Tag: Balochistan

The students say that they informed the university vice-chancellor about the issue, but then he rebuffed them and said that he was helpless as “there are orders from the above”….reports Asian Lite News

The Baloch and Pashtun students at the University of Gujrat in Pakistan’s Punjab province, say that they are being harassed and racially profiled inside the varsity premises, the Balochistan Post reported.

They say that unknown men dressed in civilian clothes frequent the university and summon the students to check their mobile phones, social media accounts and ask questions about their family members. The Pashtun students are forced to answer queries regarding the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement, the report said.

The students say that they informed the university vice-chancellor about the issue, but then he rebuffed them and said that he was helpless as “there are orders from the above”. The students said that the university possesses all the relevant data of the students in its records, but the students are being harassed for information that is not related to their academics in any way.

The students say that this practice is common in other universities of Punjab province where Baloch and Pashtun students are harassed on daily basis, both by the university administration and other students. They said that students are summoned to these universities for interviews, but then they are asked personal questions about their friends and families.

A few days ago, the hostels of the Baloch students in Punjab University, Lahore, were raided and two students were detained. They were moved to an unknown location and their condition and whereabouts remain unknown, the report said.

Baloch Students at the University of Gujrat said that they were recently summoned for questioning, but they refused to go. When they once again visited the vice-chancellor in this regard, he assured them that nothing will happen to them inside the university premises but he cannot guarantee their safety and wellbeing outside the campus gates.

The students say that they are concerned for their safety after the Vice-Chancellor’s dubious and lukewarm response.

ALSO READ: Security forces abducted dozens from Balochistan

In the past two weeks, especially after the attacks on FC headquarters in Panjgur and Noshki, “enforced disappearances” have increased manifolds…writes Sanjeev Sharma

Pakistani security forces have abducted dozens of individuals from Panjgur in Balochistan in the past few days after the massive attacks on security forces.

The Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) held a press conference in the Quetta Press Club on Friday where VBMP General Secretary Sammi Deen Baloch addressed journalists and the public on the recent alarming developments in Balochistan, Balochistan Post reported.

She said that after the Panjgur and Noshki attacks, “enforced disappearances” and “kill-and-dumps” have seen an alarming spike in Balochistan, and the trend is frightening.

Sammi Baloch said that “enforced disappearances” have been a major human rights issue in Balochistan for the past two decades – the rate of disappearances has increased and slowed down at times, but it has never stopped.

But in the past two weeks, especially after the attacks on FC headquarters in Panjgur and Noshki, “enforced disappearances” have increased manifolds, the report said.

She said that the Pakistani security forces have “abducted” dozens of individuals from Panjgur in the past few days. She said that the forces have moved the detainees to unknown locations and their conditions and whereabouts remain unknown – their family members are concerned about their wellbeing.

Sammi Baloch also disclosed the details of several individuals who were allegedly “abducted” by the Pakistani forces in the past few days. She said that a first-year student of the Islamic International University Islamabad, Ehtisham Sarwar, was abducted by the Pakistani forces from the main Panjgur Bazar on February 3. He was killed in custody and his mutilated dead body was thrown in the wilderness, she added, as per the report.

She said that Altaf Jara, a student, was killed in a “fake encounter” by the Pakistani forces in the Tajaban area of Turbat on February 4. The forces also “abducted” Malik Meeran, a social activist and a businessman, and several others from Panjgur, including Rajab Dil, Murad Basit, Hassan Shabir, Haji Karim, Masroor Arif, Yahya and Raees.

Sammi Baloch said Turbat, Noshki and other areas of Balochistan also witnessed their share of “enforced disappearances”. On February 8 and 9, the security forces “abducted” several individuals from different areas of Balochistan, which include Nazeer Rehmat, Niaz Nouroz, Raziq Baloch, Waheed Baloch, Fareed Asim, Mol Jaan, Yaseen, Karim Dad, Samiullah, Sawad Khan, Shabir Jan, Amanullah, Abdul Samad and Dhani Baksh Bugti, the report said.

