'Pak's war crimes': Baloch activist posts video of 'missile debris', says 30 killed

Mir Yar Baloch, a prominent Baloch activist, has accused Pakistan's military of conducting a deadly airstrike in the Gidar Goandhan area of Balochistan on August 12, resulting in the deaths of at least 30 civilians. The activist claims that video footage from the incident provides clear evidence of the military operation and intends to present the evidence to the International Criminal Court.

The footage shows missile debris, which the activist argues is undeniable proof of Pakistan's terrorism. In a statement on X, Mir Yar Baloch demanded that the US impose sanctions on Pakistan and cease military support, including F-16 engine spare parts and upgrades for its fighter jets and missile programs. The Baloch leader urged the US administration to hold Pakistan fully accountable for its alleged war crimes in the region.

Pakistan's military has dismissed the claims of an airstrike, stating that the casualties were caused by a premature explosion involving a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device allegedly being assembled by militants. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations, the initial blast killed eight militants, and a subsequent secondary explosion caused civilian deaths.

The military also reported that three nearby civilians were killed in the blast and secondary detonation of other explosives. Pakistani forces and the Balochistan Police subsequently killed ten more individuals, bringing the total reported militant deaths to 18, while two Pakistani soldiers were injured during the exchange of fire.

The conflicting accounts have sparked protests in Balochistan, with locals alleging that the death toll could be higher than the reported numbers.