Pakistani drone strike, FC firing injure four civilians in Balochistan's Mastung
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
At least four civilians were critically injured in two separate incidents involving a Pakistani drone strike and Frontier Corps (FC) firing in Mastung district, Balochistan, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) said. The rights body accused Pakistani security forces of transforming the region into what it described as a 'battlefield of fire and fear.'
Drone Strike on Civilian Residence
According to the BYC, a Pakistani drone strike targeted the vicinity of a civilian home in the Khad Kocha area of Mastung on 9 October, critically injuring two civilians identified as Javed Hammad and Allah Bakhsh. The organisation condemned the strike, alleging that attacks near civilian homes and settlements represent 'open state aggression.'
In its statement, the BYC said: 'Attacks on civilian populations in Balochistan via drones and jet aircraft are not merely a matter of security operations, but a grave issue concerning the protection of citizens, human dignity, and fundamental rights. No political or military justification can be allowed to overlook the lives and safety of ordinary citizens.'
FC Firing Injures Two Young Men
In a separate incident on 4 October, heavy firing by the Frontier Corps near Zakir Hotel on the Singar Bypass in Mastung critically injured two young men from Paringabad, identified as Muhammad Ismail and Muhammad Zahir, according to the BYC.
The rights body alleged that Zakir Hotel had been shut down by the FC for approximately one month and converted into a checkpoint, with 12 shops, a block factory, a tile factory, and other nearby businesses also closed, 'cutting off the livelihoods of dozens of families.'
BYC's Broader Allegations
The BYC painted a grim picture of conditions in Mastung, alleging that 'mutilated bodies have been dumped by the roadside, fruit orchards cut down, families displaced, drones have struck, and now open firing is killing and wounding Baloch people.' The organisation stated: 'The people of Balochistan are not military targets; they are human beings who have the right to peace, protection, and a dignified life.'
Notably, the Pakistani government and military have not issued any public response to these specific allegations. The BYC's claims have not been independently verified.
Call for International Accountability
The rights body called on international organisations and human rights defenders to recognise what it described as a 'Baloch genocide' by Pakistani forces and demanded independent investigations. It warned that without accountability, 'Balochistan will be pushed into a land of bloodshed.'
This is not the first time the BYC has raised such allegations — the organisation has repeatedly documented what it describes as systematic targeting of Baloch civilians, claims that Pakistani authorities have historically denied. How the international community responds to these latest allegations will likely shape the next phase of scrutiny over Balochistan's humanitarian situation.