Pakistan Losing Control in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Amid Growing Unrest: Report

Pakistan is facing growing unrest in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with the use of artillery and air power against protesters and civilians indicating, according to a report, that the state is struggling to maintain control in parts of the two provinces.

The report by The North Lines alleged that residents protesting against the government in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were increasingly being treated as adversaries by the security establishment.

It cited figures attributed to Pakistan’s Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DGISPR), claiming that thousands of Baloch people had been killed during operations against individuals described by authorities as “terrorists”. The report also alleged that peaceful protesters demanding answers over alleged extrajudicial killings had been detained.

According to The North Lines, Pakistan has faced criticism over its actions at international forums, including the United Nations in Geneva and New York.

The report quoted remarks critical of Army chief Asim Munir, alleging that the military had resorted to artillery and air power against citizens protesting in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

It further claimed that the Pakistan Army was reluctant to deploy large numbers of troops in several areas of the two provinces. Citing the South Asia Terrorism Portal, the report said more than 600 civilians and over 1,000 Pakistani security personnel had been killed in terrorist-related incidents in 2026.

The report also highlighted unrest in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), where it said civil disobedience had emerged in recent months. It claimed communication services had been suspended in parts of the region and that videos purportedly showing Pakistani security personnel firing on civilians in Rawalakot and other areas had circulated on social media.

The North Lines further reported that additional security forces had been deployed amid concerns that peaceful protests could escalate into armed resistance.

Meanwhile, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) on Wednesday condemned a bombing in Balochistan’s Panjgur district that killed two children and injured three others. The organisation described the incident as another alleged example of “ongoing collective punishment” and state violence against civilians.

The statement followed an explosion in Gowargo tehsil of Panjgur on Tuesday. Local residents alleged that explosives attached to a quadcopter operated by Pakistani forces caused the blast.