How Propaganda Exploits Baloch Youth?

How Propaganda Exploits Baloch Youth? Inside the Shadows

In Balochistan, there is a war that is not always fought with guns. It is quieter, more deceptive, and a battle for hearts and minds. Former Baloch Nationalist Army commander, Sarfraz Bangalzai, in a recent interview with Geo News, spoke about how young people ( Baloch Youth )in the province are being pulled into violence not by conviction, but by manipulation. So, his words revealed how easily hope can be turned into a weapon.

False Promises in the Name of Freedom

Groups that claim to fight for Baloch rights often wrap up their message in the language of freedom and dignity. But when one peels back the slogans, what they find is a machinery built on deceit. Bangalzai described how outfits like the so called Baloch Youth Council (BYC), lure young men and women with stories of honor and injustice, only to push them toward militancy.
Besides, it is not hard to see why this works. When real problems like unemployment and neglect go unresolved, people look for someone to blame, and these groups are quick to offer easy answers. They call it “resistance,” but it is a trap. Thus, what begins as a call for justice ends with young people dying in mountains for causes, they barely understand.

The Manipulators Stay Safe

Moving forward, the people who are orchestrating this are not the ones on the frontlines. They do not live in Balochistan’s dusty towns or fear the sound of helicopters overhead. They are usually sitting comfortably abroad, sending out messages from behind the screens, and telling others to “sacrifice.” Their children go to good schools. Also, their own lives stay untouched by the violence they glorify.

Bangalzai put it bluntly. According to his statement, “They live safely in foreign countries, while the youth is buried here.” This is a bitter truth. Hence, the ones shouting the loudest for rebellion, never seem to pay its price.

Foreign Hands Stirring the Chaos

Moreover, the unrest in Baluchistan is not happening in isolation. There is strong evidence, and plenty of suspicion about involvement of foreign actors in fuelling the fire. According to Bangalzai, these groups get money, training, and even direction from outside Pakistan. Thus, the aim is not freedom. It is instability.
One can see how well coordinated their propaganda is. Even videos, tweets, and statements are polished and timed. Also, the message always paints militants as heroes, and the state as the villain. It is a pattern which is visible in conflicts all over the world. This is to take real issues, twist them, and keep the chaos going long enough, for the outsiders to benefit from it.

The Human Cost

For ordinary families, these politics translate into heartbreak. Every “fighter” is someone’s child, brother, or husband. Mothers keep waiting for sons who will never return. Fathers grow old searching for the closure they will never find. The so-called leaders who push this fight, do not even call or contact those families. They do not attend those funerals.
Thus, their silence is telling. When Baloch civilians are killed by bombings, by crossfire, and by mistaken identity, these same voices stay quiet. So, they only speak when it suits their agenda. Therefore, if they truly cared for their people, they would condemn all the violence, not just the kind that fits their narrative.

Propaganda as a Weapon

Furthermore, in this digital age, one does not need an army to spread fear. A few fake accounts, a few edited videos, and a lie can travel across the world in minutes. Hence, propaganda has replaced bullets as the first stage of war.
It starts with whispers and posts that are designed to make young people feel angry or betrayed. And then this frustration turns into hate. Once this happens, picking up a gun feels like a natural next step. By the time the truth catches up, lives have already been lost. Thus, it is how the cycle works. This is to create anger, disguise it as a pride, and call it a movement.

A Choice for the Youth

Additionally, the youth of Baluchistan is stuck in the middle. Many genuinely want change, and that is fair. But the path they are following leads nowhere. So, it is true that real strength does not come from carrying a weapon, but it comes from building something that lasts. It can be a skill, educational uplift, and a business. These are the things which give real power. Besides, a book can change more than a bullet ever will. Also, awareness is the real antidote to manipulation. Hence, once people understand how they are being used, those fancy slogans will lose their shine.

Rebuilding What has Been Broken

Finally, Baluchistan’s future cannot be changed by rebellion. It has to be changed from rebuilding. This means jobs, schools, investment, and maybe most importantly, trust. So, people need to feel heard and seen, not used. This is not about denying the problems. It’s about refusing to let outsiders define the solution. The province has incredible potential. This includes natural resources, a young population, and a strong sense of identity. But that potential keeps getting buried under violence and propaganda.
If there is one thing that Bangalzai’s story makes clear. It is that the real fight in Baluchistan is not between rebels and the state. This is between the truth and manipulation. The ones who see through the lies will shape what comes next. Thus, it is where hope still lives.