ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Tensions escalated in Balochistan as a Pakistani soldier was killed and 16 others were injured during confrontations with protesters in the province’s Gwadar city, according to military reports released on Monday. The protests, organized by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), an advocacy group for the Baloch people’s rights, have intensified amidst allegations of human rights violations including extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances, accusations that government and security agencies have denied.
The BYC, which called for the weekend protest named ‘Baloch Raji Muchi’ or Baloch National Gathering, aims to draw attention to what it calls a long-standing pattern of abuse by Pakistani security forces. According to BYC statements, the protest in Gwadar was a peaceful one intended to spotlight these critical issues to the national consciousness. However, reports from both sides painted a picture of violence and chaos.
On their way to the gathering in Gwadar, protesters from the BYC were reportedly met with violence in Mastung district, leading to injuries among more than a dozen participants. According to a BYC member, Gulzar Dost Baloch, their group was attacked by security forces while en route, resulting in gunfire targeting their buses. Furthermore, the military’s statement contradicted the BYC’s accounts, presenting the protesters as the aggressors in what they described as “unprovoked assaults” on the Pakistani soldiers.
The army further accused protestors of spreading “fake and malicious propaganda” through social media, using manipulated images and videos to garner support for what it deemed an “unlawful violent march.” The military vowed to uphold peace and stability in Balochistan and to hold accountable those involved in the disturbances.
In a dramatic turn of events, shortly after the military’s declaration, the BYC alleged another attack by the army and paramilitary forces on the Baloch National Gathering in Gwadar, describing the situation as a brutal crackdown on a peaceful sit-in, where unarmed protesters supposedly faced indiscriminate firing and hundreds were arrested.
Balochistan, rich in resources but plagued by a low-level insurgency for about two decades, has seen its security situation frequently described in terms of a fight against separatist demands. The provincial government and the military have often pointed to external influences exacerbating local grievances, suggesting interference from neighboring countries, though these allegations are widely contested.
In a bid to control the unrest, authorities had earlier implemented stringent security measures around provincial capital, Quetta, including blocking all main exits and enforcing a law to prevent the assembly of four or more persons in various districts. Despite these measures, protests continued, with major roads and highways blocked, and public life significantly disrupted.
The provincial government expressed a willingness to engage with protesters. Balochistan Home Minister Meer Ziaullah Langove called the recent protests a “conspiracy” against the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a large-scale investment project by Beijing into Pakistan’s infrastructure. He emphasized that despite violent confrontations, the local police and security forces had shown restraint and were prepared to dialogue respectfully with protesters.
As the deadline set by BYC to release detained members approached, the group threatened to escalate their protests across Balochistan, further intensifying the stand-off. The unfolding events in Balochistan not only highlight the ongoing hierarchical and rights-based tensions within Pakistan but also underscore the complex geopolitical and economic significance of the region.