Surab protesters denounce military reports as civilian casualties, sparking global condemnation

Protests erupted in Surab as residents rejected Pakistan’s official account of the deadly explosions, asserting that civilian homes were targeted in an overnight aerial attack that resulted in numerous casualties. Baloch political and rights groups quickly condemned the incident, demanding justice and accountability.

The attack took place in the early hours of Wednesday when Pakistani Air Force jets reportedly carried out indiscriminate bombardments in residential neighborhoods of Gidar, Surab. The strikes caused widespread destruction and claimed the lives of civilians, including women, children, and the elderly, amid significant property damage.

The Pakistani military’s media wing, ISPR, stated that the explosions were caused by a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) that detonated prematurely while being prepared by militants. They claimed that eight militants were killed and several others injured in the blast, which also caused further explosions from stored explosives nearby, resulting in civilian casualties.

According to the ISPR, Pakistani forces responded swiftly, launching a joint clearance operation aimed at tracking down the militants responsible. They claimed to have killed 10 more militants during the operation, bringing the total alleged militant deaths to 18, with two soldiers injured in the firefight.

Residents and eyewitnesses, however, dismissed the military’s account, insisting their homes were targeted in aerial strikes. Photographs from the area showed injured children, women, and elderly residents, as well as bodies believed to be victims of the bombardment. Many bodies reportedly remain in military custody, fueling anger and distrust.

In the aftermath, relatives of those killed staged a sit-in by placing bodies in Surab’s main square along the N-25 Quetta-Karachi highway. The protest disrupted traffic on the busy route, with long queues forming on both sides. Protesters demanded the return of bodies held by the military, justice for the victims, and accountability for the attack.

The tragedy drew widespread condemnation from Baloch political parties and human rights organizations. The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) called the bombing a form of “state terrorism,” condemning the use of warplanes against civilian areas and describing the attack as part of a broader “Baloch genocide” that has persisted for decades.

The National Party condemned the bombing of civilian neighborhoods, calling it an extreme form of oppression and a serious violation of human rights. The party warned that such military actions would deepen mistrust and violence rather than resolve the underlying issues in Balochistan. They urged the government to halt military operations, protect civilians, and prioritize political dialogue and respect for fundamental rights.

The Baloch Women Forum (BWF) strongly criticized the attack, describing it as a “blatant act of brutality” by Pakistani security forces. They emphasized that targeting civilians, especially inside their homes, was unacceptable and demanded an immediate halt to airstrikes and military operations. The forum called for international organizations to investigate the incident transparently and hold those responsible accountable.

The Baloch National Movement (BNM) labeled the bombardment a “blatant war crime,” asserting that it violated international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions. The group accused the Pakistan Army of conducting indiscriminate violence, including home demolitions and forced displacements, with some local politicians and parties complicit in facilitating such actions.

BNM called on international rights organizations to investigate the incident thoroughly and urged the European Union to suspend Pakistan’s GSP+ trade preferences, which are contingent on human rights compliance. They also appealed to international media to report independently on the situation in Surab, criticizing what they called “one-sided propaganda” from the ISPR.

Dr. Naseem Baloch, BNM’s leader, compared the images of injured children and civilians to those emerging from Gaza, emphasizing that “this is not Gaza, it is Balochistan.” He highlighted the long history of enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and military operations, framing the incident within a broader context of ongoing persecution and what he called an “ethnic genocide” of the Baloch people.