The Balochistan Conflict: Truth vs. Propaganda

Balochistan, the largest province of Pakistan, is often at the center of human rights discussions both nationally and internationally. The region has long been a focal point of conflict due to its strategic importance, economic potential, and historical grievances between the local population and the central government. As a result, human rights violations in Balochistan, particularly issues of enforced disappearances, missing persons, and extrajudicial killings, have frequently made headlines.

Activists, political parties, and human rights organizations raise these concerns, and their efforts have been critical in bringing attention to the plight of the people in the province. These campaigns, often amplified through digital media, highlight the continuous conflict and suffering of the people of Balochistan. However, while such efforts are crucial, it is equally important to evaluate the entire situation impartially. Many aspects of the situation, particularly those involving militant activities and organized crime, are either underreported or overlooked by these same organizations.

Increasing Youth’s Frustration in Baluchistan

A major issue with the human rights narrative in Balochistan is its selective focus, often driven by anti-state anarchists (ASAs) and their supporters. These individuals and groups spread false information and propaganda designed to incite chaos and public uncertainty, maligning Pakistan and its institutions. Frequently, such elements are working at the behest of hostile intelligence agencies, who exploit them to destabilize Pakistan. These ASAs often employ tactics aimed at creating confusion, using the human rights discourse as a cover to achieve their political objectives.

Many of them are students who have been indoctrinated by members of proscribed organizations like the Baloch Student Organization-Azad (BSO-Azad), while others are influenced by the false narratives pushed by so-called human rights organizations, such as the Human Rights Commission of Balochistan (HRCB). The Human Rights Commission of Balochistan (HRCB) has been known to spread disinformation through its official X (formerly Twitter) account. In 2021, HRCB used misleading, zoomed-out images to present misinformation about mass graves in Balochistan, portraying some unidentified images out of context. A similar image was later used by HRCB member Jamal Baloch in 2024 to once again mislead the public using social media platform X, projecting the images as newly found evidence of the mass graves.

Another significant area where human rights activists exhibit selective advocacy is the issue of terrorism in the region. Balochistan has been a hotbed of militant activities, with various armed groups fighting both the Pakistani state and each other for control. These groups, often labeled as “separatists” by certain international voices, have been responsible for acts of violence that severely affect the local civilian population. Despite this, human rights organizations focus almost exclusively on the actions of the state while largely ignoring the crimes committed by non-state actors.

The sympathizers of militant groups, including the likes of the Baloch National Movement (BNM) led by Dr. Naseem Baloch and the Free Balochistan Movement (FBM) of Haribyar Marri, spread false narratives about Pakistan’s “occupation” of Balochistan and amplify propaganda regarding military operations against terrorists. These groups also manipulate historical events like Pakistan’s nuclear tests in Chaghi, framing them as examples of exploitation with fake images using deep fakes, when in reality, these were strategic moves for national defense. Such distortions reveal how anti-state elements and their supporters use the human rights narrative to advance their political agenda rather than seeking true justice for the people of Balochistan.

Organizations like HRCB, BNM, and the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) of Dr. Mahrang Baloch conveniently overlook these violations, focusing exclusively on state actions and ignoring the broader context of violence in the province. This one-sided narrative not only distorts the reality on the ground but also serves the interests of hostile elements who seek to weaken Pakistan’s sovereignty.

In addition to the selective narrative of human rights abuses, the abduction of civilians by militant and terrorist groups has gone largely unnoticed by these human rights advocates. The militant groups frequently kidnap individuals for ransom or to intimidate the state. In July 2024, 10 tourists were abducted from a tourist spot in Shabaan, Quetta, by the proscribed terrorist organization Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), which used the hostages to offer negotiations with the state for the release of their members.

While enforced disappearances attributed to state forces are widely reported and condemned, the abductions carried out by non-state actors receive scant attention. Organizations like HRCB, BNM, and the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) of Dr. Mahrang Baloch conveniently overlook these violations, focusing exclusively on state actions and ignoring the broader context of violence in the province. This one-sided narrative not only distorts the reality on the ground but also serves the interests of hostile elements who seek to weaken Pakistan’s sovereignty. The lack of condemnation and silence on these issues exposes their selective outrage and hypocrisy, painting them to be working on the vested interests of the adversary.

The human rights narrative surrounding Balochistan is deeply flawed by its selective outrage and hypocrisy. While the suffering of civilians, particularly in cases of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, is real and deserving of attention, the one-sided focus on state actions ignores a more complex and troubling reality. Anti-state anarchists (ASAs) and militant groups, often working under the influence of hostile foreign intelligence agencies, use disinformation and propaganda to fuel chaos and advance their political objectives. Organizations like the Human Rights Commission of Balochistan (HRCB), which have been linked to foreign disinformation campaigns, not only amplify this false narrative but also manipulate the public by presenting out-of-context information.

Meanwhile, the very real threats posed by terrorism, abductions, organized crime, and militant violence in the province go largely unaddressed by these so-called advocates of human rights. Groups like the Baloch National Movement (BNM) and Free Balochistan Movement (FBM) twist historical events, such as Balochistan’s annexation with Pakistan and Pakistan’s nuclear tests conducted in Chaghi, to frame Pakistan as an oppressor, diverting attention away from the suffering caused by militant activities. In this complex conflict, genuine justice for the people of Balochistan will only come when all forms of violence, propaganda, and human rights violations—whether committed by the state, militant groups, or foreign-backed actors—are addressed with equal scrutiny and impartiality. Until then, the selective narratives of these so-called human rights organizations will continue to undermine the truth and fuel further instability in the region.