While residents of Lahore enjoyed the three-day Basant kite festival, the military continues a campaign of displacement, detentions, and killings in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, highlighting the government’s dual approach.
This year, the three-day Basant kite festival in Lahore, Punjab, resumed after a 19-year ban with strict safety measures in place. Residents gathered on rooftops, parks, and streets to fly colorful kites under a vibrant sky, while police ensured the security of participants.
At the same time, the Pakistani military has been carrying out harsh operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Thousands of families have been displaced, many people detained, and some killed, reflecting the government’s inconsistent and discriminatory approach.
According to rights activists, while the festival in Lahore is allowed to proceed under protection and cultural regulations, in other regions the state uses security measures as a pretext for exercising coercive power over civilians.
Activists say this situation illustrates the government’s uneven policies across Pakistan and represents a clear violation of human rights, affecting the daily lives and cultural activities of the population.
