Sources noted that pro-government militia groups known as ‘peace militia’ were operating in KP,279 while security forces collaborated with unidentified local militias in Balochistan (sometimes referred to as ‘death squads’) that were directly involved in instances of government repression against local civilians.280 These militias are known to have detained,281 abducted282 and killed civilians,283 including by means of targeted assault284 and planting landmines, and for attempting to forcibly occupy lands in Balochistan. In one instance, the Frontier Corps (FC) was alleged to have backed a ‘death squad’ by providing it with significant funding, heavy weapons and drones to reinforce FC operations in conflict-affected areas.285 The reference period further saw activities of allegedly state-backed Kashmiri286 armed groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad.287 For more information on these Kashmiri groups, see sections 3.2.2. Lashkar-e Taiba (LeT) and 3.2.14. Other local/small militia groups below.
- 279
AA, 5 killed in explosion at wedding ceremony in northwest Pakistan, 24 January 2026, url; SATP, Detail of Terrorism Update Sunday, June 29, 2025, 29 June 2025, url
- 280
Defence XP, Pakistan’s Death Squad Exposed – The Truth Will Horrify You, 11 October 2025, url; Sunday Guardian (The), Pakistan: Frontier Corps accused of arming death squads as landmines kill civilians in Dera Bugti, 18 September 2025, url; PAANK, Balochistan Human Right Report January-June 2025, 4 August 2025, url, p. 2; HRCB, An Overview of Human Rights Situation in Balochistan, 20 July 2025, url, pp. 2, 5, 8
- 281
HRCB, Human Rights Violations in Balochistan: 234 Enforced Disappearances, 87 Killings Documented in February 2026, 28 March 2026, url; TOI, Pakistan-linked 'death squads' accused as seven go missing in Balochistan, 15 February 2026, url
- 282
HRCB, Human Rights Violations in Balochistan: 234 Enforced Disappearances, 87 Killings Documented in February 2026, 28 March 2026, url; Defence XP, Pakistan’s Death Squad Exposed – The Truth Will Horrify You, 11 October 2025, url
- 283
HRCB, Human Rights Violations in Balochistan: 234 Enforced Disappearances, 87 Killings Documented in February 2026, 28 March 2026, url; PAANK, Balochistan Human Right Report January-June 2025, 4 August 2025, url, p. 5; IFJ, Pakistan: Journalist killed by militia in Balochistan, 28 May 2025, url; Sunday Guardian (The), Pakistan: Frontier Corps accused of arming death squads as landmines kill civilians in Dera Bugti, 18 September 2025, url
- 284
IFJ, Pakistan: Journalist killed by militia in Balochistan, 28 May 2025, url
- 285
Sunday Guardian (The), Pakistan: Frontier Corps accused of arming death squads as landmines kill civilians in Dera Bugti, 18 September 2025, url
- 286
Al Jazeera, Who are the armed groups India accuses Pakistan of backing?, 9 May 2025, url
- 287
Staikou, D., Pakistan: When the State Does Not Fight Terrorism, but Manages It, Europawire, 9 January 2026, url; Resonant News, Lashkar’s New Training Centre, Pakistan’s spy Agency ISI’s new strategy, 26 September 2025, url