Is Tariq Baloch the Latest Victim of Pakistan's 'Kill and Dump' Policy in Balochistan?

Quetta, May 13 (NationPress) The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) has strongly denounced the recent extrajudicial execution of the esteemed car racer Tariq Baloch in Balochistan, asserting that his assassination is indicative of a larger, systemic state policy that employs enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings to stifle the Baloch identity and dissent.

The son of Ibraheem Kalamati, a well-known racer from Jiwani, District Gwadar, Tariq Baloch was abducted from his guesthouse on the night of May 11 by alleged Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs). Less than 24 hours later, on the morning of May 12, his lifeless body was discovered discarded in Palliri, Jewani, Balochistan.

According to BYC, "Tariq was a highly respected sports figure recognized in both Pakistan and Iran for his racing achievements. His abduction and subsequent extrajudicial murder highlight the grim reality in Balochistan: no profession, fame, or neutral stance offers immunity from the state’s ongoing violent campaign."

In February, Tariq and his brother Salman were also forcibly taken by Pakistan’s Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD). They were freed after no valid charges could be presented against them.

"This time, however, Tariq did not return alive... The 'kill and dump' strategy has evolved into a method of silencing not only political activists but also students, laborers, educators, and public figures—anyone perceived as Baloch is at risk. Tariq’s plight epitomizes the ongoing human rights crisis in Balochistan. The persistence of such murders without investigation or accountability has fostered a culture of impunity, while grieving families endure unimaginable sorrow and fear. Despite numerous appeals, global indifference continues," BYC’s statement lamented.

Baloch communities around the world, who are currently advocating for independence from Pakistan, have criticized Islamabad for Tariq's death.

During a rally in Quetta, Mahrang Baloch stated, "For every Baloch you kill, countless others will rise. Each of our generations will choose resistance as our path."

The Pakistani government has shown no intention of addressing the grievances of the Baloch people, which has intensified feelings of political alienation.

In the meantime, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) released a media statement on May 11, titled 'A New Order has Become Inevitable in the Region', calling on the world to recognize Pakistan as a sponsor of terrorism.

The statement noted that Pakistan's history, currently marred by diplomatic isolation due to failed military strategies, has been characterized by unfulfilled promises, betrayal, and terrorism.

"Pakistan is a hotbed for global terrorists and a center for the state-sponsored development of lethal terror groups like LeT, JeM, and ISIS. The ISI supports these groups for terroristic purposes. A nuclear state with a violent ideology, Pakistan faces a formidable challenge from the Baloch nation, which, without any external military or financial aid, can defeat the world’s seventh-largest nuclear power. The BLA has rendered the enemy powerless on all fronts. True peace can only be achieved through the dismantling of Pakistan," declared the statement.

As part of the ongoing 'Operation Herof', the BLA has executed 71 attacks across more than 51 sites, claiming significant strikes in areas such as Kech, Panjgur, Mastung, Quetta, Zamuran, Tolangi, Kuluki, and Nushki. They targeted not only Pakistani military and intelligence facilities but also local police stations, mineral transport vehicles, and critical infrastructure along major highways. Their operations ranged from ambushes to IED detonations and sniper attacks aimed at Pakistani troops, along with the seizure of security posts.

"The time has come for the world to recognize Pakistan as a creator of terrorists, a terrorist entity in itself. The control of nuclear weapons by a radicalized Pakistani military is a ticking time bomb—not just for the region but for global security... The BLA and the Baloch nation will persist in their liberation struggle and dismantle Pakistan to free our homeland. The longer it takes to achieve Balochistan’s liberation, the more bloodshed, terrorism, and instability the world will face. The BLA will ensure an independent, peaceful, and progressive Balochistan, and put an end to terrorism," asserted Jeeyand Baloch, a spokesperson for the BLA.