An undeclared curfew-like situation has taken hold of Nushki district, where security forces have sealed the city's entry and exit points along with the main bazaar, bringing daily life to an abrupt halt.

The sudden closure has suspended all commercial activity in the town, leaving traders and residents facing severe hardship. Several residents told The Balochistan Dispatch that no prior notice of any kind was given before the shutdown was enforced.

As of the time of publication, neither the district administration nor security officials have issued any formal statement explaining the reasons behind the sudden lockdown.

A Recurring Pattern in Nushki

This is not the first time Nushki has been placed under sudden restrictions this year. The district has experienced repeated lockdowns since early February, when a curfew was imposed following armed attacks in the city. That curfew stretched into weeks, with markets ordered shut by evening and highways linking Nushki to Quetta and neighbouring districts blocked.

In April, security forces again placed the city under siege-like conditions, deploying heavy contingents across Nushki Bazaar, Ghaziabad, the Grid Station area, and Ghareebabad, while entry and exit points were blocked with checkpoints.

During previous closures of this nature, search operations were reportedly carried out by security forces in various localities. However, no such operation has been officially confirmed in connection with the current shutdown either.

Rights groups, including the Baloch Yakjehti Committee, have documented prolonged curfews, strict movement controls, and internet suspensions in Nushki and neighbouring Kharan in recent months. In late March, former Balochistan chief minister Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch publicly urged the authorities to provide relief to Nushki's residents, saying curfews and restrictions had created severe hardships for the public.

Residents Await Answers

With shops shuttered and movement restricted, residents say they are waiting for the authorities to explain the closure and restore normal life in the district.

The Balochistan Dispatch will update this report as more information becomes available.

This report is based on accounts from residents in Nushki and previously published records of restrictions in the district.