A Community’s Call for Protection
In the small valleys of Zehri, a city of the former peaceful rhythm of everyday life, something darker happened at the beginning of this year. In January, the people experienced another shock of unjustified fear after armed members of the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) broke into the area, storming into the banks, robbing little shops and intimidating anyone who opposed them. To a locality where families were accustomed to evenings in open bazaars and children playing after school, such a burst of violence seemed like a tear in the linen of normal living.
The Zehrians did not want disorder, they needed assistance, and they asked for it.
An Answered Call
Following desperate calls by the locals, the Pakistan security forces undertook a small scale, intelligence based operation to end those militants who were behind the attacks. It was not a full scale military operation, but a focused one aimed at restoring peace without any disturbance of normal life. The local elders and the representatives of the community were briefed, and the operation was commenced by precise strikes with verified intelligence, and not rumors or assumptions.
Such a partnership between the state and residents shifted the ground tone. What started as fear slowly changed into a feeling of mutual purpose, the need to protect their homes, livelihood, and dignity.
Protecting the Civilians, Maintaining Normality
Moving forward, one thing which the Zehri operation was characterized by was restraint. The security forces also acted within the clear legal frameworks, and no civilian enclave was attacked. There were no evacuations, no villages emptied, and no public services stopped. Schools did not close, local clinics were still operating and trade in the bazaars, although slower at the start, was soon picked up again.
So, this was important to the families who had feared that the region could end up in a long lasting conflict. It was an indication that the operation was protection oriented, rather than a punishment.
The Battle of the Propaganda and Misinformation
As the operation was underway, certain groups attempted to narrate their own story. Social media was full with fake photographs and data, creating an image of mass devastation and the suffering of civilians. However, cross-checking these claims by journalists, local leaders, and humanitarian organizations turned out to be baseless.
There was no casualty influx in hospitals in the area. Businesses were operating. The so called mass evacuations proved to be nothing but a hoax. The propaganda exercise was an extension of an even bigger effort to separate the people and the state, using fear as a weapon where violence had not worked.
Misinformation was finally counteracted, not by censorship, but by openness and verification. The residents defended themselves, sharing actual pictures and first hand reports which demonstrated that things were getting calm in their streets.
The Return of Everyday Life
The view in Zehri is now serene compared to those January nights. The markets are back in business, children are in schools, and families are walking on the streets without fear of extortion and blackmail. Shopkeepers who used to pay to armed gangs as protection money are now openly discussing how to rebuild their businesses.
A schoolteacher expressed it in this way, when the children laugh again, one knows that peace is restored. Hence, it means that life is now normal, and the region is safe for its residents.
⚠ Disclaimer
The views and opinions expressed in this article are exclusively those of the author and do not reflect the official stance, policies, or perspectives of the Platform.
