The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) has condemned the continued closure of the Abdoi border crossing in Kech district, calling it a form of “economic exploitation” that is deepening the humanitarian crisis in Balochistan.
In a statement released on Friday, the BYC said the border has remained closed since 19 March 2025, depriving hundreds of families of their primary source of income.
“The Abdohi border in Kech has remained closed, severing a crucial source of income for hundreds of families in Balochistan,” the statement read. “With no alternative livelihoods and rising economic distress, the closure has pushed communities into hunger and uncertainty.”
The BYC said labourers, traders, and other local residents who rely on cross-border trade are now facing severe poverty, with many struggling to afford basic necessities. The group described the situation as a “humanitarian crisis” created by the state’s policies.
The closure has sparked protests in Zamuran, where demonstrators have staged a sit-in that entered its second day on Friday. Protesters are demanding the immediate reopening of the border, saying it is essential for their economic survival.
Rather than addressing their demands, the BYC alleged, Pakistani forces attempted to disperse the protest through the use of force.
“State authorities attempted to suppress the protest. Security forces used baton charges and force to intimidate and disperse the demonstrators,” the BYC said, adding that the protesters “have held their ground” and vowed to continue resisting what they called “deliberate marginalization.”
The BYC further claimed that the border closure is not an isolated incident, but part of a broader pattern of economic control used to suppress the people of Balochistan. “It is part of a larger pattern of control, where economic pressure is used as a tool to subjugate,” the group said.
In a region already suffering from chronic underdevelopment, unemployment, and corruption, the closure of the Abdoi border has reportedly intensified the hardships of ordinary citizens.
The BYC urged the state to immediately reopen the crossing and halt the use of force against peaceful demonstrators.
“Ignoring these demands risks deepening resentment and resistance among a population already pushed to the brink,” the Committee warned.