Pakistan’s military has intensified repression against ethnic groups like Baloch and Pashtun, as well as Hindu minorities, benefiting from increased US and Arab engagement. This support has emboldened the military to suppress democratic institutions and govern civilians with authority, a report revealed.
The report highlighted the military’s long-standing persecution of innocent civilians in Balochistan, using law enforcement as a pretext. Prominent activists such as Mahrang Baloch and others have been detained for opposing enforced disappearances, facing judicial denial and media blackout.
In Pashtun regions near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, the situation mirrors the repression in Balochistan. The government has banned the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement, a political group, despite winning parliamentary seats. Additionally, Hindus and Christians in Pakistan face religious persecution and forced conversions, as documented by numerous attacks and blasphemy cases.
The report also pointed out the negative impact of the “Jihadi industry” on Pakistan’s economy, leading to poverty and disorder. It warned that US support to the Pakistani military could worsen the existing cycle of suffering and instability.
