At least 12 civilians, including women and children, lost their lives, and three others sustained severe injuries in Balochistan’s Barkhan district due to Pakistani military bombardment and shelling. The incident followed an attack by unidentified armed individuals on Pakistani forces, resulting in the deaths of 12 security personnel. Subsequently, Pakistani forces conducted a significant operation in civilian areas, leading to multiple casualties.
Local reports from Balochistan mentioned that during the operation, several individuals’ bodies inside a vehicle were set on fire, although this claim could not be independently verified. Tara Chand, President of Baloch American Congress, criticized the Pakistani military’s actions, condemning the harm caused to innocent civilians. He expressed his disapproval on social media, stating, “We strongly condemn this act and believe that any army involved in harming innocent civilians should be deeply ashamed of such actions.”
In a separate incident last week in the Mastung district of Balochistan, a young man was killed, and several women were injured in a drone strike by Pakistani forces. The attack targeted a house in the Kurdgap area of Mastung, resulting in the fatal injury of Abdul Samad and injuries to women present in the house. Abdul was being transported to Quetta for medical treatment but succumbed to his injuries during the journey. The injured women were initially treated at a local hospital and later shifted to Quetta for further medical care.
Recent reports indicate that Baloch armed groups have targeted Pakistani forces and Special Service Groups personnel, leading to casualties and prompting large-scale military operations. The recurring use of drone attacks by Pakistani forces in Balochistan has raised concerns about civilian safety. Human rights organizations, including the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, and Baloch political parties have expressed grave concerns over the civilian impact of these attacks, urging immediate government intervention to prevent further incidents in Balochistan.
