Surab protests after Pakistani airstrike causing civilian casualties; BYC declares Balochistan-wide strike

Protests erupted in Surab on Tuesday following reports of a Pakistani military airstrike in the Gidar Goandhan area, which allegedly resulted in the deaths of more than 20 people and injuries to at least 16 others. Local sources and residents reported the incident, highlighting the devastating impact of the attack on civilians in the region.

According to local accounts, the aerial bombardment took place on August 12. The strikes reportedly caused casualties among civilians, including women and children, raising concerns about the safety and security of non-combatants in the area. The injured and deceased victims were transported by local residents and police to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital in Surab, where they were receiving medical treatment.

Among those reported killed in the attack were several women and children. The deceased included Raj Bibi, wife of Rasool Bakhsh; Safia, wife of Noor Jan; two-year-old Jalal, son of Noor Jan; Shabbir Ahmed, son of Khudadad; Noor Jan, son of Rasool Bakhsh; and Karim Dad, son of Rasool Bakhsh. The loss of these civilians has deeply saddened the local community and intensified anger against the military operation.

The casualties extended to children as well, with reports indicating that several minors were among the injured. The injured included young children such as one-year-old Asim, three-year-old Rabia, five-year-old Sadiya, seven-year-old Fatema, two-year-old Zia-ur-Rehman, one-year-old Amir, and four-year-old Hasina. Many of the wounded were in critical condition, prompting urgent medical attention at the hospital.

Some local residents questioned the official casualty figures, claiming that the death toll might be higher than initially reported. Despite the severity of the incident, Pakistani military and security authorities had not issued any official statement regarding the airstrike or the casualties at the time of reporting, fueling speculation and concern among the local populace.

In the wake of the attack, relatives of the deceased and local residents staged a sit-in protest by placing bodies on the N-25 Quetta-Karachi highway in Surab’s main square. The protest quickly blocked traffic on the highway, causing long queues of vehicles on both sides. Protesters announced that their demonstration would continue until their demands for accountability and justice were addressed.

The incident drew condemnation from political and civil society groups across the region. The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) issued a strong statement condemning the airstrike, expressing deep concern over the civilian casualties, including women and children. The organization described the bombing as an act of state repression and announced a province-wide strike to protest the attack.

The BYC called for a shutdown and wheel-jam strike across Balochistan on August 13, urging traders, political activists, civil society members, and residents to participate in the protest. Their aim was to condemn the military action and demand accountability for the civilian deaths, emphasizing the need to stop such attacks on populated areas.

Prominent Baloch leaders also voiced their outrage. Sardar Akhtar Mengal, head of the Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M), questioned the targeting of civilians, especially children, in social media posts. Referring to images of the victims, Mengal asked whether the children could be considered militants and questioned whether true peace could be achieved through such violence.

Mengal further criticized the attack by asking, “Is this Palestine? Is this Kashmir? No, this is Balochistan,” highlighting the severity of the situation and framing it within a broader context of regional conflict and repression. His remarks underscored the widespread outrage and concern over the use of military force in civilian-populated areas.

Reacting to the reports, lawyer and political commentator Sajid Tareen Advocate also expressed his solidarity with the affected families on social media platform X. He described the reports of 27 civilians, including women and children, being killed as tragic and called for justice and accountability. As of the time of reporting, authorities had yet to publicly respond to the incident, leaving many questions unanswered about the military’s actions and the true extent of the casualties.