QUETTA:
Najeebullah, a former commander of the outlawed Baloch Republican Army (BRA), surrendered to the government along with some other militant commanders in a significant step towards restoring peace and stability in the province, officials said on Friday.
Addressing the media in the presence of provincial ministers Mir Zahoor Buledi and Meena Majid, Najeebullah admitted that he had been used by anti-Pakistan elements to spread unrest in the country and attack innocent civilians.
“Militant organizations are exploiting the youth to wreak havoc and serve the agenda of foreign powers with the aim of destabilizing Pakistan,” he said. He added that opponents of the militant outfits often faced threats or arrests abroad, which strengthened his resolve to give up militancy.
Najeebullah revealed that he had joined the BRA in 2005 with political aspirations, but became disillusioned with the internal divisions and pressure to align with foreign-backed networks such as the Baloch Raji Ajoi Sangar (BRAS).
The government welcomed Najeebullah’s surrender. “We welcome those who have laid down their arms and given up violence,” said Meena Majid. “Pakistan is a great country and the government is committed to addressing their grievances and ensuring they become part of a peaceful society.”
Buledi expressed the hope that the leaders of the banned groups would play a key role in establishing a peaceful Balochistan. Officials reiterated their support for the individuals’ choice of peace, calling Najeebullah’s surrender an important step toward restoring stability in Balochistan.
Meanwhile, the Wilson Center, a reputed US think tank, has also said that militants were exploiting women for their terrorist activities. It points out that the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) was involved in forcing women through extreme psychological pressure for suicide bombings.
In Balochistan’s conservative society, where family honor was sacrosanct, the BLA often weaponized shame, it said, adding that the insurgents exploited women’s socio-economic struggles, using threats of disgrace, sexual violence and blackmail to trap them in deadly roles.
The BLA commits sexual atrocities to recruit women as suicide bombers. Adila Baloch, Shari Baloch and Mahil Baloch were forced to commit suicide by BLA under social and psychological pressure. The report added that sexual violence against women was a sign of the BLA’s moral decline.
