Balochistan: Three villages destroyed and several killed in Awaran military operation

Pakistani military have  conducted military operations in several regions of district Awaran in Balochistan.  The forces backed by gunship helicopters have started the operation on first day of Eid (18/01/2015) which, some Baloch social media activists claim, have resulted in killing of at least 100 people.

According to details on Saturday morning the Pakistani army launched a massive military operation with the help gunship helicopters in Awaran’s Kolwah, Malar and Gishkor areas.

Balochistan local media sources reported that Pakistani forces’ gunship helicopters have been indiscriminately bombing civilian populations where the targets were innocent Baloch women and children.

It is feared that many people have been killed as a result of intense bombing and shelling on villages but due to lack of access and military embargo on media to the affected areas the exact number of casualties could not be confirmed immediately.

However, some social media activists have claimed that as many as hundred (100) people were killed in Awaran operation in past two days.

Karima Baloch who describes herself as the Vice chairperson of Baloch Student Organisations-Azad claimed in a tweet, “Awaran is destroyed. More than 100 bodies are lying on the ground for wild animals to feed on. Four villages flattened. #AwaranOperation”. While in another tweet she claimed that ‘a Baloch mother along with her daughter’ has also been abducted in Awaran operations.

Other Baloch social media activists also claimed that at least three villages in Awaran were completely destroyed and ‘turned into rubbles’.

Meanwhile the Balochistan interior ministry officials on conditions of anonymity told media persons that Pakistani forces conducted an operation in Awaran and killed several ‘militants’ including key commanders and five militants were also arrested. The officials claimed that the killed persons were involved in attacks on military run development projects and security forces.

An official of department of interior ministry was quoted by the media sources saying, “They [killed militants] were also involved in promoting the idea of separation [freedom] of Balochistan from Pakistan.”