In the aftermath of a militant assault on the Gwadar Development Authority Complex, the story around Baloch missing individuals has been critically questioned. The names of two terrorists killed in the attack—Karim Jan, son of Fazal Baloch of Turbat, and Imtiaz Ahmed, son of Raza Muhammad—have been revealed to be among the so-called missing Baloch persons. The attack, carried out by militants associated with the BLA Majeed Brigade, was successfully foiled by brave security forces of Pakistan, resulting in the fatalities of all seven perpetrators. The investigations in the aftermath of attack not only questioned the dismal facts surrounding the alleged missing individuals in Balochistan, but also on the greedy objectives of certain journalists and famous social activist.
This case confirms a reoccurring pattern identified during the Mach attack last month, demonstrating a pattern in which people previously reported missing turn out to be actively involved in terrorist activities. This episode reveals the reality behind the Baloch missing people tale, which has long been used as a means of propaganda to rally popular support and foreign money for separatist forces in Balochistan just to destabilize Pakistan. A similar campaign was uncovered by a Pakistani journalist, Shahzaib Khanzada, on his talk show, where he cited real events in which India was complicit in spreading the ‘Missing Persons Drama’ against the Pakistani Government in Balochistan. He also disclosed that separatist tribesmen are eager to talk, and India has devised a strategy to deploy propaganda including bogus claims against the Pakistani Government.
Whenever an episode of missing person comes on screen, it resulted in terrorist attack later. The involvement of alleged missing people in terrorist attacks calls into question the legitimacy of narratives disseminated by certain activists and media persons expressing loyalty to the Baloch cause. Many famous media personalities and lawyers have been accused of using the Baloch cause for personal benefit and foreign sponsorship. The accusations stems from their increasing engagement during politically favourable times, as opposed to their seeming absence during major crises impacting the Baloch population, such as natural catastrophes. The surprising disappearance of these self-proclaimed advocates during the Balochistan flash floods contrasts sharply with the Pakistan Army’s continuous assistance for the devastated populations. Such bias reveals their intentions towards not just Baloch people, but also loyalty to the state.
On the Government level, judicial commissions, with support from the government, have made significant progress to solve the disappearance issue, conducting fair inquiries and resolving a large number of cases. In January, interim Minister of Balochistan Jan Achakzai announced that 22,00 missing people out of 27,00 have been found in the province. Some of them were involved in kidnapping for ransom, willingly fleeing their homes, or, as recent events have shown, joining terrorist organizations. These findings challenge the notion that the state bears sole responsibility for these disappearances and the so-called narrative is pushed by Baloch separatists themselves.
The unravelling of the disappearance story uncovers a complicated network of deception and manipulation designed to undermine Pakistan’s sovereignty and integrity. The overt engagement of India’s intelligence agency, RAW, in facilitating separatist organizations such as the BLA and BLF reveals a nefarious conspiracy to destabilize Pakistan. These separatist organizations use clever trickery, initially presenting themselves as victims of Government oppression in order to obtain foreign financing, notably from India, to fuel their evil actions. The recent Mach jailbreak and the Gwadar attack reveal this terrible reality, in which previously reported missing people are determined to be actively engaging in terrorism. The recognition of missing people as militants actively engaged in assaults needs a rethinking of the narrative promoted by some activists and journalists. These revelations highlight the hypocrisy of activists and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), who falsely accuse the state of human rights crimes while casually disregarding the rigging and misuse of Baloch locals by separatist organizations and their foreign supporters.
As the reality of many events becomes clearer, it is easier to recognize those who are spreading this story of ‘Missing Persons’ and their goals towards Baloch people. It is vital for Baloch people and Pakistani nation as a whole to critically evaluate the information provided to them and find constructive solutions to Balochistan’s difficulties. The Pakistani government, through the efforts and hard work of its Armed Forces, is working day and night to keep Balochistan peaceful and safe for its residents. The Baloch people’s future should not be compromised for political theatre and self-serving goals that enrich only a few.
