Bolan and its surrounding areas are under siege for the 5th day. Several Baloch women and children have been allegedly detained by the Pakistan army during the military operation.
According to reports, at least 6 gunship helicopters & multiple military UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) have been spotted in the area on Thursday. The continuous siege and unannounced curfew have caused food shortages and heightened difficulties for civilians in need of medical assistance.
Related: Bolan remains under siege for 4th day, locals face food shortage
According to local sources, the Pakistani military has burnt several houses in Uch Kamaan and adjacent areas of Bolan in the last 5 days. There are also reports that a large number of Baloch women and children have also been detained during the operation. As per the sources, the total number of women and children detained is higher, however, so far The Balochistan Post has been able to confirm and verify the details of eleven of them.
The confirmed names of at least eleven women, teenage girls, and children that have been taken away by Pakistani forces during the Bolan operation are following. Sammo Sumalani, Zar Bakht Sumalani, Baani Sumalani and her daughter Fareeda, Zargul Marri, Haneefa Marri, Dur Khatoon Marri, Mahso Sumalani, Gul Bibi Sumalani, Sameedha Sumalani and her daughter Raaji. Among the detainees, there is Mehnaz Sumalani, who is the wife of a previously missing person Rakhia Sumalani. Rakhia was forcibly disappeared four years ago and remains missing to date.
Both China and Turkey have reportedly supplied multiple models of military UAVs to Pakistan in the last few years, which are being used in military operations specifically in Balochistan.
Analysts say that China’s multi-billion investment in the region has been threatened by the Baloch “pro-independence” armed groups and it is also concerned about the safety of Chinese nationals working on various projects in Balochistan and Pakistan. Given the previous massive attacks on Chinese nationals by Baloch armed groups, now China is militarily and financially aiding Pakistan to crush the independence movement in Balochistan, Analysts argue.