Washington, August 19: Tara Chand, president of the Baloch American Congress, has appealed to U.S. President Donald Trump to take notice of the recent airstrikes by the Pakistani military in Balochistan. These attacks reportedly resulted in the deaths of over 30 civilians, including women and children.
In his letter to Trump, Chand stated, “We respectfully urge your administration to investigate these serious allegations and determine whether any U.S.-made aircraft, weapons, drones, technology, parts, or other military equipment were used in this alleged operation.”
On behalf of the Baloch community, he also requested that the U.S. administration look into the alleged airstrikes in Surab and the resulting civilian casualties. Chand emphasized the need to ascertain if U.S.-made military equipment or technology was involved and to conduct a thorough review of the end-use and compliance of U.S. defense supplies provided to Pakistan.
Chand demanded that U.S. officials ensure a fair investigation by an agency if there has been a violation of the conditions regarding the transfer of U.S. weapons. He further urged that if credible evidence shows that such equipment was misused against Baloch civilians, a review of related U.S. military assistance or transfers should be conducted.
The letter stated, “Mr. President, the life of a Baloch child is as precious as that of any child in the world. We are not asking your administration to form a preconceived opinion about the evidence—we are asking you to uncover the truth, ensure the safety of civilians, and hold accountable those responsible. We are ready to provide available documents on this urgent matter and meet with relevant U.S. officials.”
This incident occurred on the morning of August 12, when the Pakistani Air Force allegedly conducted indiscriminate bombing in residential areas of the Gidar region in Surab, resulting in civilian casualties and significant property damage.
Last week, several Baloch activists and human rights organizations strongly rejected a statement issued by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR)—the official media and public relations branch of the Pakistani armed forces—following the airstrikes in Surab, calling it “false and fabricated.”
The criticism arose after the Director-General of ISPR attempted to downplay the Surab attack, attributing it to a premature detonation of a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) linked to a terrorist group. Baloch human rights activist Mir Yar Baloch criticized the official statements, stating, “The DG ISPR, acting as the official spokesperson for the Pakistani military, has faced severe criticism for his misleading and fabricated statements regarding controversial military operations.”
He further remarked, “The Surab massacre was a calculated act of collective punishment. Local residents of Surab are witnesses to the fact that the Pakistani Air Force deliberately targeted civilians under the cover of darkness, severely impacting the entire village and forcing the locals to bear the devastating consequences.”
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