The recent admission made by DG ISPR General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhary regarding the 4040 military operations conducted by the Pakistan army in Balochistan in just three months is deeply concerning. This admission is an alarming indicator of the escalating human rights violations in the region.
The people of Balochistan have been suffering under military occupation for decades, and these military operations have only compounded their misery. Our organization has recorded 138 cases of enforced disappearances, including women, minor children, and elderly people. In addition, incidents of looting and burning people’s valuables have also been reported. Twenty-five cases of extrajudicial killings were recorded. In addition, innocent shepherds have been extrajudicially killed, and seven previously abducted and disappeared individuals have been killed in fake encounters.
The actions of the Pakistan Army in Balochistan are clear violations of numerous UN articles, including the right to a fair and public hearing, freedom of thought, conscience, religion, and expression. Furthermore, these actions contravene international law, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
Pakistan Army’s actions in Balochistan clearly amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, violating numerous UN articles, including Article 5 (No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment), Article 9 (No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention, or exile), Article 10 (Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal), Article 18 (Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion), and Article 19 (Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression).
Furthermore, Pakistan’s actions in Balochistan violate international law, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. It is high time for the international community and the United Nations to intervene and hold Pakistan accountable for its actions in Balochistan. The fact that the Pakistani army is openly admitting to these crimes in press conferences underscores the urgency of the situation. We urge the international community to take swift action to protect the rights of the people of Balochistan and to hold those responsible for these crimes accountable. We stand in solidarity with the people of Balochistan in their struggle for justice and human rights.