In a stark warning to the Norwegian government, prominent Baloch human rights defender Mir Yar Baloch has urged Oslo to reject hospitality for two controversial Pakistani figures: former interim Prime Minister Anwar ul Haq Kakar and Balochistan’s Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti. Their proposed visit from February 15-17 has ignited fierce backlash from Baloch activists who accuse them of grave human rights abuses.
Mir Yar Baloch, speaking from Quetta, leveled explosive charges against the duo, claiming they are deeply entwined with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). ‘These men orchestrate abductions, tortures, extrajudicial killings, and mass burials of Baloch civilians to prop up Pakistan’s illegal occupation,’ he declared in a statement released on Friday. He further alleged their complicity in funding terror groups like Al-Qaeda and ISIS, posing a direct threat to global security.
The activist painted a grim picture of their activities, asserting that Anwar and Sarfaraz collude with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in assassinating opposition leaders, critics, and prominent community members. ‘Their trip to Oslo risks legitimizing ISI-backed IRGC-ISIS-Al-Qaeda terrorism,’ Mir warned, calling on Norway to cancel all meetings and shun these ‘traitors and hardcore terrorists.’
Echoing these concerns, Baloch National Movement (BNM) Chairman Naseem Baloch had voiced alarm a day earlier. He highlighted their responsibility for enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and collective punishments—acts decried as crimes against humanity by rights groups. Naseem pointed to their ties with Shafiq Mengal, a pro-state militia leader running death squads under military protection.
Norway, renowned for its commitment to human rights and international law, faces a moral crossroads. Activists implore its government, parliament, media, and civil society to interrogate these officials on Balochistan’s mass graves, militia links, and the impunity enjoyed by perpetrators while victims’ families are denied justice. Failing to act, they argue, could endanger Norwegian and global security, as Pakistan harbors terrorists within its military infrastructure.
This unfolding controversy underscores the tensions in Balochistan, where demands for self-determination clash with Islamabad’s iron grip. As the visit looms, the world watches whether Norway will prioritize human rights over diplomatic niceties.