Is Pakistan's ISI using ISIS to threaten Balochistan activists?

While Pakistan tries to whitewash its image, the latest manifesto of ISIS-K targets Baloch rights activists, including Mahrang Baloch. The terror group was also seen parroting the same narrative pushed by Pakistan's ISI. Read our exclusive read more
Portraits of Baloch missing persons are seen by their family members at a sit-in protest camp, in Islamabad, Pakistan Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. File Image / AP
While Pakistan denies claims that it is fostering terror groups on its soil , the Baloch civilians and activists in the country are facing threats from the Islamic State (ISIS) terror cells. In recent weeks, the transnational terrorist organisation announced war on the Baloch militant groups, like the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and Balochistan Liberation Front.
However, a prominent Baloch rights activist, who asked to remain anonymous, told Firstpost that the terror group is also targeting Baloch civilians and political protesters. The activist from the Baloch Yakjehti Committee told Firstpost that ISIS has been allegedly linking the missing Baloch civilians and their families to militant groups like BLA and BLF.
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The source noted that the group issued a 117-page booklet, claiming that the activists are against 'the rules of Islam'. The front page of the booklet featured Manzoor Pashteen, leader of Pashteen Tahafuz movement, Bashir Zeb, leader of Baloch liberation army and a faceless woman.
The cover image of the ISIS booklet features Manzoor Pashteen, leader of Pashteen Tahafuz movement, Bashir Zeb, leader of Baloch liberation army and a faceless female. Image Source: BYC
The picture is believed to be depicting prominent Baloch activist Dr Mahrang Baloch. Just last year, TIME Magazine included the Baloch human rights activist on the TIME100 Next list for her efforts to raise the Baloch plight.
While her activism was celebrated around the world, on March 22, Dr Mahrang Baloch was arrested by the Pakistani authorities during a peaceful sit-in where she was demonstrating against police violence on protesters from the previous day.
In the photographs of the booklet shared by the source to Firstpost, Dr Baloch's name was explicitly mentioned. In the provocative manifesto, Dr Mahrang was referred to as 'Kafir, a Muslim who has left Islam and became non Muslim,' the source said.
In the booklet, Dr Mahrang Baloch's name was explicity mentioned, she was referred to as 'Kafir, a Muslim who have left Islam and became non Muslim. Image Source: FP Sources
How is ISI involved in all this? The game of narratives
While speaking on the matter, the Baloch activist told Firstpost that ISIS has been promoting the same narrative often pushed by Pakistan's Inter-Service Intelligence, also known as ISI. 'It [the manifesto] totally shows this is promoting the narrative of ISI and going to target Baloch activists,' the source told Firstpost.
The source explained that both ISIS and ISI paint Baloch rights activists as 'soft faces of militants'. When asked why Pakistan's ISI would use ISIS to terrorise Baloch civilians, the Baloch activists gave a simple response: Growing public awareness about atrocities against Baloch civilians.
'The ISI has long sought to continue human rights violations and exploit the region's resources without accountability. However, our peaceful movement has exposed their actions to the world, which is why they are now targeting us in an attempt to silence our voices. Despite their efforts, they have failed,' the source told Firstpost.
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'Currently, Dr. Mahrang Baloch and four of our leaders — Beebarg Baloch, Beebu Baloch, Gulzadi Baloch, and Shaji Baloch — are unjustly imprisoned. My own father forcibly disappeared as part of a pressure tactic to force my surrender. The state continues to brutally suppress every protest, yet we have not stopped resisting.'
Mahrang Baloch has been nominated for the 2025 Nobel Prize. Image: mahrangbaloch__/Instagram
Now, as public awareness grows and the people's resentment against state oppression deepens, they (ISI) are shifting strategies. Since open violence is increasingly being condemned both locally and internationally, they may resort to using groups like ISIS to further suppress us. This allows them to deflect criticism, evade responsibility, and even gain international sympathy because any violence blamed on a banned terrorist group distances the state from accountability," the source furthered.
Against the backdrop of the alleged threat coming from the ISI-ISIS combo, the BYC had to cancel its rallies in different regions across Balochistan. When asked if there are just threats or the lives of Dr Mahrang Baloch and other rights activists are actually in danger, the source stated: 'This is a threat to all political activists like us, and victim families, who came on the roads just for justice.'
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How Baloch civilians are facing the burnt of terror groups
During a phone call with Firstpost, the source explained how the tensions between ISIS-K (Islamic State - Khorasan Province) and Daesh actually started. The Pakistani wing of the transnational terror group claimed that militant organisations like BLA and BLF killed 30 people.
The source noted that Daesh and the Baloch militant groups have camps in Mastung town in the Balochistan province. The Baloch activist also pointed out that neither the BLA nor the BLF have claimed responsibility for killing Daesh members as of now.
Militants from the Baloch Liberation Army in Quetta. File image/AFP
However, in the tussle between the two groups, it is the Baloch civilians and activists who are getting dragged into all this. For instance, on March 29, a suicide bomber detonated himself near the rally conducted by Sardar Akhtar Mengal and other leaders of his faction of the Balochistan National Party (BNP) in Mastung.
According to Pakistani news outlet The Express Tribune, the rally was en route from Wadh to Quetta when the attack occurred. No casualties were reported in the blast. The demonstration was organised to protest the arrests of Balochistan Yakjehti Committee (BYC) chief organiser Dr Mahrang Baloch and other leaders. The source claimed that the attack was carried out by the Daesh terror group operating in the Khorasan province.
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The atrocities by the ISI and the state of Pakistan
Not only this, but the Baloch activists and innocent civilians are also facing atrocities at the hands of the Pakistani establishment. 'The ISI has employed a wide range of tactics to target Baloch activists, aiming to silence dissent and suppress the movement. These methods include: Fabricating allegations and spreading false propaganda, intimidation and harassment of activists and their families, misusing anti-terrorism laws and sedition charges to criminalise peaceful activism, etc,' the source told to Firstpost.
'These actions collectively aim to dismantle the peaceful Baloch movement through fear, legal persecution, and economic strangulation,' the source furthered.
Baloch activists hold pictures of their missing family members in Islamabad, Pakistan, 2023. File Image: AP
The ISIS booklet peddles the same narrative against Baloch activists as formulated earlier by the ISI. This also offers evidence backing the charge that the Pakistani establishment and its security agencies have terror links. This may compound troubles for Pakistan when it's already under global scrutiny for sponsoring terrorism in India, especially in the aftermath of the Pahalgam massacre of tourists.

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