The Baloch National Movement (BNM) has raised urgent alarm over what it describes as a complete military siege of Jimuri Tehsil in Balochistan's Gwadar district, alleging that the Pakistan Army has blockaded the region for over a week, cutting off food, medicine, and freedom of movement for thousands of civilians. The BNM's statement, issued from Quetta on 14 July, calls on the international community to intervene and hold Islamabad accountable under international law.

Background: The July 3 Attack That Triggered the Siege

The military crackdown reportedly followed a 3 July assault by the Baloch Liberation Army's (BLA) Majeed Brigade on a Pakistan Coast Guards camp in the Panwan area of Gwadar. According to local media reports, the attack killed more than 30 Pakistani security personnel and wounded several others. The Pakistan Army subsequently imposed sweeping restrictions across Jimuri Tehsil, which have now stretched beyond a week.

Alleged Abuses Inside the Blockade

The BNM alleges a series of grave violations since the siege began. According to the group, five individuals have been killed in custody, more than 60 people have been forcibly disappeared, and numerous houses in Panwan village have been demolished. Hundreds of residents have reportedly been compelled to abandon their homes. The group further alleges that 'fundamental rights are being denied, while freedom of movement has been severely restricted.'

Residents cited by The Balochistan Post described the measures as 'collective punishment', arguing that the actions of a few armed individuals should not deprive an entire town of movement, livelihood, food, and access to medical care. Patients requiring treatment in other cities have reportedly been unable to travel, while families dependent on daily wages have lost their livelihoods.

BNM Links Crackdown to CPEC Strategy

The BNM drew an explicit parallel between the Jimuri siege and earlier military operations along the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) route. The group alleged that communities situated along the CPEC corridor were previously subjected to enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and sustained Army pressure — forcing mass migration — and that 'the same strategy is now being applied in Jimuri and Panwan.'

According to the BNM, 'due to the strategic importance of Jimuri and its surrounding areas, the Pakistan Army seeks to displace the local population from these regions.' The group claims the Army is using attacks by Baloch armed groups as a pretext to directly target civilians, though these allegations have not been independently verified.

International Intervention Demanded

The BNM has formally appealed to the United Nations, the European Union, neighbouring countries, and international human rights organisations to take 'effective measures' to ensure Pakistan complies with international law and human rights standards. The group urged protection of what it termed the fundamental rights of civilians in 'occupied Balochistan' — language that reflects the separatist framing of the movement and is contested by the Pakistani government.

Pakistan's government and military had not issued a public response to the BNM's specific allegations at the time of reporting. As the siege enters its second week, the humanitarian situation in Jimuri and Panwan is expected to remain under close scrutiny by rights observers.