Pakistani security forces have launched a fresh operation in the Mal-Maki area of Noshki district, Balochistan, prompting widespread concern among residents and traders. Local accounts describe a heavy deployment of personnel conducting house-to-house searches, setting up multiple checkpoints, and enforcing strict movement controls across the town. Vehicles entering and leaving Noshki were reportedly subjected to close inspection, and military patrols were seen along major routes.
The operation comes amid an ongoing curfew that has disrupted daily life since late January, when the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for coordinated attacks in Noshki under a campaign it called “Operation Herof.” In response, authorities carried out clearance drives across several “affected” areas, including Noshki.
Residents and business owners say prolonged curfews and repeated security checks have taken a heavy economic and social toll. Routine movement, commerce and transport have been severely constrained, they say, affecting livelihoods across the district. Local media reports and interviews with townspeople convey growing frustration and a sense of insecurity as operations recur.
Earlier operations in February reportedly included the demolition of multiple structures during curfew enforcement. Among the properties said to have been demolished was an ancestral house alleged to be linked to Bashir Zeb Baloch, whom some sources identify as a BLA leader; officials did not confirm that claim. Reports also indicate that buildings near an Inter-Services Intelligence facility in Qaziabad were razed after residents were reportedly told to vacate, and that properties connected to political figures were affected.
Political representatives have criticised the demolitions of civilian homes and guesthouses, while rights organisations and local voices continue to allege human rights violations and warn of long-term economic fallout from the sustained security measures. Pakistani authorities maintain that the operations are necessary to curb militancy and restore order in a region that has been a focal point of counter-insurgency efforts.
Noshki remains a central flashpoint in Balochistan’s security landscape. As operations continue, residents urge clearer communication, safeguards for civilians and measures to mitigate the economic damage caused by repeated curfews and restrictions on daily life.
