The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), a prominent human rights organisation, on Sunday, 18 October 2026, condemned an armed attack on Baloch workers in the Jiwani area of Gwadar, Balochistan, Pakistan, describing it as 'state terrorism' and calling on international institutions to move beyond statements and take practical action to protect the rights of the Baloch people.

What Happened in Jiwani

According to the BYC, workers connected to the oil trade were targeted by what the group alleges was a 'death squad' operating with state patronage in the Panwan Chale area of Gwadar on 15 October 2026. The organisation characterised the attack as 'an extremely barbaric act' and framed it within what it describes as a broader pattern of violence against Baloch civilians.

The Pakistani government has not issued a response to the BYC's allegations as of the time of this report. The claims of 'state patronage' are the BYC's own characterisation and have not been independently verified.

BYC's Allegation: 'Economic Genocide'

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the BYC escalated its language significantly, using the phrase 'economic genocide' to describe conditions in Balochistan. The group alleged that border trade — described as the 'sole means of livelihood' for many Baloch communities — has been 'forcibly shut down,' and that armed groups have now been deployed to restrict economic activity through sea routes as well.

'After the closure of borders, the Baloch people have turned to the sea for their livelihood, and targeting workers there with bullets is tantamount to intensifying the economic exploitation and state oppression of the Baloch people,' the BYC posted.

The group further alleged that such squads have been 'formed under state sponsorship' and have been 'continuously used to suppress the Baloch people and paralyse their political and economic life' across regions stretching 'from Gwadar to the Koh-e-Suleman.'

Call to International Institutions

The BYC directed a formal appeal to global human rights bodies, urging them to move past 'mere statements' and take practical steps. 'The trust of the people in global human rights institutions can be maintained' only through concrete action, the group stated.

This appeal reflects a recurring frustration among Baloch civil society groups, who have argued that organisations such as the United Nations Human Rights Council have consistently acknowledged concerns about Balochistan without triggering enforceable protections or formal investigations.

Broader Context: Balochistan's Long Crisis

Balochistan, Pakistan's largest but most sparsely populated province, has been at the centre of an unresolved insurgency and human rights dispute for decades. Rights groups — including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch — have documented enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and restrictions on civil liberties in the region. The Pakistani state has consistently denied systematic abuses, attributing violence to separatist militancy.

The Gwadar district, site of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)'s flagship deep-sea port, has been a particular flashpoint. Critics argue that CPEC-linked development has marginalised local Baloch communities economically, a charge the Pakistani government rejects. The BYC's framing of the latest attack as an attempt to 'further restrict business through sea routes' appears to situate it within this longstanding controversy.

With international attention on Pakistan's human rights record already heightened, the BYC's appeal for external intervention is likely to add pressure on Islamabad — though whether it translates into action from global institutions remains to be seen.