IN September 2024, Adeela Baloch was rescued by security forces from Turbat, Balochistan, after being harassed and exploited by a sub-nationalist terrorist organization. Brainwashed into becoming a suicide bomber, she was arrested after a failed mission. Following her rescue, Baloch revealed her story to the press on September 25, 2024. She disclosed that another girl had also been lured by the group and taken to the mountains. Baloch emphasized that many young men and women are being deceived and recruited by these extremist outfits. Despite the trauma, she credited the Balochistan government for her survival, acknowledging the importance of countering such extremist ideologies.
It is worth mentioning that on April 26, 2022; the terrorist Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) used a female (30 years Shari Baloch) suicide bomber to kill three Chinese language teachers near Confucius Centre of the Karachi University. Indeed, that was first attack by a female suicide bomber. What a pity that those engaged in the teaching were targeted by BLA, a banned terrorist organization. The blast of this suicide attack “ripped through their minibus” killing three Chinese and the Pakistani driver. BLA has killed many Chinese nationals, who work for the economic progress and infrastructural development of Pakistan.
It is worth mentioning that China has assisted Pakistan in the development of a huge communication infrastructure and other projects all over Pakistan, especially in the resource-rich Balochistan province. In June 2023, another female suicide bomber, Sumaiya Qalandrani Baloch (25 years), targeted a convoy of the Pakistani military in Balochistan’s Turbat district. At that time, BLA avowed that the “era of women’s active participation in the armed struggle has begun.” Sumaiya has also worked in the media wing of BLA.
This is very unfortunate for the state and society of Pakistan that terrorist sub-nationalist organizations like BLA and BLF are using women for terrorism in the province. This practice goes against the Baloch culture and traditions. Indeed, the province of Balochistan, constituting 43% of total Pakistani landmass has been a true reflection of traditional Pakistani culture and society. The province has been bestowed with tremendous potential of natural resources with high mountain barriers and long coastal areas. All these God-gifted features of the province distinguish it from rest of the country. Customarily, the people of the province have been hard working, tough, intelligent and loyal to their motherland.
Traditionally, Baloch men worked outside while women managed households, upholding cultural decency by avoiding exploitative environments. However, with changing times, Baloch women have joined the workforce while maintaining their values. Yet, militant groups like BLA, BLF and others are exploiting Baloch women which contradicts local norms. Involving women in such organizations has two implications: (a) the province’s men are increasingly rejecting these militant groups due to their anti-state agendas, and (b) women from remote areas are more vulnerable to being deceived and lured into becoming suicide bombers or being used in other terrorist activities. This exploitation undermines the traditional role of Baloch women while aiding the goals of extremist outfits.
In the past, BLA and BLF have been using Baloch women for the purpose of propaganda against the state of Pakistan. These women were lured-in by these terrorist organizations with vested interests. Many such women were forced to carry the suicide material and jackets from one place to another since there are no serious security checks for female at various heck posts in the province. Women used for terrorism are later shown by BLA and BLF as missing persons.
Unfortunately, owing to governance issues, exploitative Sardari system, regional and international conspiracies, there remained phases of instability in the province for quite some time. Away from common misperceptions, there is nothing wrong with the people of the province; they are brave, loyal to Pakistan but less aware of exploiters. The exploiters are foreign sponsored and act as a tool and make use of the poor masses to further the agenda of their sponsors. Through recruitment of women folk, the militant organizations are exploiting the mothers and sisters of the province for their nefarious activities. This practice has to be stopped by the state through mobilizing the Baloch masses and providing protection to women and children of the province from these terrorists’ organizations.
Using women folk for the purpose of terrorism by terrorist organizations like BLA and BLF through deception, exploitation and brainwashing is a serious crime against humanity besides being an insult to Baloch and Pakistani culture and traditions. The State of Pakistan must take this development very seriously. In most of the cases terrorists of BLA and BLF exploit the poor and deprived classes of the society for their nefarious designs. Federal and Provincial governments must create opportunities for economic progress and socio-political development of such deprived and alienated classes of the Baloch society. As a prerequisite of doing this all, normalcy has to be restored in the province of Balochistan. Thereafter, Government must take immediate and long-term socio-economic and socio-political measures through a closer liaison with the masses by taking tangible confidence building measures (CBMs) and restoration of trust between state and society.
— The writer is Professor of Politics and IR at International Islamic University, Islamabad.
(drmkedu@gmail.com)
