Authorities in Pakistan’s Balochistan province have announced that the country’s security forces have foiled a plan allegedly attributed to the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) to use two teenage girls in suicide attacks. According to the authorities, the two girls were identified and rescued before they could carry out any attack.
Mir Ziaullah Langau, Balochistan’s Home Minister, said at a press conference in Quetta on Saturday that security forces, following an intelligence-based operation, located and rescued two teenage girls, identified as 16-year-old Zainab and 12-year-old Fatima, in the Makran region. He said the location where the girls were being held was identified during the operation.
According to Pakistani officials, the two girls had been held at an undisclosed location for around 40 days. During that period, officials said, they were subjected to ideological indoctrination and prepared for armed activities, including suicide attacks. Authorities have not provided further details about the exact location where they were allegedly held.
During the press conference, Zainab said that her husband, Saif, was killed after refusing to cooperate with a local commander. She alleged that following her husband’s death, individuals affiliated with an armed group contacted her and attempted to convince her that Pakistani state institutions were responsible for his death and that she should take revenge.
Zainab also said that she and her cousin, Fatima, were taken to an undisclosed location, where they were held for approximately 40 days. She alleged that they were subjected to pressure and violence during that period and were instructed to prepare for suicide attacks. These claims have not been independently verified.
According to information provided by Balochistan authorities, Fatima was also vulnerable to influence from armed individuals because of her family circumstances and the deaths of several members of her family. Pakistani officials allege that individuals affiliated with the BLA exploited the two girls’ vulnerabilities and traumatic family experiences to recruit and radicalize them.
Balochistan’s Home Minister described the incident as an example of armed groups’ attempts to use women and children in violent activities. He said Pakistani security forces would continue operations aimed at preventing terrorist attacks and identifying networks involved in the recruitment and organization of individuals.
During the press conference, both girls thanked the security forces for rescuing them and appealed for an opportunity to return to normal life. Pakistani authorities have also pledged to continue supporting them, although no further details have been released about their current condition or whereabouts.
Given that details of the incident are based largely on statements by Pakistani government and security officials, as well as accounts provided by the two girls, the precise role of the Balochistan Liberation Army in the case remains subject to independent verification. As of the publication of this report, no independent response from the group to the allegations had been reported.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
