A military operation by Pakistani armed forces in the Zehri tehsil of Khuzdar district has entered its third week, reportedly leaving local residents trapped under an atmosphere of fear and insecurity.
According to local sources, internet, mobile, and all other communication networks in the area have remained completely suspended for several days. Entry and exit routes to Zehri also remain sealed, effectively cutting off the region from the rest of Balochistan.
Residents report that security forces have ordered families in Norgama and surrounding areas to present all members – particularly young men – at a military camp established inside Zehri Hospital. Locals allege that officials have warned families of “serious consequences” if they fail to comply, intensifying the sense of fear among the civilian population.
Multiple homes have reportedly been raided, with several residents detained and transferred to undisclosed locations. Among those allegedly subjected to enforced disappearance are women, according to local accounts.
According to confirmed reports, the Pakistani forces raided the hosue of an individual identified as Sheikh Abdul Samad and detained his sister, Safia Bibi d/o Gul Muhammad. The woman was subsequently released. Other confirmed “abductees” include Zahid s/o Abdul Aziz, Asif Baloch, and Asadullah s/o Rasool Bakhsh Zarakzai, a local shopkeeper.
According to local sources, security forces reportedly demolished two hotels and set fire to several shops in the main bazaar of Zehri. One of the hotels, known locally as the Pyala Hotel and situated next to the shop owned by the detained Asadullah, was completely destroyed by tanks. A second hotel nearby was also leveled.
The current operation follows a series of airstrikes on September 15 that killed seven civilians, including two women. Another round of military action began on September 27, with reports indicating that at least eleven civilians have since been killed in continued aerial bombardments.
Security personnel, heavily armed and deployed across Zehri Bazaar and nearby localities, have reportedly detained numerous individuals.
Political and human rights organizations in Balochistan have voiced grave concern over the ongoing situation. They have called for an immediate halt to the operation, the release of all missing persons, and the restoration of communication networks in the area.