She said that Hafeez Baloch, an MPhil student in the Physics Department of the Quaid-e-Azam University, was forcibly disappeared by the Pakistani forces from Khuzdar, and that Hafeez Baloch had come home for holidays and he was teaching at a science academy when the forces picked him up and moved to an undisclosed location. Whereas, two other students, identified as Haroon and Nadeem, were also detained in Quetta.

Baloch said that the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, had vowed to the VBMP that all the Baloch missing persons will be safely released, but what is happening is quite the opposite – enforced disappearances have seen a sudden uptick throughout Balochistan.

The VBMP was formed by the families of missing persons to raise voice against forceful disappearances in Balochistan, allegedly by Pakistani security forces. VBMP has organized numerous events, protests and rallies, including a long walk from Quetta to Karachi and then to Islamabad. VBMP has set a protest camp which is nonstop protesting for last 4,588 days.

As per VBMP, more than 45,000 Baloch men, women and children have been disappeared, who are languishing in torture cells, the report said.

ALSO READ: Baloch insurgency: Pakistan pins blame on India

Baluch separatists appear to have lost their erstwhile sanctuary in Afghanistan since the Taliban seized Kabul in August, and experts see an opening for Iran…reports Asian Lite News

Since the beginning of this year, violent attacks by secular ethnic Baloch separatists in Pakistan’s restive southwestern province of Balochistan have dramatically risen. The once ragtag guerrillas relying on “hit-and-run” tactics are now turning to high-profile suicide attacks that cause mass casualties, RFE/RL has reported.

Pakistani officials blame regional rivals for the increase in violence in the vast province bordering Iran and Afghanistan and the site of major Chinese projects.

But experts in Balochistan say the spike shows that Islamabad’s failure to resolve or effectively address the long-standing grievances of its ethnic Baluch minority has helped the insurgency persist and provide an opening for neighbours to interfere, the report said.

Balochistan is home to several major Chinese projects touted as a way to change Pakistan’s economic fortunes and benefit Balochistan by bringing in jobs and investments. The port of Gwadar became the linchpin of the Pakistan China Economic Corridor (CPEC), a collection of multibillion-dollar energy and transportation projects aimed at linking Xinjiang in western China to the Gulf of Oman through Pakistan. Beijing is also involved in mineral extraction in Balochistan.

But Baluch nationalists oppose Beijing’s footprint. Since separatists began attacking Chinese workers in 2004, Islamabad has launched sporadic military sweeps and a continued crackdown on militants and other supporters of the cause. Human rights campaigners accuse Islamabad of forcefully disappearing or extrajudicially killing Baluch activists and militants since the first clashes erupted between nationalist rebels and security forces in 2000, RFE/RL reported.

Baluch separatists appear to have lost their erstwhile sanctuary in Afghanistan since the Taliban seized Kabul in August, and experts see an opening for Iran, the report said.

“This might be the first time that Iran is sheltering the Baluch insurgents,” Anwar Sajidi, editor of Intikhab, a daily in Balochistan said. “Afghanistan has always sheltered the Baluch.”

Pakistan’s Balochistan Province borders Iran’s southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchistan, where Sunni Baluch make up the majority of residents. Over the past two decades, the Sunni Baluch group Jandullah and its successor, Jaish-ul Adl, have claimed responsibility for scores of deadly attacks and the kidnappings of Iranian security forces. Unlike the secular Baluch separatists in Pakistan, the Baluch groups in Iran see themselves in a struggle against Iran’s Shi’ite clerical rulers, the report added.

ALSO READ: Afghanistan may become safe haven for Al Qaeda, TTP: UN report

It came after 20 terrorists and nine soldiers were killed last week as security forces repulsed terrorist attacks on their camps in Balochistan’s Naushki and Panjgur….reports Asian Lite News

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and the country’s Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Tuesday arrived in Balochistan’s capital Quetta and went to Naushki, where nine soldiers and 20 terrorists were killed last week in an exchange of fire during a three-day operation by security forces, reported local media.

