A poem for the disappeared children of Balochistan — and the mothers who still wait for justice. In the dust-veiled valleys of the southwest,the wind carries names —soft, trembling syllables of kidswho once chased kites through the saffron dusk.Now, only echoes remain. One by one, they were taken —not by storms or fever,but by the … Continue reading Say Their Names: The Vanished Children of Balochistan
I recently attended a seminar in Hannover, Germany, on the eve of Baloch Martyrs Day, organized by the Baloch National Movement. The event gathered international activists, including Kurds, alongside prominent Baloch political figures.Among the speakers was a well-known figure in Balochi literature and Baloch politics. During his speech, he made a statement that, despite his … Continue reading Women, War, and Misogyny in Baloch Politics
In the realm of dreams, where shadows roamBramsh slumbers deep, in a world her ownA spectral call, a voice so dearAwakens her soul, dispelling fear"Bramsh!... Bramsh Páda!" the mother criesIn the mystic realm where dreamland liesEyes unfold, a question posed"Mom, where have you been?" the mystery exposedTo wake a nation from its slumberThe mother's mission, … Continue reading In the realm of dreams…
In Mand, Balochistan, security forces started to categorize locals as "Good Baloch" and "Bad Baloch". This simplification oversimplifies a complex reality. Security forces employ a binary lens painting Good Baloch as complaint allies and on the flip side, Bad Baloch: who dare push back against the looming Specter of colonial policies and the web of … Continue reading Good Baloch, Bad Baloch
While the US “war on terror” in Afghanistan and areas bordering Pakistan occupied the focus of millions in the western world, the simmering conflict in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Sindh; particularly Karachi, and its disastrous effects on the civilian population evade the radar of popular media because of the imposed media-censorship in the country. There … Continue reading Staged Encounters
The following is a naïve attempt to translate a Balochi emotional piece by young writer, photographer, and narrator Husna Ishaq. ————————————————————— Bramsh’s asleep. In her sleep, her mother appears and wakes her up by saying:Bramsh!….Bramsh Páda! (Wake up!) Bramsh opens her eyes and say: “Mom! Where have you been? Mother replies: to wake a sleeping … Continue reading Bramsh’s Dream
The culture of abuse and ill-treatment runs so deep in Policing in Pakistan that torture and custodial deaths are endemic in the country, and further strengthened with the lack of accountability. The highly-publicized death of Salahuddin Ayubi, a mentally disabled man, in Police custody, in the Punjab province of Pakistan, spotlighted this widespread problem which … Continue reading Where did you learn to torture people?
Widespread deaths and killings in Balochistan have become normal. There’s hardly any discussion about the deaths in Balochistan. But on May 26, something, rather unusual, happened even in the context of Balochistan that sent shock waves throughout the population of Makran. Disturbing news of a woman’s violent death and her 4-year old daughter’s injury emerged … Continue reading Death Squad pumps bullet in 4-yr old Bramsh, kills her mother. Does the world even care?
The chief minister of Balochistan and leader of the Balochistan Awami Party, Jam Kamal Khan, was the centre of a controversy on twitter yet again. This time he claimed with utmost confidence, in other words, that the Baloch have never been a single entity or a nation in an attempt to further the state version … Continue reading A denialist’s view of Baloch history
Ever wondered the difficulties in life, inner grief, and self-identity crisis one goes through by not knowing whether he/she is a posthumous or an orphan? Well, I didn’t. Not until I met a beautiful and brave soul from Balochistan. Sharratun was pregnant and in the third trimester of her pregnancy when the forces cordoned off … Continue reading Posthumous or Orphan?
Adnan Baloch 