By The South Asia Times

QUETTA, Pakistan - Pakistani security forces have detained two minor girls who authorities say were allegedly recruited and prepared by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a terrorist group in Balochistan, to carry out suicide attacks, Balochistan’s Interior Minister Mir Ziaullah Langau said at a press conference.

Langau said the girls, identified as Zainab, 16, and Fatima, 12, were intercepted during an intelligence-based operation while they were being moved from one undisclosed location to another.

The minister said the operation prevented what he described as an attempt by the BLA to exploit vulnerable minors for militant activities.

The claims were made at a press conference attended by the two girls.

According to Langau, questioning of the girls revealed what he described as the militant group's methods of recruiting young people by exploiting personal loss and anger.

The minister said Zainab's husband and between eight and 10 other members of her family had allegedly been killed by the BLA. He said a local BLA commander subsequently contacted her husband, identified as Saif, and attempted to persuade him to work for the terror organisation.

When Saif refused, the minister said, he was killed. The commander allegedly continued making telephone calls after his death and eventually established contact with Zainab.

According to the account presented at the press conference, Zainab told authorities that the commander blamed Pakistani security institutions for her husband's death and encouraged her to seek revenge.

Zainab said her 12-year-old cousin Fatima became involved because she was constantly with her and came into contact with the same commander, according to the minister.

Langau further said that Fatima's father had also been killed in a militant attack, leaving her emotionally vulnerable and making it easier for the group to persuade her to join.

The two girls reportedly told authorities that they were influenced by calls for revenge and eventually went to a BLA-controlled location, where they remained for around 40 days.

They alleged that they were subjected to physical abuse by people at the location and that a commander also made inappropriate proposals to them.

The girls reportedly asked to meet the commander but were told he was travelling in a neighbouring country and that a meeting would be arranged after his return.

The authorities said security forces subsequently received intelligence about the girls' movement and intercepted them while they were being transferred to another undisclosed location.

The two girls thanked security forces for what they described as a timely operation that saved their lives.

They also appealed to the government and the Pakistani public for forgiveness.

Langau said the incident demonstrated the role of intelligence and security operations in preventing militant attacks before they occur.

“When a terrorist incident takes place, the question is always asked: what were the security forces doing?” he said, adding that security agencies may prevent numerous attacks even when one incident succeeds.

The minister described the BLA as part of what he called “Fitna al-Hindustan”, a term officially used by Pakistani authorities in referring to militant groups involved in terrorism with Indian support.

The case nevertheless highlights a wider concern surrounding the use of minors and vulnerable civilians by militant organisations in conflict zones, particularly in areas where prolonged violence, family losses and displacement can leave young people vulnerable to radicalisation and recruitment.

The Pakistani government has vowed to continue operations against militant groups in Balochistan and elsewhere.

The authorities said the immediate objective of the latest operation was to prevent the two girls from being used in suicide attacks and to ensure their safety.