Quetta, Aug 12: Baloch leader Mir Yar Baloch on Tuesday called on the international community to recognise what he described as Balochistan’s “independence”, while accusing Pakistan of widespread repression and human rights violations in the region.
In a post on X marking what he termed Balochistan’s Independence Day, Mir Yar Baloch said the people of the region were no longer merely commemorating the occasion but were seeking international recognition of their independence on legal, political, diplomatic and moral grounds.
He urged the United Nations, ASEAN, African Union, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and European countries to speak out on the situation in Balochistan.
“The six crore people of Balochistan celebrate their national independence day every year on August 11,” he said, adding that the movement had reached a stage where it was seeking formal recognition from the international community.
Mir Yar Baloch alleged that more than 50,000 Baloch people were being subjected to what he described as “inhuman atrocities” in detention and torture facilities in Pakistan. He said their sacrifices would not be forgotten.
He further alleged that Pakistani authorities had restricted mobile and internet services in parts of Balochistan to prevent people from marking the occasion.
According to his claims, trenches had been dug around military cantonments and police stations in Kalat, Quetta, Khuzdar and other areas, while Pakistani aircraft, drones and helicopters were conducting surveillance operations.
Despite the alleged restrictions, he claimed, people continued to observe the occasion in different parts of Balochistan.
Mir Yar Baloch also said the region’s natural resources had the potential to transform its economy, make it self-sufficient and enable it to contribute to global initiatives in health, education and humanitarian assistance.
His remarks come amid longstanding tensions in Balochistan, where rights groups have raised concerns over alleged enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests, prolonged detentions and targeted killings. Pakistani authorities have repeatedly rejected allegations that state forces are responsible for such abuses.
He also made claims regarding the preparedness of a proposed Balochistan army, asserting that the so-called “Republic of Balochistan” had prepared a force of 500,000 personnel.
