ISLAMABAD: A prominent Israeli academic and former Israel Defense Forcesconscript has sparked controversy by alleging that Israeli intelligence isactively supporting Baloch militant groups in Pakistan to destabilize thecountry, amid escalating separatist violence in the resource-rich province.Dr. Haim Bresheeth-Žabner made the claim in a recent interview clip widelyshared on social media platforms in early February 2026, describing Israelas backing Baloch militias to launch attacks on Pakistan, in what heportrayed as part of a broader geopolitical strategy involving regionalactors.
Dr. Haim Bresheeth-Žabner, a retired film studies professor at the Schoolof Oriental and African Studies in London, is a well-known critic ofIsraeli policies and author of the book An Army Like No Other: How the IDFMade a Nation, published in 2020. Born to Holocaust survivors and raised inIsrael after his family immigrated post-World War II, he served as aconscript in the IDF during the 1967 war, including a stint as a secondlieutenant in the Golani infantry brigade. He later became an outspokenanti-Zionist activist, founding the Jewish Network for Palestine andcontributing to outlets critical of Israeli actions in Gaza and the WestBank.
The allegation comes at a time of heightened insecurity in Balochistan,where coordinated attacks by groups like the Baloch Liberation Army claimeddozens of lives in late January and early February 2026. Pakistaniauthorities reported killing over 140 militants in retaliatory operations,labeling the insurgents as backed by foreign elements, particularly India,with some officials using terms like Fitna al-Hindustan to denote allegedIndian orchestration. Afghanistan has also been accused of providingsanctuary to militants, though both countries deny involvement.
Allegations of Israeli involvement in Baloch separatism have circulated inregional media and analyses since mid-2025, particularly following thelaunch of the Middle East Media Research Institute’s Balochistan StudiesProject. This initiative, led by an organization founded by a formerIsraeli intelligence officer, focuses on translating Balochi, Urdu,Persian, and Pashto sources while documenting grievances against Pakistanand Iran. Critics view it as an attempt to amplify separatist narrativesand co-opt the Baloch cause for strategic ends against adversaries.
Pakistani commentators and security analysts have long pointed to aperceived nexus involving India, Israel, and sometimes Afghan elements insupporting Baloch militants. Reports highlight India’s documented historyof alleged covert operations in the province, including the 2016 arrest ofIndian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, who confessed to intelligenceactivities aimed at fomenting unrest. The addition of Israeli dimensions isseen by some as an extension of efforts to counter Pakistan’s alliances,including its close ties with China through the China-Pakistan EconomicCorridor, which relies heavily on Gwadar port in Balochistan.
Dr. Bresheeth-Žabner’s statement aligns with his broader critique ofIsraeli militarism and foreign policy interventions. In his writings andinterviews, he has described Israel as a nation shaped by perpetualconflict and military dominance, extending this lens to alleged proxyactions elsewhere. While his claims lack official corroboration fromIsraeli authorities, they resonate in circles viewing external powers asexploiting local grievances for geopolitical leverage against Pakistan andIran.
Baloch separatist groups have historically demanded greater resourcecontrol and autonomy, accusing successive Pakistani governments ofmarginalizing the province despite its vast mineral wealth and strategiclocation. Insurgencies date back decades, with peaks following militaryoperations and resource exploitation disputes. Recent violence, includingattacks on security installations, prisons, and infrastructure, has drawninternational attention, with militants claiming responsibility whilePakistani forces conduct large-scale counter-operations.
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The involvement of multiple regional players remains a contentious issue,with Pakistan repeatedly sharing dossiers on alleged foreign backing. Noindependent verification has confirmed direct Israeli state support forarmed Baloch groups, though think tank activities and opinion pieces inIsraeli-linked publications have fueled speculation about indirectinfluence through narrative amplification and strategic interest inweakening rivals.
Such allegations underscore the complex interplay of ethnic separatism,resource politics, and great-power rivalries in South Asia and the MiddleEast. As Balochistan grapples with ongoing instability, claims like thosefrom Dr. Bresheuth-Žabner highlight how local conflicts can become proxiesin wider geopolitical contests, potentially complicating efforts towarddialogue and resolution in the province.
Bresheeth-Zabner
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