The Balochistan National Party (BNP) has alleged that former Afghan security personnel are being used in Balochistan against the Baloch population, describing the reported practice as alarming and condemnable.
In a statement issued by its central media cell, the party claimed that employing former Afghan forces against Baloch people constituted a serious violation of human rights and could undermine the longstanding historical and social ties between the Baloch and Afghan peoples.
The BNP said that relations between the two communities had historically been characterised by cooperation and mutual support during difficult periods. It alleged that, under current circumstances, former Afghan personnel were being used in Balochistan in a manner that contributed to repression and violence against the Baloch population.
The party further stated that the use of force or reliance on any group as a proxy against the Baloch people would not resolve the issues facing the region and could instead deepen existing tensions. According to the BNP, attempts the Baloch people’s political, national and human rights through coercive measures would further complicate the situation.
The statement also appealed to Afghan leaders, elders and members of Afghan civil society not to become part of any process that, in the party’s view, could contribute to rights violations against the Baloch people. The BNP said the relationship between Baloch and Afghan communities had been built over centuries on mutual respect, cooperation and solidarity, and should not be harmed by political conflicts or violence.
Reaffirming its political stance, the BNP said it would continue a democratic and political struggle for the protection of the Baloch people’s political, national and human rights, and would continue raising its voice against human rights violations in Balochistan.
The BNP’s statement comes amid a series of allegations made in recent months regarding the reported presence of former Afghan security personnel in Balochistan.
In July, imprisoned Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) leader Dr Mahrang Baloch alleged that residents in several parts of Balochistan had reported seeing former Afghan military personnel operating alongside Pakistani forces during military operations. She referred to reports from Zehri and claimed that residents of Mastung had alleged former Afghan personnel were stationed at a school building with the support of Pakistani forces.
The issue was later raised in the Balochistan Assembly by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) lawmaker Fazal Qadir Mandokhail, who claimed that thousands of former Afghan military personnel had been brought to areas bordering Afghanistan and questioned the government regarding their presence.
In September, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) published a report citing testimony from former Afghan security personnel who alleged that former soldiers and police officers from Afghanistan’s previous government had been approached to participate in counterinsurgency activities in Balochistan. The report noted that Pakistani authorities did not respond to requests for comment, while the provincial government maintained that it possessed no verified evidence supporting claims that thousands of former Afghan soldiers had been brought to Balochistan.
The allegations remain disputed. Political figures, rights activists and some media reports have raised concerns regarding the reported involvement of former Afghan security personnel in Balochistan, while Pakistani authorities have not publicly acknowledged such involvement.
Read More: Pakistan Using Former Afghan Military Personnel Against Baloch Groups: Iranian Media
Former Afghan Soldiers Recruited to Fight Baloch Insurgency, Investigation Finds