The Baloch National Movement (BNM) has accused the Pakistani Army of carrying out indiscriminate attacks on unarmed civilians across Balochistan, warning that the international community's continued silence is deepening what the group describes as a systematic human rights crisis in the province. The statement, issued on 5 June, calls the operations 'state terrorism' and demands immediate global intervention.

Key Allegations

The BNM alleged that 17 people were extrajudicially killed by Pakistani forces in Balochistan within a single week. The group further alleged that enforced disappearances are occurring daily across multiple districts, including Mastung, Noshkai, Zehri, Khuzdar, Kech, and Gwadar, alongside what it described as relentless shelling of civilian areas by Pakistani Army gunship helicopters.

'The unending cycle of enforced disappearances has socially and economically ruined thousands of families. Between May 31 and June 2 — a span of just three days — the Pakistan Army explicitly killed 17 people, yet it actively conceals the details of the victims,' the BNM stated.

Custody Deaths and Alleged Cover-Ups

The BNM further alleged that individuals previously abducted are being killed in custody, with Pakistani forces reportedly framing such deaths as armed encounters to substantiate counter-insurgency claims. According to the group, the bodies of victims are not being returned to their families. 'In many such instances, previously abducted individuals are murdered in custody, with the Pakistan Army masking these atrocities as armed encounters to make false claims of counter-insurgency,' the statement read.

Displacement and Destruction of Villages

The BNM alleged that dozens of villages across Dera Bugti, Kohlu, Awaran, Zehri, Khuzdar, Panjgur, Kech, and Gwadar have been 'completely ravaged,' triggering mass forced displacement. The group specifically cited the village of Panwan in the Jimuri tehsil of Gwadar as facing continuous assault in what it characterised as a 'scorched-earth policy.'

According to the BNM, midnight raids on civilian homes in the Panwan region have driven hundreds of individuals — including dozens of children now deprived of education — to flee across the border into Western Balochistan, where they reportedly face severe economic and social hardship as refugees.

Historical Context and International Appeal

The BNM asserted that Balochistan has faced continuous military aggression since what it terms the 'occupation' of the province by Pakistan in 1948, alleging that a state policy of suppressing political forces through extreme violence has remained in effect since. The group called on the international community to officially recognise Balochistan as a 'war-torn, disputed territory' and intervene immediately.

Notably, Pakistan's government has not publicly responded to the specific allegations contained in this statement. The claims have not been independently verified. As international scrutiny of Balochistan intensifies, the BNM's latest statement adds fresh pressure on global bodies to take a formal position on the province's status.