Balochistan- A prominent human rights organisation has issued a sharp condemnation of a Pakistani military drone strike that reportedly killed unarmed civilians, including a young child, in a residential area of Balochistan, raising renewed concerns over civilian safety and accountability in the conflict-hit province.
The incident reportedly took place on February 1 in the Killi Jamaldini area of Nushki district. According to Baloch Voice for Justice (BVJ), the strike hit homes where civilians were present at the time. Women and elderly residents were among those affected, the organisation said, stressing that none of the victims were engaged in hostilities.
BVJ described the deaths as a grave breach of international humanitarian law, noting that civilians are protected under the Geneva Conventions. The organisation said the killing of non-combatants, particularly children, during military operations is strictly prohibited and may constitute a war crime under international legal standards.
The group called for an independent and transparent investigation into the strike, urging authorities to ensure accountability through established international mechanisms. It also appealed to global human rights institutions to closely monitor the situation in Balochistan and press for compliance with humanitarian norms.
Separately, the Human Rights Council of Balochistan (HRCB) warned that conditions across the province have become increasingly difficult to assess due to prolonged internet restrictions. The council said the shutdown has severely limited the ability of journalists, activists, and families to verify information or confirm casualty numbers following security operations.
HRCB reported receiving troubling accounts from several districts, including Kech, Gwadar, and Nushki. These reports allege that dozens of civilians, among them women and children, have been killed in recent incidents involving what the council described as indiscriminate firing by Pakistani security forces.
The council expressed concern over discrepancies between official statements and accounts from local sources. Provincial authorities have claimed that more than 150 militants were killed during recent operations, a figure HRCB said does not align with information provided by residents and independent observers.
According to the council, the lack of publicly available details about those killed has intensified doubts. It urged the government to release comprehensive information, including names and identities, to clarify whether those who died were indeed combatants.
HRCB also questioned statements made by Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti, who has claimed that over 1,000 militants were killed in the province last year. The council said that past patterns of deaths in custody later being described as encounter killings make such figures difficult to accept without credible verification.
Adding to the concerns, Paank, the human rights wing of the Baloch National Movement, reported several new cases of enforced disappearances allegedly involving Pakistani security forces. The organisation said seven civilians were taken into custody in separate incidents, with their whereabouts remaining unknown.
Paank stated that on Monday morning, a 25-year-old fisherman named Meeran was detained from Gwadar’s Sohrabi Ward area by the Pakistan Army and transferred to an undisclosed location. His family has since received no information regarding his condition or location.
The group also reported the disappearance of a 20-year-old student, Umair Baloch, who was allegedly detained in Quetta on February 1 by personnel from Pakistan’s Counter Terrorism Department.
In another case, Paank condemned the detention of two brothers, Balach Yousuf and Beebarg Yousuf, who were reportedly taken during a raid on their Gwadar home on January 23. Local sources and family members said the operation involved both the Pakistan Army and a local armed group, with the brothers being moved to an unknown location.
Paank further reported a separate raid in the Hub Chowki area, where security forces allegedly detained retired deputy commissioner Mohammad Bakhsh Sajidi, his brother Naeem Sajidi, and Rafeeq Baloch, a former senior official of Sui Gas in the province.
Human rights groups have reiterated calls for due process, transparency, and the protection of civilians, warning that continued reports of civilian harm and disappearances risk deepening mistrust and instability in the region.
