However, even before these guidelines were issued, domestic media in Pakistan has largely avoided independent reporting from restive areas like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa [KP] and Balochistan. A 2009 International Media Support study on Pakistani media notes that “various military regimes in Pakistan have had a special interest in controlling the media, and have been behind many of the media laws used to censor the media.”
Paradoxical Narrative
On July 31, Director General [DG] of Pakistan army’s media wing Inter Services Public Relations [ISPR] Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry outrightly rejected what he described as a false narrative regarding the prevailing security situation in Balochistan and blamed “hostile elements” for spreading misinformation.
However, with the DGISPR himself going on to reveal that the Pakistani army had carried out more than 31,000 military operations [which works out to a whopping average of 147 missions per day] in Balochistan during this year alone, how can one expect anyone to believe that gravity of the security situation in this province is being exaggerated?
Charade
Exposing disinformation isn’t difficult- all that needs to be done is permitting independent media to establish the truth by physical verification of facts on ground. But rather than doing so, Islamabad has instead introduced Foreign Media Facilitation Guidelines 2026 just two weeks ago, making it mandatory for anyone [including Pakistani nationals] to obtain prior permission for reporting from anywhere in Pakistan except three cities- Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore.
However, even before these guidelines were issued, domestic media in Pakistan has largely avoided independent reporting from restive areas like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa [KP] and Balochistan. A 2009 International Media Support study on Pakistani media notes that “various military regimes in Pakistan have had a special interest in controlling the media, and have been behind many of the media laws used to censor the media.”
This report also acknowledges that “Pakistan’s powerful security establishment has historically kept a strong check on the flow of news and information in the country.” Mentioning that “pressure from intelligence officials and militants has made “self-censorship the norm” in Balochistan,” the 2018 Media Matters for Democracy report it nails the Pakistan army’s central role in suppressing truth.
This observation was unambiguously vindicated nine years later when the then DGISPR in his June 2018 presser issued a not-so-veiled threat to media persons by telling them that “We have the capability to monitor social media as to who is doing what.” And with Field Marshal Asim Munir introducing the term “digital terrorists” into the Pakistan army’s lexicon, ISPR now holds the exclusive rights of disseminating news pertaining to KP and Balochistan.
Masking Mass Murder
Last Wednesday [August 12], a powerful bomb blast killed more than 20 people and injured several others in the Surab district of Balochistan. According to locals, this area had been subjected to aerial bombardment and cursory damage assessment of the incident site images/ video footage and visuals of debris/ remnants of the ordnance that caused the explosions provides irrefutable credibility to this assertion.
ISPR has however come up with an incredulous hypothesis by claiming that “On the morning of 12 August 2026, an under preparation Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) detonated while being prepared by terrorists… in Surab District of Balochistan.” It seems that in his hurry to absolve the Pakistani Air Force of involvement, Lt Gen Chaudhary forgot that the damage profile of a factory manufactured sophisticated air-to-ground projectile is completely different from that of a crude VBIED.
Furthermore, if ISPR’s claim is indeed true, then wasn’t this a golden opportunity to unmask the alleged perpetrators by taking independent media persons to the site of the incident. As per reports, there were several old men as well as women and children amongst the dead, and the truth would definitely have emerged in the form of emotional outbursts during interaction of media persons with the grief stricken family members of the deceased.
Culture of Violations
In a world where every country, social organisation, welfare groups and even individuals vociferously declare their unconditional commitment towards upholding human rights, Rawalpindi’s absolute disregard on this issue and the harsh way it treats its own countrymen is indeed amazing.
But this reprehensible trend endures only because the military in Pakistan knows very well that the international community and rights groups can at best only express condemnation, which is something that Rawalpindi doesn’t bother about.
Intervention
Pakistan may be a victim of terrorism but this doesn’t give its army the right to behave like terrorists themselves by disappearing, extra-judicially executing or bombing civilians. Whether one supports the Balochistan cause or otherwise is not the issue- what matters is that the Pakistan army is waging a no-holds-barred war against its own people and the resultant burgeoning humanitarian crisis can no longer be passed off as Pakistan’s internal affair.
The need of the hour is to save the Baloch people from institutionalised persecution. Enforced disappearances, extra-judicial killings and use of excessive force against civilians must be stopped immediately. And for this, the international community needs to graduate from mere rhetoric to meaningful actions including considering sanctions, embargoes and trade barriers to ensure compliance.
Let’s not forget that just like us, the Baloch people too are human and so they deserve the secure and dignified life we lead.