Imran Khan and Bajwa will be given a comprehensive briefing later in the day and they will also meet local tribal elders, reported Dawn citing the Inter-Services Public Relation (ISPR).

Bajwa will spend the day with troops and also meet those who repulsed the attack on February 2. The Army chief will be briefed about the security situation in the area as well as operational preparedness of the formation to counter-terrorist activities, reported Dawn

وزیراعظم عمران خان کا دورۂ نوشکی

وزیراعظم نے آرمی چیف جنرل قمر جاوید باجوہ کے ہمراہ نوشکی میں تعینات فوجی جوانوں سے ملاقات کی۔ pic.twitter.com/VYbbo0yZi4

— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) February 8, 2022

A meeting of the Federal Cabinet was cancelled on Tuesday due to Imran Khan’s visit.

Fawad Chaudhary, Minister for Information and Broadcasting, earlier on Tuesday in his Tweet had said federal cabinet meeting had been cancelled due to Quetta’s visit of the premier.

It came after 20 terrorists and nine soldiers were killed last week as security forces repulsed terrorist attacks on their camps in Balochistan’s Naushki and Panjgur. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Pakistan’s information war against Baloch nationalists

Even as the fight was raging on in Balochistan, the top brass of the Pakistani leadership was away in Beijing trying to wrangle better deals for the troubled China Pakistan Economic Corridor …writes Rahul Kumar

All of Pakistan has been on the knife’s edge for over 72 hours after fighters from the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) engaged Pakistan’s Frontier Corps (FC) troops at its headquarters in Noshki and Panjgur inflicting heavy casualties. The two towns lie in Balochistan and are around 460 km apart, clearly showing the depth and coordination of Baloch nationalists.

Pakistan has blocked the Twitter accounts of journalist Bahot Baloch (@bahotbluch) and BLA spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch (@Jeeyand_Baloch2). Local newspaper, The Balochistan Post too had its account suspended for a while. Media continues to be blocked.

The Pakistani military has claimed that it has killed 20 Baloch attackers and lost nine of its men. On the other hand, the BLA claims that it killed over 195 Pakistani FC men and lost 16 fighters in its attack called Operation Ganjal.

However, the two warring parties in the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) of the Pakistani army and the BLA fighters agreed on one point that the intense fighting has ended.

Pakistan watcher Mark Kinra told India Narrative that it is difficult to ferret out the truth from the twin attacks. “Considering there is a media blackout in Balochistan and the social media handles are suspended, it is difficult to ascertain truth at this time. I think we will get to know about the Pakistani personnel casualties only later”.

The intensity of the attack by the Baloch group has taken the world by surprise and deeply embarrassed Pakistani forces. A handful of Baloch fighters captured the Frontier corps (FC) headquarters in Panjgur through a bomb and gun attack for three days and then held at bay Pakistani Army drones, armed personnel carriers and helicopter gunships for nearly 72-odd hours before forces could take back the Panjgur camp.

Pakistan had to impose curfew as well as evacuate people from the vicinity of the Panjgur FC camp.

There has been much speculation about the daring shown and the weapons used by the Baloch nationalists in their twin attacks. Weapons research handle on Twitter, Calibre Obscura has published Baloch fighters with “Afghan-origin hardware; M4 Carbine/ACOG/PEQs, and a M32A1 MGL”, proving that the Baloch armed groups are in touch with their Taliban comrades.

Kinra says: “One thing which has been corroborated is that the BLA has developed a modus operandi to breach the security of the Pakistani Army and hold it for 72 hours. This became possible due to two factors�Operation Ganjal had support from allied organizations in Baloch Raaji Aajoi Sangar (BRAS) and the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) factor. The TTP is providing logistical support to the Baloch as it has a presence in Balochistan and has led attacks in the region”.

