Pakistani state barbarism in Kahaan and surrounding areas: Report by Shey Bijjar

Translated by: Saeed Baloch

Pakistan army has been conducting gory military offensives in district Kohlu’s Kahaan region and in many areas of district Dera Bugti Balochistan from past many days. The Pakistan military has besieged many areas and blocked exit routes for Baloch families from leaving the region. There have been reports of ground offensives and air strikes on Baloch populations in which at least three people have been killed in Dera Bugti offensives. Due to lack and blockade of the communication system, the exact number of casualties could not be ascertained yet.

According to local sources, the Pakistani army has been carrying out offensives in Kahaan and Dera Bugti for past ten days. The main focus of the Pakistan army is Kahaan’s mountainous region because of the huge oil reserves. The Koh-e-Bambor, Nisau, Peeshi and Tratani areas are under complete military siege where the army has been looting the livestock of Baloch nomads and terrorising the residents to leave the area. In the same way, Pakistan army has been conducting offensives in Sibbi and its surrounding areas including Talli, Karmo Wadh, Gazzi and Hathpod mountain range.

There are also reports that Pakistani military has established new check posts in surrounding areas of Sibbi, Kahaan and Dera Bugti. Pakistan is using recently surrendered people and military-backed local death squad members to arrest, torture and humiliate tribal notables who are not allowing Pakistan to loot the natural resources of their areas.  In Laidov area Pakistan forces have made a new military camp where Pakistani forces have been looting the shops of civilians to provide rations to their camp and troops.

Pakistani forces also physically and mentally tortured Baloch women and children in Laidov area and at other check posts also respected Baloch women and elder face the violent behaviour of the Pakistani army. According to the locals of the Laidov some women and children have been forcibly abducted as well but their names and details could not be ascertained immediately.

Pakistan army erected new military check posts in the mountain of Bambor at Sher Barag, where huge reserves of oil were discovered during General Ayub’s era and intensified the military activities. Previously Pakistan army has made failed attempts to explore and extract Oil in Sher Barag area of Kahaan but the fighters of Baloch Liberation Army thwarted their attempts. Now once again Pakistan army has increased the number of its troops and accelerated its military offensives in the region.

The enemy forces [Pakistan army] are facing tough resistance from fighters of Baloch Liberation Army and other pro-freedom resistance organisations in the region. It has been nine days that Baloch Liberation Army fighters are continuously resisting Pakistani army’s aggression and attacks against innocent Baloch in Kahaan and surrounding areas. After failing to defeat the Baloch fighters, Pakistan army is taking its anger on innocent Baloch villagers and nomads by bombing their straw made huts and livestock.

There are also reports of fierce battles between freedom fighters of Baloch Republican Army (BRA) and Pakistani forces in Dera Bugti’s Seyah Aaf area in Balochistan where Baloch fighter are strongly resisting against occupying Pakistani forces. Pakistan forces carried out offensives in Dal-e-Posht, Washaap, and Lehri areas of Balochistan as well. Pakistani forces are building a Road from Sibbi to Bambor Kahaan under military supervision and destroying all villages and home in the surrounding regions of the Road because the army fears that Baloch fighters will disrupt the Roadwork. The main purpose of building the Road is to make easy access for Pakistan army to Balochistan’s restive Kahaan area and to take control of Bambaor oil reserves.

The so-called representatives of the region and recently surrendered stooges of Pakistan army are competing with each other to prove their loyalty to Punjabi army by helping Pakistan army to conduct military offensives against Baloch people. As the elections are approaching, Pakistan army is also intensifying its brutalities Kohlu, Kahaan and Dera Bugti like other districts of Balochistan to weaken the hold of Baloch freedom fighters and create the atmosphere for upcoming elections.

However, such brutal tactics of Pakistan will fail because the Baloch have no interest in Pakistan’s elections and parliament. Baloch nation is adamant to regain their independence and freedom. The civilised world must take notice of Pakistan’s war crimes and crimes against humanity in Balochistan. The silence of world community and international human rights champions is turning the Balochistan conflict with Pakistan into a humanitarian crisis.