By Ayesha Rehmani

In recent years, Pakistan has faced a complex and evolving security challenge in Balochistan. Beyond violent attacks and separatist militancy, there is a subtler threat—one that operates under the guise of activism and human rights advocacy. The Baloch Unity Committee (BYC) exemplifies this phenomenon, functioning as what experts and law enforcement agencies describe as the “soft face” of armed separatist networks, particularly Fitna-e-Hindustan.

While ostensibly a civil organization advocating for Baloch rights, the BYC is alleged to play a critical role in recruitment, narrative-building, and community-level outreach for terrorist networks. Pakistani law enforcement officials assert that this is not mere speculation; official records dating back to 2025 consistently point to the group’s proxy role. These findings have been reinforced by subsequent arrests and confessional statements from individuals linked to the organization.

The March 2025 Jaffar Express incident highlighted the BYC’s modus operandi. Under the leadership of Maherng Baloch, the organization reportedly attempted to seize the bodies of deceased militants from hospitals, aiming to manipulate public perception and obstruct legal processes. This pattern—immediately framing killed militants as “missing persons”—demonstrates a calculated effort to distort facts before verification can occur. As the Director-General of ISPR warned, the BYC systematically weaponizes narratives of enforced disappearances to further militant agendas.

Recent law enforcement operations, including the arrest of Sajid Ahmed in Turbat, further illuminate the depth of the BYC’s involvement. Ahmed, a former university lecturer with a master’s degree in sociology, maintained close contact with the BYC while facilitating terrorist networks. Similar connections have emerged in the cases of younger recruits, such as 18-year-old Sarfraz and Bezan, whose recruitment was shaped by family loss and grievances—a tactic deliberately exploited to mobilize vulnerable youth toward violence.

Critically, the BYC has also been used as a platform for minors, contradicting Fitna-e-Hindustan’s claims that it avoids using women and children. Government initiatives, including the establishment of rehabilitation centers in Quetta and Turbat, aim to counter this manipulation through psychological counseling, parental engagement, and social reintegration.

Internationally, the BYC projects a pseudo-human rights image, particularly in Europe, portraying militants as victims and masking their real affiliations. Experts argue that this international propaganda campaign is coordinated, externally sponsored, and strategically aligned with the broader objectives of Fitna-e-Hindustan.

Taken together, the March 2025 incidents, ISPR disclosures, and recent intelligence briefings form a consistent record: the Baloch Unity Committee is not an independent advocacy group but a sophisticated tool of extremist networks. Recognizing and addressing this dual threat—the visible violence and its soft, propaganda-driven front—is essential for Pakistan’s security and the protection of vulnerable communities in Balochistan

*Opinions expressed in this article are the writer's own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of The South Asia Times