Widespread house demolitions and confiscation of valuables during military raids in Balochistan

Reports from multiple districts in Balochistan indicate that Pakistani military forces have carried out demolitions of several houses, which they claim are linked to Baloch separatist fighters. Residents in these areas have also reported that security forces conducted raids and confiscated valuables during ongoing security operations. These actions have raised concerns among local communities about the nature and impact of the military’s campaign against separatists.

In the coastal district of Gwadar, sources confirmed that security personnel demolished a house belonging to a man named Mohammad in the Pasni Grani area. Witnesses said the structure was completely destroyed during the operation. The Pakistani forces also circulated a video showing the demolition, which has further fueled tensions and concerns among residents.

This is reportedly the second house demolition in Gwadar in recent weeks. Previously, on February 13, a family’s house in the Panwan area was destroyed using heavy machinery. Local residents and observers have questioned the justification for these demolitions, which they say are targeting homes without clear evidence of links to separatist activities.

Similar incidents have been reported in other parts of Balochistan. In Noshki, security forces demolished four houses, including the ancestral home of Bashir Zeb Baloch, who is known as the head of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA). In Tump, authorities used heavy machinery and explosives to demolish another house, further indicating a pattern of targeted destruction in the region.

Authorities have described these properties as being connected to Baloch separatist fighters, but many residents and local observers have expressed serious concerns. They allege that civilian homes are being targeted as part of collective punishment, rather than based on concrete evidence of involvement in insurgent activities. This has led to widespread apprehension and anger among the local population.

In addition to demolitions, reports of raids and arrests by Pakistani security forces have increased across several cities in Balochistan. During these operations, residents have claimed that valuables such as gold jewelry and cash were confiscated. Families say that their possessions, including items belonging to newly married couples, were taken during search operations.

For example, in Noshki, residents reported that gold jewelry and approximately 250,000 Pakistani rupees in cash were seized during a raid on a family home. Similarly, in Gwadar, sources alleged that valuables like a watch and around 130,000 rupees in cash were confiscated during a security operation. These incidents have added to the sense of insecurity among local communities.

Residents in Quetta’s Sariab Road area have also voiced concerns over missing valuables, claiming that security forces conducted searches that resulted in items being taken from their homes. The pattern of house demolitions, combined with reports of loot and arrests, reflects a tense environment in Balochistan in the wake of recent security operations.

These developments follow a series of coordinated attacks claimed by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) on January 31 in various parts of Balochistan, including the provincial capital Quetta. In response, security forces launched extensive operations, which involved demolishing houses and conducting search raids across multiple areas, further escalating tensions in the region.