are all Muslims and Pakistani." why no think big ? "No matter what at the end of the day we are all Humans."

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Haris Riaz

Jun 05, 2015 11:28am

Very positive move n it should be followed by other groups hidding in mountains.

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Salman

Jun 05, 2015 12:33pm

Alhamdulilah, let's work together.

Recommend 0

Jun 05, 2015 12:37pm

Very good news!

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Akram

Jun 05, 2015 12:43pm

that's what we need reconciliation ..bravo

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lalit

Jun 05, 2015 12:48pm

This is wonderful news. Hope others will follow his lead.

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There is hope

Jun 05, 2015 01:12pm

Welcome back! the rest of Pakistan will never abandon you Balochis. We are brothers. Together we will bring peace, stability and harmony back to Pakistan - the land of pure!

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Truth

Jun 05, 2015 01:26pm

The army will show no mercy if they get caught its better they surrender and tell everything to authorities.

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Wasi

Jun 05, 2015 01:38pm

Smells more like a conspiracy. He suddenly just gives up after 45 years. Please... Igniting the flames of discontent is not solely indias role in pakistan. There are many others operating under false pretenses, namely to "protect" the state. This game they're playing will cause the country to crumble and they will only have themselves to blame.

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Nadir Baloch

Jun 05, 2015 02:50pm

I am baloch and I love my country Pakistan and I know many people in Pakistani balochistan province miss guided by foreign agencies. But I believe soon things 4 resolved.

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Akram

Jun 05, 2015 02:55pm

good news, this should the path to pursue with other Baloch insurgents.

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rehan

Jun 05, 2015 02:59pm

@Patriotic Indian So what's your problem if we take pride in being Pakistanis and Muslims ?

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Ibrahim Abbasi

Jun 05, 2015 03:02pm

Glade to see this, well done.

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Imran Asghar

Jun 05, 2015 04:02pm

It is a much better achievement than victory after battle.

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Imran Asghar

Jun 05, 2015 04:11pm

It is a much better achievement than a victory after battle.

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Nasir Khan

Jun 05, 2015 07:21pm

Please spend money in Baluchistan to raise people's living style. We need honest people because all politician in Pakistan are corrupt. We need military to build Pakistan and Baluchistan.

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Sonny Afridi

Jun 05, 2015 07:21pm

@Nadir Baloch thanks brother you're right. Government and provincial govt must address this just like they should address economic prosperity to Balochistan. With CPEC I see good future

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Sarwat

Jun 05, 2015 08:43pm

@Indian Dalit Thank you my Indian friend. We need to take more positive steps as there are elements on both sides of the our borders who do not want peace between our countries. We need to figure out how can we bring people of our beloved countries to come closer, which in turn will let our countries prosper by leaps and bounds. We can't be consumed anymore by our petty issues and differences. I look forward to the day when our borders are open and people visit as freely as Canadians and the Americans do. Unguarded borders. I may be an idealist, but that is where we start to work for our future.

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Baluch

Jun 05, 2015 09:32pm

Good News,however,this isn't enough.it will be utter foolish if the government thinks that it has resolved all issues.The incumbent must take some steps because if Kalati has surrendered with his 50 accomplices,meanwhile there are 50 others who must have joined the insurgent camps. Therefore,addressing core problems/issues is need of the hour .These issues include, jobs for jobless graduates/masters, developmental projects,ending Extra-judicial killings,and encouraging meritocracy in the province. The state of unfairness can be judged from the fact that the budget of Balochistan is 40 billion rupees while the pindi metro project had cost 60 billion rupees.This is indeed gross inequality!!

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Sukhera

Jun 05, 2015 09:40pm

The militant leader should cooperate with the authorities on discovering the source of funds and weapons of the banned organizations if he is truly patriotic. We know that his banned group co-operated with other outfits and his information could help dismantle their network.

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Manal

Jun 06, 2015 12:00am

good job! good show of courage! never too late to turn a new leaf and start over!

Recommend 0

Khalid

Jun 06, 2015 01:26am

@rehan That's great. But if, sometimes, we take pride in being Pakistanis only it will help the religious minorities realize that we all are equal.

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S. A. M.

Jun 06, 2015 04:07am

it must have been very tough to admit that whatever he had been doing for 45 years was wrong But hey what matters is that now you have made the right decision and that's what matters the most ant bhala to Sab bhala

Recommend 0

Rob

Jun 06, 2015 10:25am

@rehan Problem is that you think there are no-one else in Pak than Muslims. I think there are other minority people are also living in Pak or do you consider them non-pakistani.

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Sukhera

Jun 06, 2015 06:30pm

@Baluch . The only way forward is to have a peace conference of all the groups who are inciting insurgency. Once we sit on the table across each other , we can resolve all outstanding issues amicably. There is no need to fight. I am sure the government is very eager and willing to talk with the rebels but the rebels have to show a good faith effort and renounce voilence.

Recommend 0

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