Zálbul Zendáni, a publication by BYC, presents several claims that are factually disputed and appear to construct a narrative that shields the BLA and BLF from accountability.
The publication portrays Gulzadi, the sister of BLA militant Abdul Wadood Satakzai, as a victim of enforced disappearance.
However, for a long time, Gulzadi herself publicly claimed that her brother had been forcibly disappeared by law enforcement agencies. In reality, Abdul Wadood Satakzai went to join a BLA training camp and was later declared a Sarmachar (fighter) by the BLA after he was killed.
Gulzadi, along with Mahrang Baloch, was arrested in connection with the removal of the dead bodies of BLA militants from Civil Hospital Quetta. These militants had been killed during a counter-terrorism operation following the March 11 Jaffar Express hijacking, an attack that resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians.
This raises a key question: why did Mahrang and BYC seek custody of the bodies of these militants?
Gulzadi writes in the publication about enforced disappearances, but she does not address the fact that her brother was a BLA militant involved in violent activity that killed innocent Baloch civilians. The publication avoids discussing BLA members responsible for attacks, which raises concerns about selective advocacy.
The publication includes letters from individuals known for publicly supporting BLA and BLF activities — individuals who have long provided cover for their actions.
One such letter is from Saira Baloch, who claimed in a documentary that her brothers Asif and Rasheed Baloch had been forcibly disappeared. However, later in 2023, images surfaced showing Asif and Rasheed with banned BLF commander Allah Nazar in the mountains.
The publication also highlights the cases of Hair-un-Nisa and Hani. However, like Wadood Satakzai and others, they were detained on December 20 during an operation linked to the prevention of a planned suicide attack.
In recent years, several women have carried out suicide attacks in Balochistan, including Shari Baloch, Mahil Baloch, Adila Baloch, Ganjatoon (alias Barmesh), and Zarina Rafiq, who carried out a suicide bombing in Nokundi. In these cases, there were no comparable campaigns highlighting the coercion, radicalization, or exploitation these women experienced while under the control of militant groups.
BYC provides legal and narrative cover in such cases. The publication does not name women who were allegedly coerced and manipulated into suicide bombings. There appears to be silence when women are deployed as suicide bombers, followed by swift mobilization when women undergoing similar training are intercepted before an attack.
The testimonies and articles in the publication align with narratives that serve the interests of BLA and BLF.
They shield these groups from scrutiny and downplay human rights abuses committed by them. When individuals connected to BLA or BLF are arrested — before these groups formally claim them as Sarmachars — BYC social media campaigns describe them as victims of enforced disappearance.
The cases of Hair-un-Nisa and Hani are presented as examples. When they were apprehended in the early stages of planning a suicide attack, BYC advocacy campaigns described the detentions as enforced disappearance. In most legal systems, facilitators and abettors of terrorist organizations are subject to arrest and prosecution under the law.
BYC’s advocacy campaigns operate as narrative shields for militant networks.
A recent case cited is that of Nargis Baloch, she was abducted by armed BLA members and taken toward the mountains. There were fears she could be coerced or blackmailed into becoming a suicide attacker. Accounts associated with BYC described the incident as if she had gone voluntarily with the armed men.
The publication references webinars organized by BYC that draw inspiration from a Kurdish movement leader, a Tamil leader, and Jamal Baloch — identified as Media Coordinator at Paank, a platform known for amplifying BLA and BLF activities on social media. One such webinar was hosted by BYC leader Sammi Deen Baloch.
This clearly suggests ideological alignment with narratives that promote militancy in Balochistan and position BYC as a platform that is used for militants recruitment.
For example, Sarfraz, an 18-year-old from Kharan, reportedly moved from protests and road blockades into militant activity through the BYC platform. Sajid Ahmed, described as a key facilitator and BLA militant, admitted these details after his arrest on June 8, 2026.
Sohaib Langove, described as a close aide to BYC leader Mahrang Baloch, was killed in July 2025 and later declared an active BLA fighter. Wadood Satakzai, Gulzadi’s brother, was also claimed by the BLA as a fighter killed in the Mach attack. Sufyan Kurd, a young student, was similarly described as having been radicalized before dying in an attack.
According to security sources, webinars, publications, and emotionally charged videos are used by militant groups to influence and recruit young women for suicide attacks, sometimes drawing from narratives similar to those promoted in BYC-related material.
In this context, Zálbul Zendáni is an attempt to shape public perception in ways that benefit BLA and BLF by minimizing or ignoring militant violence.
Note: These cases have been publicly documented. Official press briefings regarding the arrests are available online and have been reported by recognized news organizations including Dawn News, Geo News, and ARY News.
