Ongoing Military Dominance and Human Rights Abuses in Balochistan
Aziz Baloch highlights the prevalence of enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and the suppression of civil liberties faced by the Baloch people at the hands of state security forces. He discusses the resilience of local activists and journalists who continue to expose human rights violations despite a media blackout. He also points out the exploitation of Balochistan’s natural resources and the lack of benefits for the local population. He urges the global community to recognize and respond to the plight of the Baloch people, advocating for international pressure on Pakistan to address human rights abuses in the region.
Balochistan, a region rich in natural resources and strategically located, has been the site of ongoing military dominance and systematic human rights violations for decades. The people, particularly the Baloch, have faced relentless suppression by state security forces, characterized by enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and the curtailment of civil liberties. Despite a media blackout enforced by the state, activists and local Baloch media strive to bring these atrocities to light, revealing a grim reality that has persisted for more than two decades.
The July 2024 Crackdown: A Case in Point
One of the most recent and glaring examples of this repression occurred during the Baloch National Gathering in Gwadar on July 28, 2024. State security forces launched a violent crackdown on peaceful participants, leading to multiple arrests, assaults, and killings. This incident is emblematic of the broader trend of state-sponsored violence against Baloch activists, many of whom have been abducted, killed in custody, or disappeared without a trace. The Gwadar crackdown highlights the state’s reliance on force and brutality to suppress dissent and maintain control over Balochistan.
Despite the state’s efforts to stifle information through a biased media landscape, local Baloch journalists and activists have managed to spread news and videos of these abuses to the wider world, using social media to overcome the media blackout. However, this fight for visibility remains a constant struggle against a powerful state apparatus that seeks to erase the voices of the Baloch people.
Historical Context of Baloch Oppression
The Baloch people, who inhabit parts of both Pakistan and Iran, have a long history of resistance against oppressive regimes. Balochistan in Pakistan, which accounts for 44% of the country’s land, and Sistan-Baluchistan in Iran are home to a marginalized population that has suffered from underdevelopment, high unemployment rates, and severe political and cultural repression. The exploitation of the region’s vast natural resources—including natural gas, gold, copper, silver, coal, marble, and deep-sea ports such as Gwadar and Chahbahar—has only exacerbated tensions. Unfortunately, the local population lacks access to basic amenities and does not benefit from its natural wealth.
“One of the most disturbing aspects of the state’s approach to Balochistan is the systematic use of enforced disappearances. Activists, intellectuals, students, and even ordinary citizens have been forcibly taken by security agencies, often never to be seen again. ”
A particularly egregious example of this exploitation is the Saindak and Reko Diq projects, where the benefits mainly go to Chinese and Canadian companies, like Barrick Gold, with less than 2% of the profits reaching Balochistan, despite the federal government’s supposed 25% allocation. This unequal distribution has fueled resentment among the Baloch people, contributing to the broader insurgency and calls for greater autonomy and self-determination.
Enforced Disappearances and Extrajudicial Killings
One of the most disturbing aspects of the state’s approach to Balochistan is the systematic use of enforced disappearances. Activists, intellectuals, students, and even ordinary citizens have been forcibly taken by security agencies, often never to be seen again. In many cases, families are left with no information about the whereabouts or fate of their loved ones, who are detained without due process.
In 2016, nine members of a single family were abducted during a military operation in Kalat, a district in Balochistan. To this day, these individuals remain missing, leaving their families in anguish and uncertainty. Such cases are not isolated incidents; enforced disappearances have become a widespread tool of repression in Balochistan, with activists describing it as collective punishment against the Baloch nation.
Human rights organizations, including the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), have repeatedly raised concerns about these abuses. At a recent HRCP meeting in Quetta, Dr. Mahrang Baloch delivered a powerful speech, calling for an end to the military’s grip on the region and urging international human rights organizations to pay attention to the plight of the Baloch people.
The Struggle for Civil Liberties
Civil liberties, particularly the right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, are severely curtailed in Balochistan. The military maintains a heavy presence in the region, with towns like Gwadar often placed under siege during protests or political gatherings. The Baloch Solidarity Committee, which organizes many of these gatherings, has faced relentless suppression by the state.
This militarized approach to governance has created a climate of fear in Balochistan, where dissent is met with violence, and peaceful protesters are treated as enemies of the state. The recent crackdown on the Baloch National Gathering is just one example of how the state views any form of political mobilization in the region as a threat to its authority.
The Role of International Attention
Aziz Baloch
Despite the state’s efforts to suppress information, international attention on Balochistan’s human rights situation has been growing. Activists like Saeeda Baloch have taken their stories to global platforms, meeting online with United Nations representatives and calling for international pressure on Pakistan to address the issue of enforced disappearances. Similarly, journalists like Hamid Mir have played a crucial role in exposing the state’s crimes in Balochistan. Mir has fearlessly reported on the killings of political workers, students, poets, and writers, many of whom have died in custody. His work has brought much-needed attention to the human rights crisis in the region, despite the personal risks he faces.
At the 5th International Conference in Geneva, the Baloch National Movement organized a seminar where they premiered a documentary showcasing the resilience and courage of the Baloch people in the face of adversity. The documentary highlighted ongoing human rights violations, the Baloch genocide, and the determination for justice and freedom.
Voices of Resistance
Among the most inspiring voices in the struggle for justice in Balochistan is Sami Deen Baloch, the daughter of a forcibly disappeared medical officer, Dr. Deen Muhammad Baloch. Since the age of 10, Sami has been at the forefront of protests, demanding the safe return of her father and other disappeared persons. Her activism has been recognized globally, and she was recently awarded for her bravery and leadership in advocating for human rights in Balochistan.
During the fifth military operation on August 26, 2006, the Pakistani army killed Nawab Akber Khan Bugti, a Baloch national leader, former governor, and premier of Balochistan, who remains a symbol of Baloch resistance. His assassination has intensified calls for greater autonomy and justice for the Baloch people. Bugti’s speeches continue to resonate with Baloch nationalists, who view his death as a turning point in their struggle for self-determination.
Conclusion: A Call for Justice
The ongoing military dominance and human rights abuses in Balochistan represent a grave violation of the fundamental rights of its people. From enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings to the suppression of civil liberties, the state’s treatment of the Baloch people reflects a broader pattern of authoritarianism and repression.
As Baloch activists and international human rights organizations continue to raise awareness, it is imperative for the global community to hold Pakistan accountable for its actions in Balochistan. Only through sustained international pressure and attention can there be hope for justice, dignity, and peace in the region.
