The recovery of five Sindhi laborer’s bodies in Nushki during recent clearance operations has added a disturbing new dimension to the wave of violence in Balochistan, reinforcing concerns that terrorists are deliberately targeting civilians to inflame ethnic tensions in Pakistan.
According to security sources, the bodies were found on February 7 during mop-up operations following coordinated militant attacks in the district. The victims were identified as Irshad Ahmed from Khairpur and four laborer’s from Ghotki — Ghulam Abbas, Shahzad, Sajjad and Kamran — all residents of Sindh who had come to Balochistan in search of work.
Initial findings suggest they were killed after being identified through their ethnicity and identity documents.
The killings have triggered strong reactions, with officials and analysts describing the act as an attempt to provoke ethnic hatred and destabilize social harmony.
The targeting of unarmed laborer’s, who had no connection to security forces or state institutions has raised serious questions about the real motives behind such violence.
Security officials say the incident exposes the hollow nature of militant claims that attacks are linked to grievances over resources or development.
“If the objective was resistance against infrastructure or state presence, why kill poor laborer’s earning daily wages?” an official remarked, calling the act a deliberate effort to sow fear and mistrust among Pakistan’s communities.
The Baloch Liberation Army, designated terrorist organization by US State Department which has been linked to recent attacks in the province, has long been targeting civilians to project control and generate media attention.
Analysts say the killing of Sindhi workers reflects a broader strategy to disrupt inter-provincial ties and create the impression of ethnic conflict where none exists.
Residents of Nushki, however, have rejected this narrative. Local voices have condemned the murders and expressed solidarity with the victims’ families stressing that ordinary people in Balochistan do not support violence against innocent civilians.
As investigations continue, the killings stand as a grim reminder that terrorism in Balochistan is not about rights or resources but about attacking Pakistan’s unity and turning citizens against one another.
Read more: People of Nushki Stand United Against Terrorism as Normal Life Gradually Returns
