Musawir Khan Kakar was a 9-year-old schoolboy from Quetta’s Patel Bagh area. He belonged to a prominent tribal family engaged in the gold trade. The only son of a local jeweller, Musawir was described as a bright and lively child. His disappearance drew massive attention across Balochistan and sparked widespread protests and strikes.
What Happened to Him?
On November 15, 2024, Musawir was kidnapped by armed men while on his way to school. The abduction triggered province-wide demonstrations, with schools, businesses, and transport systems shutting down in solidarity with the family. Under public pressure, security agencies launched extensive search operations, tracing the case to an ISIS-linked group comprising Afghan nationals and a Pakistani facilitator.
Authorities revealed that the child had been handed over to Daesh, which demanded a ransom of Rs3 billion (approx. $12 million). Communication from the kidnappers was traced to Iranian and Afghan numbers, and support was sought from both governments, who provided key intelligence.
Despite intensive efforts, including the review of over 1,000 CCTV footages and the search of thousands of properties, Musawir could not be rescued. A few days ago, his body was found in Mastung during an operation. DNA testing confirmed his identity. The postmortem revealed he had been shot in the chest and head and had been buried for more than two months.
Officials believe the child was killed during an attack by Baloch separatists on Daesh militants in April. A final raid on a Daesh hideout in Dasht led to a deadly exchange in which one militant blew himself up, and another was shot dead. Several other suspects have been arrested, and operations are still ongoing.
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti vowed to bring all those responsible to justice, saying some militants have already been neutralized. Commissioner Hamza Shafqat confirmed that Afghan and Iranian authorities, as well as WhatsApp’s data team, assisted in tracing the culprits.
Musawir’s body was returned to his family with full respect, and targeted operations continue to arrest the remaining members of the group.
