Balochistan Pakistan Declares Independence Amid Tensions
The declaration of independence is seen as a significant development in the region, with Baloch leaders seeking recognition and support from the international community, as they accuse Pakistan of decades of human rights abuses and violence, and the region's fate remains uncertain.
Baloch leaders, including activist Mir Yar Baloch, have declared Balochistan's independence from Pakistan, with the declaration trending on social media, as tensions rise between India and Pakistan following recent cross-border military operations.
The announcement comes after India's Operation Sindoor, which targeted camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, and the BLA's claimed responsibility for a blast that destroyed a utility vehicle carrying Pakistani military personnel, resulting in the deaths of 14 soldiers. Mir Yar Baloch, a writer and advocate for Baloch rights, urged the Indian government to allow a Baloch embassy in New Delhi and asked the UN to send peacekeeping forces to Balochistan while demanding the withdrawal of the Pakistani army.
The declaration of independence followed decades of alleged atrocities by Pakistan, including enforced disappearances, human rights violations, and violence. Baloch leader Mir Yar Baloch requested Indian media to recognize Balochs as distinct from Pakistanis, recalling the declaration of independence on August 11, 1947. The region has faced human rights abuses, including enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and silencing of dissent, with little media access or legal accountability.
The Free Balochistan Movement leader, Hyrbyair Marri, has requested India to rename Jinnah's House in Mumbai to 'Balochistan House', a site where Pakistan's founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah once planned India's partition. Mir Yar Baloch expressed support for India's stance on Pakistan-occupied Jammu Kashmir (PoJK) and called for international pressure on Pakistan to vacate the region. He also sought recognition and support from India and the global community for Balochistan's independence.
The declaration of independence has sparked a debate on social media, with many Balochs expressing support for the move, citing decades of alleged oppression by Pakistan. The international community is yet to respond to the declaration, as the situation in Balochistan remains volatile, with ongoing human rights abuses and violence.