Even as the Panjgur fighting was going on, Baloch nationalists blew up a paramilitary vehicle in Dera Bugti district, killing one paramilitary soldier and three pro-government tribal militiamen. Balochistan is famous for the Pakistani State-run “death squads” that kidnap, torture and kill Baloch youth and strew their bodies randomly to create fear among the populace.

During the same time, the Baloch fighters also claimed to have fired rockets on the Pakistani naval base of Turbat in Kech district. Rattled by the ferocious attacks, the Pakistani Interior Ministry issued a threat alert for the second time on Friday.

Even as the fight was raging on in Balochistan, the top brass of the Pakistani leadership was away in Beijing trying to wrangle better deals for the troubled China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as well as loans from China. Besides Prime Minister Imran Khan, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin, Planning Minister Asad Umar, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, National Security Advisor Moeed Yousaf, Commerce Advisor Abdul Razak Dawood and Special Assistant,CPEC, Khalid Mansoor are in China.

British newspaper The Guardian reported that Pakistani officials feel the deadly attacks on Pakistani forces have been timed with Prime Minister Khan’s visit to China.

Kinra sums up the Balochistan situation: “With the ongoing spate of attacks, one thing is clear�the Baloch nationalist struggle is taking a defiant approach which means complete independence and indiscriminate attacks across Pakistan”.

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)

ALSO READ: Pakistan’s clout with Taliban declines

Balochistan separatist groups have always been in opposition of the CPEC project, accusing China for what they call, stealing their resources….reports Asian Lite News

The fresh surge in turning Pakistans Balochistan province into a war zone has led to a debate on the factor that played role in promoting terrorist groups in carrying out widespread targeted attacks on security forces, flaring up a new wave of violence and terrorism.

Political and security analysts believe that the volatile situation in Afghanistan, coupled with foreign support to the terror groups from other neighbouring countries are among the main factors that behind regrouping and targeted assaults by separatist terror organisations.

In the latest series of attacks by terror groups in Balochistan, dozens of security personnel have lost their lives while large number of militants have also been neutralised in bomb blasts, clashes, ambushes and heavy exchange of fire.

“The resurgence of terrorism in the province is not unexpected, given the vastness of the region, loose control of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, and involvement of foreign elements,” said Lt. General Retd. Talat Masood.

Balochistan province holds pivotal importance as it routes the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Militant groups have been targeting sensitive security installations around the CPEC route and border line areas with major attacks, resulting in killing of at least 20 Pakistani soldiers.

The killing of 10 soldiers in an attack on a security checkpost in the Kech area near the Pakistan-Iran border on January 28 was among the deadliest of the attacks, claimed by separatist group, the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF).

Terror attacks in Panjgur and Noshki districts on February 3, which targeted security posts and installations, were foiled by the Pakistani security forces, resulting in the killing of at least seven personnel and 13 militants.

Analysts believe that the 600-km coastline of Gwadar under the $64 billion dollar CPEC project, the takeover of the Afghan Taliban in Afghanistan, support by India for the Baloch separatist groups and lastly, the Iranian terror groups including Zainabiyoun, are among the key factors behind the unrest in Balochistan.

Balochistan separatist groups have always been in opposition of the CPEC project, accusing China for what they call, stealing their resources.

The separatist groups have also opposed province’s inclusion into Pakistan, claiming that it was forcibly incorporated into Pakistan during the end of British colonial rule in 1947.

Analysts also say that the vastness of the Balochistan province with widespread mountains and untapped terrains; the province has become a most suited place for militant organisations to regroup.

“The security forces should have been more complacent after subsiding the insurgency in recent years. They have reared their head also because of lack of preparedness from the security forces,” said defense analyst Ikram Sehgal.

Anwar Sajidi, a political analyst believes that the reunification of separatist groups and the facilitation from suspected Indian handlers has also been one of the prime reasons behind the fresh wave of violence in Balochistan.

“Different separatist outfits have recently formed the Baloch National Alliance (BNA), an umbrella group, which has improved coordination and access in terms of attacks,” he said.

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