Pakistani Security forces have taken in custody two suspects, found near the nuclear test site area in Chagai district of Balochistan.
According to details received by The Balochistan post, security agencies arrested two men on suspicion and started investigating them, who were witnessed wandering in Chehattar area on a highway near the Raaskoh mountains where the Pakistani nuclear tests were conducted on this day.
Pakistani officials confirmed the news saying, “The suspects stayed at Chehattar for three days, asked for food from local people and spent their nights in deserted places.
Deputy Commissioner of Chagai Agha Sher Zaman confirmed their detention and said they were being interrogated by authorities concerned. However, he did not disclose their identities and further details.
According to Dawn news, a security official said that initial inquiries indicated that they belonged to Rajanpur and Sindh. He said the authorities were trying to find out their possible aims and mission if they had any.
It is to be mention that this day is celebrated as Youm-e-Takbeer for successful nuclear tests in Pakistan and observed as ‘black day’ called Youm-e-Aasrokh by Baloch nationalist and pro-independence organisations since the Pakistani government tested its nuclear weapons in Chagai, on 28 May 1998.
Since then every year on this day, Baloch political parties run campaigns, stage protests and demonstrations all over Balochistan and foreign countries.
In past, on 28 May, Baloch armed organizations have also attacked Pakistani forces and government installations in different parts of the Balochistan. According to Baloch leaders Pakistan has illegally occupied the Balochistan and they are striving to regain their independence.
Multiple rights organisations including political parties and residents of Balochistan say that Pakistan put the entire Baloch nation at the risk of nuclear radiation and till today Baloch are suffering due to its residuals effects. In their protests they have been urging United Nations and other responsible world bodies to must send watchdogs to investigate nuclear radiations and impacts of atomic tests in Chagai area.
Despite of being the richest region that Pakistan exploits in terms of natural and mineral resources, its 71 percent of the people live in multi-dimensional poverty as UNDP’s report stated.
Brad Adams from Human Rights Watch, who was monitoring the situation in Balochistan, some years back, stated that “as a result of Pakistan’s nuclear tests in 1998, children are born with genetic problems such as facial deformities, eye problems, skin diseases, and limb dysfunction. The generation of Chagai in Balochistan have developed genetic abnormalities”.
‘The impacts of the residual radiation which has dawdled over Chagai- cases of lung, liver, and blood cancer, skin diseases, typhoid, and infectious hepatitis, as well as serious effects on the nervous system, blood pressure, eyes and throats, and on new born babies- the tests also impacted the environment’.
‘This has caused a series of damage to the flora and fauna of the area thus resulting to the radioactive effect to every level of ecosystem and hence affecting the human beings who inhabited there’ Brad Adams said.
Data retrieved from annual report on Chaghai District by Planning and Development Department, Government of Balochistan shows that the following mountainous creatures continue to suffer after the nuclear test in Chaghai and they’re now becoming extinct.