Why Are Baloch Women Condemning Pakistan Over Aerial Attacks on Civilians?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Baloch Women's Forum condemns aerial attacks.
- Indiscriminate strikes result in civilian casualties.
- Call for accountability and compensation for victims.
- Highlighting ongoing human rights violations in Balochistan.
- Urgent need for resolution of Baloch grievances.
Quetta, Sep 19 (NationPress) The Baloch Women's Forum (BWF) on Friday vehemently criticized the Pakistani forces for executing indiscriminate aerial bombardments targeting civilians in the Zehri region of Balochistan, describing it as an ongoing manifestation of Pakistan’s unyielding cruelty towards the Baloch populace.
This statement followed tragic air and drone strikes conducted by the Pakistani military that struck residential homes in the Terasani (Qazib) area of Zehri in the Khuzdar district late Wednesday night, resulting in the deaths of three individuals, including two women, and injuring five others, one of whom was a four-year-old child.
“Drones and aerial assaults are often seen as tools of border warfare; however, in Balochistan, they are routinely turned against the indigenous communities. Numerous lives have been lost due to these assaults across various regions of Balochistan, including Tump, Panjgur, and the Marri and Bugti areas, with Khuzdar’s Zehri now making headlines. We fear this will lead to further aerial assaults on the innocent Baloch population,” stated the BWF.
“From the outset, we have maintained that we do not support any actions that involve the taking of innocent lives in Balochistan and we denounce such cowardly acts in any forum, regardless of who is responsible—be it a state agency,” it further emphasized.
The BWF criticized Pakistan’s law enforcement agencies, asserting that taking pride in such attacks while labeling the deceased as “insurgents” is merely a facade to conceal their anti-humanitarian and unlawful actions resulting in civilian casualties.
The group underlined that no law, whether at the national or international level, legitimizes the assault on ordinary civilians in Balochistan. Such acts should be condemned universally and by all.
“We denounce the Zehri aerial assault carried out by law enforcement agencies and demand immediate accountability, including investigations and court trials for those involved in the incident, as well as compensation for the families of the deceased and injured,” the forum declared.
Highlighting that Balochistan has long been a “grave of human rights,” the BWF called for an immediate cessation of human rights violations and urged practical measures to address the legitimate concerns of Baloch residents as a priority.