Bashir Zaib

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 (BSO). 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 radicalised Zaib further. == Militant career ==

Zaib joined the Balochistan Liberation Army in 2012. Following the death of his brother, Aslam Baloch, who had led the organisation from 2006 to 2018, Zaib succeeded him as the leader of the BLA in 2018. == Notes ==