Balochistan: Sense of Fear Defines Zehri Town Amid Pakistani Army aggressions
SHAAL, BALOCHISTAN: There are has been reports of ongoing military offensives and strict curfew measures imposed by the Pakistani Army in the city of Zehri since September after Pakistan army claimed to have ‘freed’ the town from Baloch militants.
However, reports now indicate that the latest military aggressions and active siege of the city have forced hundreds of Baloch residents into displacement and homelessness.
According to local sources, the streets of Zehri empty out after 5 p.m., as residents fear stepping outside. Anyone seen outdoors risks being shot at directly by Pakistani forces, eyewitnesses say.
Journalists who recently visited the city described a grim and haunting landscape: abandoned homes, shuttered shops, and deserted roads. Their reports indicate that at least 500 families have been forced to flee.
Farmers have escaped in haste, leaving behind their crops, livestock, farmland, and storage facilities. Cotton fields are reportedly being destroyed, while owners have fled “with nothing but fear.”
Residents say the Pakistani Army has established six checkpoints across Zehri and has ordered widespread evacuations. A hotel in Nourgama Market was destroyed by mortar fire; several shops were set ablaze, and their owners have been reported missing.
Residents told journalists:
“Everything we owned has been seized—our utensils, blankets, even our livestock are being slaughtered. We live every morning and evening in fear of gunfire and explosions.”
Locals say they have tried to organise a protest against what they describe as ‘martial law’, as well as the closure of schools and hospitals, but have been threatened that any demonstration would be “silenced with a single bullet.”
Residents describe life in Zehri as completely paralyzed: no jobs, no education, no healthcare. Fear and tension grip every street, and many families have fled with their lives shattered.
Journalists noted that Zehri is not merely under military rule—its atmosphere is defined by fear, helplessness, and deep insecurity at every moment.
People have lost not only their homes and livestock but also their normal lives, employment, and essential services. Empty streets, deserted markets, and an overwhelming sense of fear now define the city.
