New Delhi: The Pakistani security agencies have reportedly launched a full-scale crackdown on the civilian populace of Balochistan, particularly the political activists, as part of a military operation to crush the voice of dissent.


COMMERCIAL BREAK
SCROLL TO CONTINUE READING

A prominent Baloch political outfit has claimed that the troops have attacked civilians and even abducted people in the ongoing operations.


and has called on the international community to take steps to stop Islamabad's human rights abuses in Balochistan.


"In many parts of Nasirabad District, Pak forces have carried out attacks. Baloch civilians have been harassed and many have been abducted," Abdul Nawaz Bugti, the representative of Baloch Republican Party at the United Nations Human Rights Council, said.


"In different parts of Dera Bugti, Baloch civil populace have been attacked and more than 19 Baloch civilians, including women and children, all belonging to same family have been abducted," Bugti told ANI in a video message.


He also said Pakistani security personnel were laying siege to the house of a political worker in the Turbat area for four days.


"His family, mostly women and children, is starving and Pakistani forces have denied access to them," Bugti said.


He said that Pakistani forces use such tactics to compel Baloch political activists who have gone underground to resurface. And when they do so, they are abducted, tortured or killed, he alleged.


"It is time that international media raise their voices and help save baloch from the inhuman atrocities committed by the Pakistani forces on a daily basis in Balochistan," he added.


Bugti's Twitter timeline is reportedly filled with tweets that are updates of the actions of Pakistani security personnel in Balochistan.


According to Times of India, there are also discussions on his timeline about whether the fresh wave of military operations is a result of PM Modi's mention of Pakistan's human rights abuses in Balochistan.


The report said that when some people questioned on whether PM Modi's mention of Balochistan has had a negative effect on Baloch people, Bugti tweeted, "It hasn't. Pakistani atrocities have always been there. The positive thing now is that the world knows about them."


In his Independence Day speech, PM Modi had said that if Islamabad continued to arm and encourage violence in Kashmir, New Delhi would be forced to highlight its human rights abuses in Balochistan.


PM Modi's statement were widely welcomed by various Baloch outfits and activists, and also shaken Islamabad, which has for long accused India's Research & Analysis Wing (RAW) of supporting the Baloch struggle. India however has denied these allegations.