Islamabad/ Oslo – A growing controversy has emerged over the reported lobbying campaign promoting Pakistani activist Mahrang Baloch as a contender for the Nobel Peace Prize. Critics argue that her links to proscribed groups and the networks supporting her raise questions about transparency in the Nobel process and the risk of politicizing one of the world’s most prestigious awards.
Mahrang Baloch and the BYC
Mahrang Baloch, often described internationally as a rights activist, is the daughter of Ghaffar Langove, a Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) commander whose grave is draped in the organisation’s flag. Under her leadership, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) has organised rallies and protests on enforced disappearances and rights issues but, according to Pakistani security officials, has also acted as a narrative shield for proscribed organisations.
Her former bodyguard, Sohaib Langov, was later identified by the BLA as a commander involved in militant attacks on civilians. Another BYC member, Gulzadi, claimed her brother Wadood Satakzai had been forcibly disappeared; he was later revealed by the BLA as a suicide bomber in the 2024 Mach attack in Balochistan. Analysts argue that such incidents show how BYC has provided cover for militants while mobilising disaffected youth into radicalisation.
Officials in Islamabad stress that while the state acknowledges grievances in Balochistan, international campaigns that elevate figures linked to banned outfits undermine Pakistan’s counterterrorism efforts and overshadow the suffering of communities targeted by militant violence.
The Frydnes, Kiyya and Malala Connection
Concerns increased after reports that Mahrang Baloch met in May 2024 with Jørgen Watne Frydnes, a member of the Norwegian Nobel Committee and Secretary General of PEN Norway, an independent organisation originally founded in 1921 as “Poets, Essayists and Novelists,” dedicated to defending freedom of expression and supporting writers at risk. According to Balochistan Pulse (15 September 2024), the meeting was facilitated by Kiyya Baloch, a Norway-based activist employed by PEN Norway whose writings have frequently echoed BLA and BYC positions.
Later, Mahrang also met Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai and Frydnes in Norway. Critics note that none of the three have publicly condemned the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) or the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) for ethnic killings and suicide bombings. Instead, their advocacy has amplified Mahrang’s narrative of selective victimhood.
Critics argue that Frydnes’ personal engagement with a figure accused of links to proscribed organisations represents a conflict of interest for a Nobel Committee member, who is expected to remain impartial in nomination-related matters. His silence on militant violence in Balochistan has further raised questions about selective advocacy.
Geopolitical Undercurrents
The controversy also ties into wider geopolitical concerns. The BLA, founded by Harbiyar Marri, has long been accused of receiving support from India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and Israel’s Mossad. Its propaganda has often been amplified through outlets such as Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) and sympathetic Indian media platforms.
Analysts in Islamabad argue that Mahrang’s promotion through PEN Norway and Frydnes fits into a broader pattern of projecting controversial figures to challenge Pakistan diplomatically. They ask whether Nobel networks are being used, knowingly or not, to advance foreign agendas at the expense of counterterrorism commitments.
Why It Matters
The BLA and its Majeed Brigade are internationally designated terrorist organisations responsible for suicide bombings and ethnic killings. Critics warn that lobbying which elevates figures connected to such groups undermines global counterterrorism frameworks. There are concerns that the Nobel Peace Prize risks being weaponised as a platform for extremist-linked sympathisers while sidelining the victims of terrorism.
What’s Next
The debate over Mahrang Baloch’s candidacy highlights the tension between human rights advocacy and counterterrorism imperatives. Critics say the campaign behind her nomination is not rooted in peace but in lobbying by networks tied to proscribed groups and foreign sponsors.
They argue that the Nobel Committee must protect its integrity by investigating the role of PEN Norway, the involvement of Frydnes, and the alleged terror linkages connected to BYC and BLA. Anything less, they caution, risks undermining the credibility of the Peace Prize and turning it into a political tool that legitimises extremist sympathisers under the banner of peace.
