Rescued Balochistan girls say they were pressured into suicide plot

During the press conference on Saturday, the two girls, who were seated beside the minister, spoke about their alleged recruitment. Fatima alleged her father, Nisar, had been killed by terrorists and that she was subsequently told state institutions were responsible for his death to encourage her to carry out a suicide attack.

The girls claimed they initially wanted to return home but were allegedly subjected to pressure and mistreatment when they refused to cooperate. They alleged that a local commander continued contacting them and attempting to persuade them to join the militant organisation.

The home minister added that Fatima remained in contact with the alleged commander because she was Zainab’s cousin and was constantly with her.

Reports on August 29 have linked the plot to the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), with one of the rescued girls reportedly revealing details of her recruitment.

Balochistan's Home Minister, Mir Ziaullah Langau, has revealed further details about a foiled plot to use underage girls for suicide attacks, attributing the conspiracy to a group he referred to as "Fitna Al-Hindustan".

Speaking at a press conference, Langau provided a disturbing backstory for one of the recovered girls, Zainab. He alleged that the militant group had killed her husband, Saif, along with 8 to 10 other family members after Saif refused to cooperate with them. Following the murders, a local commander from the group reportedly contacted Zainab to recruit her.

The minister specified that the plot was active in Southern Balochistan, with the girls being recruited from the Makran region. He stated that Zainab, 16, and another girl, Fatima, 12, were held in a "dark cell" for 40 days and pressured to carry out a suicide bombing.