Killing of a Baloch Citizen and Arrest of 13 Individuals on Charges of “Espionage” in Balochistan
According to the Balochistan Human Rights Group, on Thursday, 19th March 2026, Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence announced the killing of a Baloch citizen and the arrest of 13 individuals in the cities of Chabahar, Iranshahr and Zahedan. The ministry claimed that these individuals were detained on charges of “espionage” and collaboration with Israel during a “joint operation” carried out by security and military institutions. In the published statement, authorities announced the “arrest of 13 spies and terrorists affiliated with Israel in the southeast of the country,” as well as the “dismantling of a network” linked to an individual identified as Nematollah Shahbakhsh, also known as “Jamouk.” The operation was reportedly conducted with the participation of the Intelligence Department of Sistan and Balochistan Province, the IRGC Quds Headquarters, and the Law Enforcement Command (FARAJA).
According to the report, security forces claimed that the detained individuals were engaged in espionage activities, including collecting and transmitting information about the locations, movements of military and law enforcement forces, their facilities, defensive installations, and other sensitive security data in the province. Authorities further alleged that the individuals were preparing to carry out “terrorist actions.” They also reported the seizure of a significant quantity of weapons and ammunition, five Starlink devices and electronic and surveillance equipment from hideouts in the counties of Chabahar, Iranshahr, and Zahedan. The statement further added that during the operation, Nematollah Shahbakhsh was killed and that a four-member team allegedly affiliated with him was identified and arrested in the mountainous areas surrounding Zahedan.
Meanwhile, such claims by the security institutions of the Islamic Republic have consistently been met with serious doubt by human rights organizations and Baloch activists. In many cases, the arrest of Baloch citizens under accusations such as “espionage” or “terrorist activities” has taken place without the presentation of transparent evidence. This pattern, alongside the ongoing systematic repression in Balochistan, reflects an intensification of security pressures and efforts by the authorities to control and silence any form of dissent, particularly in the context of the ongoing conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States in the region.
