Army operation in Mashkay in Balochistan condemned

Quetta/Washington, Dec.31 (ANI): The military offensive in Mashkay town of Awaran district of Balochistan entered its seventh day on Monday (December 31). In a statement, the Baloch National Movement (BNM) said that after the killing dozens of innocent Balochis, Pakistani security forces have laid siege to the entire area, setting up checkposts at all entry and exit points. A spokesman for the party said: "Due to the blockade of routes, the people wounded during heavy bombardment by gunship helicopters are being deprived of medical aid, leaving them to die". The statement claimed that the so-called "kill and dump" operation is going on unabated, as the mutilated body of BSO activist Hassan Langov was found dumped on December 29. While condemning Langov's assassination, the BNM appealed to international human rights bodies to take notice of human rights abuses in Balochsitan. The spokesman claimed that Balochsitan was suffering from a human rights crisis far more serious than those in Uganda, Darfur and Congo, but the civilized world has opted for criminal silence despite the fact that the secular and liberal Baloch are fighting an extremist state which is a serious danger to global peace. The BNM spokesman said they had the support of the Baloch nation and they would continue their struggle even if the whole world remains indifferent towards their flight. However, the U.S.-based Balochistan National Congress (BNC) has strongly condemned the ongoing Pakistani military aggression against the Baloch people in Balochistan and has reiterated its call for international intervention and action to stop the killing of innocent Baloch citizens. "This is a part of the ongoing Baloch killing and genocide and we request the International community to not close their eyes over these crimes against humanity and barbaric acts of Pakistani State terrorism unleashed against the Baloch people", said Dr. Wahid Baloch, the President of the Washington chapter of the BNC in a press statement. The elections are due in Balochistan in 2013 and Pakistan is trying to install a puppet government in the province by diminishing the strength of Baloch nationalists. Hammal Haider Baloch, the central committee member of Baloch National Movement said, "This military operation is to quell and intimidate political workers who are demanding freedom for Balochistan. They are doing this to suppress the Liberation movement in Balochistan". Since the forceful occupation of Balochistan by Pakistan 65 years ago, the Baloch people have been leading a miserable life. Poverty, unemployment, illiteracy and many other social and economic issues affect a majority of the people. Killings, enforced disappearances, and tortures are on the rise as the Pakistani army and spy agencies try to suppress the voice of the Baloch people. (ANI)