Mahrang Baloch has emerged as a prominent figure advocating for human rights in Balochistan, particularly drawing international attention to the issue of alleged enforced disappearances. Her activism, often highlighted in the media, centers on seeking justice for individuals reported missing in the province. However, a closer examination reveals a narrative that, according to critics, selectively addresses the multi-faceted challenges plaguing Balochistan. Mahrang Baloch fuels disintegration within the province, provides a humanitarian cover to the actions of terrorists, Fitna-al-Hindustan (FAH), and maintain incriminating silence over the acts of terror committed against innocent Pakistani civilians in Balochistan and beyond.
Allegations of External Influence and Misdirection
Mahrang Baloch presents her movement as peaceful, but in reality, her activities, and those of the BYC—a proxy faction of FAH—which she leads, are backed by external and anti-state actors, exclusively India. It is noteworthy that Mahrang Baloch’s clamor over missing persons serves a deceptive agenda. A significant number of these, allegedly disappeared, individuals are not arbitrarily disappeared but are, in fact, participating in terrorist activities in Pakistan as fighters of different terrorist organizations—collectively called FAH.
The Grim Reality of FAH Violence
Balochistan has long been a theatre of brutal violence perpetrated by FAH and its peripheral proxy Baloch separatist organizations. These groups have a documented history of targeting innocent civilians and vital infrastructure.
A chilling example of their brutality was the killing of nine Punjabi passengers in July 2025, who were offloaded from buses and identified by their IDs in Zhob and Loralai districts. Such targeted killings based on ethnic identity underscore a deeply disturbing sectarian dimension to the conflict.
Furthermore, these militant factions have consistently engaged in acts of terror against various segments of society. They have launched attacks on schools, disrupting education and instilling fear within communities. Chinese citizens working on crucial China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects have also been specifically targeted, seen by these groups as symbols of alleged exploitation of Balochistan’s resources. These assaults aim to destabilize economic development and sow discord.
The audacity of these groups extends to direct confrontations with state institutions. The FAH and its affiliates frequently attack security forces, leading to casualties on both sides and escalating the conflict. Perhaps one of the most horrific and coldhearted acts of terror in recent times was the hijacking of a passenger train, the Jaffar Express, in March 2025, where hundreds of civilians were taken hostage. While official reports indicate that a major rescue operation averted a mass civilian massacre, the incident highlighted the extreme lengths to which these groups would go, causing immense terror and loss of life among security personnel and some civilians.
A Question of Selective Outrage
It is against this backdrop of widespread militant atrocities that questions arise regarding the hypocritical attitude of Mahrang Baloch. While she champions the cause of “missing Balochis,” often framing them as victims of state excesses, critics point to a conspicuous silence regarding the equally, if not more, horrific acts committed by the very groups that some of these “missing” individuals are allegedly part of.
Her advocacy appears to focus exclusively on alleged and baseless state human rights violations, while maintaining an incriminating silence over the systematic violence perpetrated by Fitna-al-Hindustan and its proxies when they target innocent Punjabis, attack educational institutions, terrorize Chinese workers, or engage in large-scale civilian massacres.
This selective condemnation, or lack thereof, raises profound questions about the impartiality of her human rights platform. If the sanctity of human life and freedom from violence is paramount, then why does the suffering inflicted by FAH/Baloch separatist groups seemingly fall outside the purview of her fervent activism? This apparent disparity fuels the narrative that her activism is not a holistic human rights endeavor, but rather a tool to advance a particular political agenda, allegedly backed by those who seek to destabilize Pakistan.
The Broader Implications of Advocacy
The goal of exposing Mahrang Baloch’s hypocrisy is not to diminish genuine human rights concerns but to highlight the complex and often manipulated narratives surrounding the Balochistan conflict. When activists advocate for individuals allegedly involved in terrorism while remaining silent on the horrific crimes of those very groups, it undermines the credibility of their cause and further polarizes the discourse.
For Pakistan, the relentless fight against terrorism requires a clear distinction between legitimate grievances and militancy. The nation seeks an end to the cycle of violence that claims innocent lives. True human rights advocacy, in this context, would demand condemnation of all forms of violence, irrespective of the perpetrator or the identity of the victim.
