The Baloch National Movement (BNM) has announced an international advocacy campaign following the Pakistani airstrike in Balochistan’s Surab on 12 August, which the organisation says resulted in civilian casualties, including women and children.
In a statement, the BNM’s Foreign Department said it had contacted more than 300 elected representatives, political offices, international institutions, human rights organisations and media outlets across several countries, including France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Sweden, Germany, Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States.
According to the organisation, the campaign includes outreach to various international bodies and institutions, including United Nations Special Procedures mandate holders, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Trade, the European External Action Service (EEAS), the European Union Delegation to Pakistan, and committees of the European Parliament.
The BNM said it had also contacted a number of human rights organisations, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Freedom House, the International Service for Human Rights and the International Society for Human Rights.
The organisation stated that letters and supporting material related to the Surab incident were sent to 230 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) from France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy and Sweden. It further said that its Germany chapter expanded the campaign through outreach to political representatives, parliamentary offices, media organisations and human rights groups.
According to the BNM, the issue was also raised with the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and several British parliamentarians. The organisation said it had additionally contacted members of the United States Senate and House of Representatives, as well as elected representatives in Ireland.
In its statement, the BNM called for an independent international investigation into the Surab airstrike, unrestricted access to Balochistan for international media and human rights organisations, preservation of evidence, and accountability for any civilian casualties resulting from the incident. The organisation also urged scrutiny of Pakistan’s human rights obligations, including those linked to its GSP+ trade status with the European Union.
Pakistani authorities have not publicly responded to the BNM’s campaign or its demands.