The Baloch Advocacy and Studies Center (BASC) strongly and unequivocally condemns the horrific suicide attack carried out by ISIS on the Balochistan National Party (BNP) gathering at Shahwani Stadium in Quetta.
The gathering was a significant political event, bringing together supporters and people from across Balochistan to commemorate the death anniversary of Sardar Attaullah Mengal, a prominent Baloch nationalist leader.
This tragic act of terror claimed the lives of innocent people and left many others injured. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the BNP, its leadership, and the bereaved families, and express our deepest sympathies to those who have been wounded.
This tragedy is yet another reminder of Pakistan’s history of fostering and instrumentalising extremist religious groups to serve its domestic and regional agendas, in blatant disregard for human life. The repercussions of these policies have destabilised not only Pakistan but the wider region, with ordinary people paying the ultimate price.
The targeting of Baloch political movements is not new. The Baloch people have long been subjected to state-sponsored violence and political repression. Pakistan has consistently chosen aggression over recognition of the Baloch struggle for the right to self-determination. The attack on the BNP is part of a broader pattern that has only intensified as the Baloch struggle has gained momentum. Despite repeated international criticism and widespread recognition of the human toll, Pakistan has failed to abandon its reliance on religious militant proxies and policies that perpetuate cycles of terror and bloodshed.
We call upon the international community to take urgent notice of these developments. There is a pressing need for independent monitoring of Pakistan’s compliance with international human rights obligations, as well as concrete steps to hold the state accountable for policies that enable and perpetuate terrorism. The Baloch struggle for the right to self-determination needs recognition, not aggression. Any delay will only further embolden the Pakistani state to target political voices in Balochistan.
We reiterate that such acts of terrorism must be condemned without reservation, and we stand in solidarity with the BNP and all victims of this atrocity. Pakistan must be pressed to dismantle its terror infrastructure, end the weaponisation of extremism, and demonstrate a genuine commitment to human rights and peace in the region.