Quetta, May 20
The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), a human rights body of Balochistan, on Tuesday strongly condemned Pashtun "genocide" by the Pakistan government in Waziristan, highlighting the drone attacks on civilian homes and the brutal massacre of children.
"We strongly condemn the drone strikes on civilian homes, the brutal massacre of children and the Pashtun genocide in North Waziristan. The Pashtun land has been subjected to state repression, violence and military brutality for the past several decades. We consider this a clear and systematic Pashtun genocide without any interpretation or vague explanation," read a statement issued by the BYC.
Drawing parallel with the condition in Balochistan, the BYC stated that just as the Baloch nation, the government is pursuing a policy of systematic genocide against the Pashtun people, adding that in the same vein, state brutality and violence continue in Pashtun lands.
"Today, not only the Baloch and Pashtun nations, but also the oppressed nationalities of the entire region are facing the worst state repression, enforced disappearances of political leaders, extrajudicial killings, and ongoing military brutality through so-called operations. Mortar shelling and drone strikes on civilian populations have become routine operations, which are a clear violation of human rights," the statement added.