ISPR reports 17 killed in Dera Bugti and Kalat operations

Pakistan’s military media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), announced on Sunday that 17 individuals were killed in two intelligence-based operations carried out last week in the districts of Dera Bugti and Kalat in Balochistan. The ISPR stated that the operations were conducted in response to reports of the presence of fighters linked to Baloch armed groups. The military claimed that during these operations, a gun battle ensued, resulting in the deaths of five people in Dera Bugti. They further reported the recovery of weapons, ammunition, and explosives, and indicated that clearance operations were still ongoing in the area.

The following day, the ISPR issued a second statement regarding an operation in Kalat district, where it said 12 suspects were killed after an exchange of fire. Similar to the first operation, weapons and explosives were recovered. The military added that search operations are continuing to find any remaining suspects and to ensure the area is cleared of threats. However, these official accounts have been met with skepticism and criticism from human rights organizations and the families of missing persons.

Human rights groups and local families have long disputed the official narratives provided by Pakistani authorities. They allege that the armed forces frequently carry out “fake encounters,” where individuals who had been forcibly disappeared are later killed and presented as militants involved in insurgent activities. These groups argue that such practices are used to cover up abuses, especially following major attacks by Baloch pro-independence groups, and to project a narrative of ongoing security successes.

According to these organizations, the victims of such operations are often not publicly identified, and families are denied access to their bodies or the opportunity to verify the identities of those killed. They claim that these killings are often carried out shortly after high-profile insurgent attacks, suggesting a pattern of using these encounters as a face-saving measure for security agencies. The allegations raise serious concerns about enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in the region.

The latest official statements from the ISPR come just days after the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF), a prominent insurgent group, claimed responsibility for a significant attack in Nokkundi. The group announced that its fighters killed 76 Pakistani military personnel, including foreign employees, during a prolonged assault on the Frontier Corps brigade headquarters. This attack has heightened tensions and underscores the ongoing insurgency and security challenges in Balochistan.

The identities of those killed in the Dera Bugti and Kalat operations have not been disclosed publicly, and independent verification of the ISPR’s claims remains limited. Access to the region is heavily restricted, and media limitations prevent thorough investigation or corroboration of the official accounts. As a result, questions about the transparency and accuracy of the military’s version of events continue to persist among human rights advocates and independent observers.