Growing State Repression Against Ethnic Baloch and Pashtun Peace Activists in Pakistan

By Kadeem Baloch 

State repression against ethnic Baloch and Pashtun minorities is intensifying in Pakistan. Their non-violent protests and key activists are increasingly being targeted for raising human rights concerns. Prominent female Baloch activists, Dr Mahrang Baloch and Sammi Deen Baloch, leaders of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), were recently barred from traveling abroad despite having the proper documentation. Additionally, Mahrang has been charged with terrorism for allegedly inciting people by making “allegations against security institutions.”

On October 6, a Pakistani government notification officially designated the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM), a civil rights organization advocating for the Pashtun minority, as a ‘proscribed organization’ by placing it on the First Schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997. These actions are clear attempts to silence Baloch and Pashtun minorities from speaking out against the state’s regressive policies.^[1] Pakistan’s military establishment has attacked peaceful gatherings, resulting in several Baloch and Pashtun individuals being killed or seriously injured. Analysts suggest that the growing Chinese involvement in Pakistan on security matters has also exacerbated atrocities against ethnic minorities.    

In a statement, Mahrang claimed her name had been included in Pakistan’s immigration stop list, leading state authorities to prevent her travel. She was traveling to the United States after being invited to Time Magazine’s gala celebrating the “Most Influential Emerging Leaders of the Year.”^[2] Mahrang was recognized by Time as among the top 100 emerging leaders in the ‘advocate’ category. She was detained for five hours at the airport, and her passport and phone were seized by the Karachi Police and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), a Pakistani intelligence service. Mahrang said, “There was no legitimate purpose for preventing my travel, except to silence Baloch voices from being heard internationally.” The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said blocking Baloch’s travel was “a flagrant violation of her right to freedom of movement and expression.”^[3]

Moreover, a fake terrorism case was filed against Mahrang to further suppress her voice and activism for the Baloch people. In the First Information Report (FIR), she was alleged to have instigated the “people against the state and its institutions and anti-national activities in collaboration with the BLA [Baloch Liberation Army] terrorist.”^[4] In her response, Mahrang termed the case “fabricated,” saying it showed “how the state has grown increasingly uncomfortable” with her activism.^[5] Baloch’s political activism has put her life in peril. Approximately 25 FIRs – i.e., police cases – have been registered against her and her organization, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), in Balochistan and Sindh.^[6]

Mahrang’s incident followed closely on the heels of the Pakistani government blocking the international travel of Sammi Deen Baloch, who was prevented from leaving the country just weeks earlier. Baloch had been scheduled to travel to Oman but was stopped by FIA officials at Karachi Airport, who claimed that her name had been placed on the Exit Control List (ECL) by the Balochistan government.

Both women activists led the massive ‘Baloch Raaji Muchi’ (Baloch National Gathering) in Gwadar to raise awareness of human rights violations, resource exploitation, and the state failure to provide basic amenities in the province.^[7] The gathering garnered significant international attention, causing considerable embarrassment for Pakistani state authorities, who are implicated in extrajudicial activities in the region. In response, Pakistani security forces attacked peaceful protestors, leading to fatalities and mass detentions. The military crackdown and the blockade of major roads and highways in cities such as Gwadar, Hub, Mastung, and Quetta further exacerbated hardships for the local population.^[8]

Notably, the Punjabi-dominated military establishment in Pakistan has been historically against Baloch and Pashtun minorities. Most of the past military operations in Pakistan were based in Balochistan and border districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). Amidst growing militancy in border provinces, the government in Islamabad announced a new anti-terrorism operation, Azm-i-Istehkam (Resolve for Stability), in June to target Baloch insurgent and Pashtun militant outfits.^[9] Like previous military campaigns in Pakistan, this one is also leading to massive human rights violations and forced internal migration of the local population in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. 

To stop the impending atrocities against the Pashtun population, Manzoor Pashteen and other activists who are part of the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) have been trying to expose the state-sponsored military campaign against them. However, on October 6, Pakistan designated PTM as a “proscribed organization” and banned its countrywide activities.^[10] The ban is aimed at silencing the PTM and peaceful Pashtun voices, which have accused the military establishment of committing brazen human rights abuses against civilians in KP. The move could push the PTM to abandon its nonviolent campaign and further destabilize the province as well as the Pashtun population. Human rights groups such as Amnesty International have called on Pakistan to revoke its ban on PTM.^[11] But Pakistani officials say PTM has alleged ties to both the Afghan and Pakistani Taliban. 

After the ban, Pashteen and other Pashtun leaders decided to take the military establishment head-on by organizing a 3-day Pashtun Quami Jirga (PQJ) on October 11-13 in the Khyber region of KP.^[12] According to the Jirga’s decision, within the next 60 days, the Pakistani army and all armed groups, including Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Islamic State, must leave KP. Furthermore, the Jirga issued a 22-point declaration and refused to accept the Durand Line as a border line between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The massive support for the Jirga has surprised policymakers in Islamabad, who are now running helter-skelter to break the emerging Pashtun unity in the country.  

As the Pakistan military escalates its repressive actions against Baloch and Pashtun minorities, these two ethnic groups are increasingly consolidating as a unified front against the ruling Punjabi establishment. The situation could take a violent turn, with reports suggesting that the Pakistan Army plans to intensify counterterrorism operations in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under pressure from China. Such actions are likely to result in widespread human rights violations and the intensification of ethnic strife in Pakistan.

The author chooses a pseudonym. Kadeem Baloch is a freelance journalist based in Pakistan. 

Note: The contents of the article are of sole responsibility of the author. Afghan Diaspora Network will not be responsible for any inaccurate or incorrect statement in the articles. 

^[1] https://monitor.civicus.org/explore/pakistan-authorities-continue-to-silence-dissent-with-crackdown-on-baloch-and-other-activists-protesters-and-journalists/

^[2] https://time.com/7071983/mahrang-baloch-pakistan-prevented-from-traveling/

^[3] https://www.brecorder.com/news/40326259/rights-groups-slam-pakistan-for-blocking-activist-mahrang-balochs-us-travel

^[4] https://www.dawn.com/news/1864735

^[5]https://x.com/MahrangBaloch_/status/1845016765652258853?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1845016765652258853%7Ctwgr%5E4af5162631317c81ae0fcbc910bce8f540416f77%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dawn.com%2Fnews%2F1864735

^[6] https://arynews.tv/mahrang-baloch-booked-under-terror-charges/

^[7] https://thefridaytimes.com/29-Jul-2024/hundreds-of-protesters-overcome-hurdles-for-baloch-raji-muchi-gathering-in-gwadar

^[8] https://www.voanews.com/a/protesters-and-military-in-standoff-in-pakistani-city-home-to-china-built-port/7718214.html

^[9] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/6/24/azm-e-istehkam-can-new-pakistani-military-operation-curb-armed-attacks

^[10] https://www.rferl.org/a/pakistan-ptm-pashtun-tahafuz-movement-jirga/33155241.html

^[11] https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/10/pakistan-authorities-must-immediately-revoke-ban-on-pashtun-tahaffuz-movement/

^[12] https://voicepk.net/2024/10/pashtun-qaumi-jirga-issues-22-point-declaration-for-self-determination/