Two minor girls being prepared for suicide attacks rescued in Balochistan, home minister claims

Quetta, Balochistan — Security forces have thwarted a plan by the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) to recruit two young girls for suicide attacks, according to claims from the Balochistan Home Minister Ziaullah Langau on Saturday. Speaking at a press conference in Quetta, Langau alleged that the BLA targeted the families of the two girls, 16-year-old Zainab and her 12-year-old cousin Fatima, to exploit their grief and anger for recruitment purposes.

Acting on "sensitive intelligence," security agencies conducted an intelligence-based operation in southern Balochistan and successfully rescued the girls while they were allegedly being moved from one location to another.

The minister pointed out that the BLA members had killed Zainab's husband, Saif, and Fatima's father, Nisar, to manipulate the girls into carrying out the planned suicide attacks. Both girls testified during the press conference, stating that they were indoctrinated and pressured to participate in the attacks. Fatima alleged that she was initially told that state institutions were responsible for her father's death, and she was encouraged to carry out a suicide attack in retaliation.

Despite their distressing experiences, Zainab and Fatima expressed gratitude towards the security forces for saving their lives and appealed to the government and people of Pakistan for forgiveness. A former BLA member had previously claimed that the militant group brainwashed average citizens into resorting to terrorist activities.