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Draft:Kiyya Baloch


Kiyya Baloch
Born
Balochistan
OccupationsFreelance journalist, researcher
Years active2012–present
Known forReporting on the Baloch militancy, Balochistan conflict, security, and human rights
Websitehttps://jamestown.org/analyst/kiyya-baloch/

Kiyya Baloch is an independent journalist from Pakistan's restive Balochistan province, currently living in exile in Norway.[1]. He is known for his reporting and commentary that are critical of Pakistani military and government policies related to Balochistan. Mr Baloch has reported for international and Pakistani media outlets, including The Guardian, Al Jazeera, The Diplomat Magazine, Dawn, and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, among others. His reporting focuses on the Baloch insurgency, violence, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, and the separatist movement in Balochistan [2]. Kiyya Baloch has faced direct threats while living in exile in Norway. These ongoing threats prompted public responses from Norway's former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ine Eriksen Søreide; the International Press Institute; Reporters Without Borders (RSF); and the Norwegian Editors' Association (NR). The Foreign Minister, quoted by the Norwegian publication Journalisten, said that Norway condemns threats and acts of violence against journalists intended to restrict free expression and access to information. The foreign minister at the time said Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Norwegian embassy in Islamabad were closely monitoring the situation [3] RSF warns Pakistani authorities not to threaten journalists living abroad | RSF On January 6, during a press conference in Islamabad, Director General Inter Service Public Relations (DGISPR), the mouthpiece of Pakistan army, at 1:17 hours displayed photographs of Baloch and his colleagues at PEN Norway, where Baloch is employed, and accused them of promoting terrorism in Pakistan[4]

On the eve of Wikipedia's 25th anniversary marked Oslo's old Literature House, Baloch spoke in detail about about threats, intimidation, transnational repression, and a propaganda campaign he said he had faced in connection with his journalistic work, particularly following his association with PEN Norway, the Norwegian branch of PEN International[5] [6]

Career

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Baloch began working as a staff reporter for Pakistan-based Daily Times and later as a freelancer covering Balochistan and related security and political issues. He reported for Pakistani outlets and later contributed to international publications. Publicly available author pages and bylines show contributions to BBC, The Diplomat, The Guardian, Al Jazeera, Dawn and other outlets; he has also produced research and academic work on journalism in conflict zones. Due to his critical reporting, he was threatened and forced to flee from Pakistan Journalists in Balochistan: Keep Quiet or Die

Academic work

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Baloch has co-authored academic work on the challenges facing fixers and local journalists in Pakistan's conflict zones, published in peer-reviewed venues.[7]

Exile, threats, and transnational repression

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Baloch is a journalist from troubled Balochistan province who is living in self-exile in Norway. He is known for his reporting and online commentary on political violence, militancy, and human rights issues in Balochistan, and due to that reason, he has received threats while living in exile[8]. Baloch's case became a high profiled case when Norwegian media outlet Journalisten reported that Norwegian authorities, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and domestic security services, were investigating alleged threats against Baloch in Norway in connection with his journalistic work. Report quoting a letter from Ministry of foreign affairs said that threats against journalists on Norwegian territory were unacceptable [9]. In its 2023 report, A Light That Cannot Be Extinguished, Freedom House identified Baloch as a victim of transnational repression stemming from his journalism [8]

On 6 January 2026, Pakistan Army spokesperson Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry displayed Baloch's photograph during a press conference in Rawalpindi and accused him of promoting terrorism; multiple media outlets reported the accusation[10]

Journalism

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Baloch is among a small number of journalists from Balochistan who report extensively on the province's militancy, separatist insurgency, and ethnic violence. Balochistan is considered Pakistan's most volatile province and has experienced a prolonged insurgency since 2000. More than 40 media workers have been killed in Balochistan since 2000, according to Freedom Network Pressure, intimidation and violence from multiple actors has erased space for press freedom in Balochistan: report. That was why Kiyya had to flee from Balochistan 2 Options For Journalists in Balochistan, Silence or Death. Baloch's case has received international attention and is widely known outside Pakistan due to concerns over press freedom and the treatment of journalists reporting on Balochistan [11]

References

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  1. ↑ "WEXFO Alumni". WEXFO. Retrieved 2026-01-21.
  2. ↑ ZURUTUZA, KARLOS (2023-04-09). "2 Options For Journalists in Balochistan, Silence or Death". www.thecitizen.in. Retrieved 2026-01-21.
  3. ↑ Flaarønning, Guro (2020-09-30). "Pakistansk journalist i Norge trolig satt på «svarteliste»: – Jeg ble sjokkert". www.journalisten.no (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2026-02-15.
  4. ↑ BOL News (2026-01-06). 🔴LIVE | DG ISPR Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry News Conference | 6th Jan 2026 | BOL News. Retrieved 2026-02-15 – via YouTube.
  5. ↑ "Wikipedia 25 år". www.litteraturhuset.no. 2026-01-15. Retrieved 2026-01-21.
  6. ↑ Wikipedia 25 år – fakta i front. Retrieved 2026-03-15 – via www.youtube.com.
  7. ↑ "Reporting in Conflict Zones in Pakistan: Risks and Challenges for Fixers" (PDF). Media and Communication. 25 February 2020. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  8. 1 2 Abramowitz, Michael J. "How Authoritarian Regimes Go After Exiled Journalists". TIME. Archived from the original on 2025-05-19. Retrieved 2026-01-21.
  9. ↑ Flaarønning, Guro (2020-09-30). "Pakistansk journalist i Norge trolig satt på «svarteliste»: – Jeg ble sjokkert". www.journalisten.no (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2026-01-21.
  10. ↑ "DG ISPR and Jamal Baloch: When Sons of Terrorists Label Activists -- Zamul Baloch". The Balochistan Post. 2026-01-23. Retrieved 2026-02-15.
  11. ↑ Witchel, Elisabeth (2021-06-17). "At-risk journalists who must flee home countries often find few quick and safe options". Committee to Protect Journalists. Retrieved 2026-01-20.
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