Email:--------------------nileshkunwar.56@gmail.com
However, even before these guidelines were issued, domestic media in Pakistan has largely avoided independent reporting from restive areas like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa [KP] and Balochistan. A 2009 International Media Support study on Pakistani media notes that “various military regimes in Pakistan have had a special interest in controlling the media, and have been behind many of the media laws used to censor the media.”
Paradoxical Narrative
On July 31, Director General [DG] of Pakistan army’s media wing Inter Services Public Relations [ISPR] Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry outrightly rejected what he described as a false narrative regarding the prevailing security situation in Balochistan and blamed “hostile elements” for spreading misinformation.
However, with the DGISPR himself going on to reveal that the Pakistani army had carried out more than 31,000 military operations [which works out to a whopping average of 147 missions per day] in Balochistan during this year alone, how can one expect anyone to believe that gravity of the security situation in this province is being exaggerated?
Charade
Exposing disinformation isn’t difficult- all that needs to be done is permitting independent media to establish the truth by physical verification of facts on ground. But rather than doing so, Islamabad has instead introduced Foreign Media Facilitation Guidelines 2026 just two weeks ago, making it mandatory for anyone [including Pakistani nationals] to obtain prior permission for reporting from anywhere in Pakistan except three cities- Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore.
However, even before these guidelines were issued, domestic media in Pakistan has largely avoided independent reporting from restive areas like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa [KP] and Balochistan. A 2009 International Media Support study on Pakistani media notes that “various military regimes in Pakistan have had a special interest in controlling the media, and have been behind many of the media laws used to censor the media.”
This report also acknowledges that “Pakistan’s powerful security establishment has historically kept a strong check on the flow of news and information in the country.” Mentioning that “pressure from intelligence officials and militants has made “self-censorship the norm” in Balochistan,” the 2018 Media Matters for Democracy report it nails the Pakistan army’s central role in suppressing truth.
This observation was unambiguously vindicated nine years later when the then DGISPR in his June 2018 presser issued a not-so-veiled threat to media persons by telling them that “We have the capability to monitor social media as to who is doing what.” And with Field Marshal Asim Munir introducing the term “digital terrorists” into the Pakistan army’s lexicon, ISPR now holds the exclusive rights of disseminating news pertaining to KP and Balochistan.
Masking Mass Murder
Last Wednesday [August 12], a powerful bomb blast killed more than 20 people and injured several others in the Surab district of Balochistan. According to locals, this area had been subjected to aerial bombardment and cursory damage assessment of the incident site images/ video footage and visuals of debris/ remnants of the ordnance that caused the explosions provides irrefutable credibility to this assertion.
ISPR has however come up with an incredulous hypothesis by claiming that “On the morning of 12 August 2026, an under preparation Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) detonated while being prepared by terrorists… in Surab District of Balochistan.” It seems that in his hurry to absolve the Pakistani Air Force of involvement, Lt Gen Chaudhary forgot that the damage profile of a factory manufactured sophisticated air-to-ground projectile is completely different from that of a crude VBIED.
Furthermore, if ISPR’s claim is indeed true, then wasn’t this a golden opportunity to unmask the alleged perpetrators by taking independent media persons to the site of the incident. As per reports, there were several old men as well as women and children amongst the dead, and the truth would definitely have emerged in the form of emotional outbursts during interaction of media persons with the grief stricken family members of the deceased.
Culture of Violations
In a world where every country, social organisation, welfare groups and even individuals vociferously declare their unconditional commitment towards upholding human rights, Rawalpindi’s absolute disregard on this issue and the harsh way it treats its own countrymen is indeed amazing.
But this reprehensible trend endures only because the military in Pakistan knows very well that the international community and rights groups can at best only express condemnation, which is something that Rawalpindi doesn’t bother about.
Intervention
Pakistan may be a victim of terrorism but this doesn’t give its army the right to behave like terrorists themselves by disappearing, extra-judicially executing or bombing civilians. Whether one supports the Balochistan cause or otherwise is not the issue- what matters is that the Pakistan army is waging a no-holds-barred war against its own people and the resultant burgeoning humanitarian crisis can no longer be passed off as Pakistan’s internal affair.
The need of the hour is to save the Baloch people from institutionalised persecution. Enforced disappearances, extra-judicial killings and use of excessive force against civilians must be stopped immediately. And for this, the international community needs to graduate from mere rhetoric to meaningful actions including considering sanctions, embargoes and trade barriers to ensure compliance.
Let’s not forget that just like us, the Baloch people too are human and so they deserve the secure and dignified life we lead.
Email:--------------------nileshkunwar.56@gmail.com
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