Geneva: Chairman of the Baloch National Movement, Dr. Naseem Baloch, has said that The Chinese-Pakistan alliance not only threatens Western interests but also directly attacks the basic human rights of the Baloch people.
He said this while addressing a side event during the 52nd regular session of the Human Rights Council of the United Nation. It was organized by the Coordination of Associations and Individuals for Freedom of Conscience (CAP).
He said in his address, Ever since Pakistan occupied the region, the people of Balochistan have struggled to live a normal life. Pakistan’s oppressive actions have put our livelihoods, culture, traditions, and languages at risk. Most of the population in Balochistan used to live in the mountains and rely on herding for their livelihoods. However, with increased military operations, their livelihoods are at stake, and they are forced to vacate their mountains and villages.
Chairman Dr. Naseem severely criticized the so-called China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and said that Earlier, Pakistan was the sole perpetrator of human rights violations in Balochistan, but now China has also joined hands to accelerate this suppression and implement a so-called developmental scheme, a part of the One Belt One Road initiative, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The forced implementation of this project has resulted in the displacement and enforced disappearance of thousands of native people along its route in Balochistan. Numerous villages have been burnt to pave the way for CPEC, and several army camps and checkpoints have been established in the name of security for Chinese interests, when in fact, these army personnel are responsible for the brutal human rights violations. The Chinese-Pakistan alliance not only threatens Western interests but also directly attacks the basic human rights of the Baloch people.
He highlighted the recent situation of human rights in Balochistan , ust in February 2023, there were 39 cases of forced disappearances, including two women, Rasheeda Zehri and Mahal Baloch. Mahal Baloch was first subjected to forced disappearance and then falsely accused of being a militant. She was abducted along with her mother-in-law and two children, and they were all kept incommunicado for more than 24 hours. Although the others were released, Mahal Baloch remained missing. After severe protests and demonstration ms by Baloch masses, she was presented to a court after a week. Similarly, Rasheeda Zehri was abducted with her husband and children. Although Rasheeda was released after 11 days of torture, her husband Rahim Zehri is still missing. Another heart-wrenching incident came from the Geeshkaur area of district Awaran. This was the news of Dad Bakhsh Miskan´s brutal and bloody death. He was summoned to a military camp where he was brutally tortured. After his release, he succumbed to his injuries and died.
He described Pakistan as a threat not only to the region but also to the world, “Pakistan poses a grave threat not only to Balochistan but also to the peace and stability of the entire region. It is imperative that the United Nations and other international powers identify and address the root causes of insecurity and loss of human lives worldwide and develop a comprehensive policy to counter them. This region can never achieve security and stability as long as Pakistan continues to nurture and support fanaticism and terrorism. Pakistan’s policy of creating and using religious militant proxies has often resulted in the empowerment of unruly warlords and Islamic extremists, ultimately posing a threat to global peace. Pakistani-trained extremists have carried out terrorist attacks from Europe to the Middle East to India. The civilized world should support nations and indigenous movements fighting against these dangerous religious fanaticisms. People like the Baloch, Sindhis, and Pashtuns are struggling to preserve centuries-old secular civilisations from the clutches of religious extremists. The international community must take note of this urgent issue and support the efforts of those fighting for freedom in the region.
Dr. Naseem Baloch said The Baloch struggle to protect their liberal and secular values against Pakistan’s ideologically Islamized army and its religious proxies. It is time for the international community to recognize that the Balochistan issue is not just a regional problem, but a global one. The world must stand with the Baloch people in their fight for freedom against Chinese hegemony and rising Islamic extremism. It is concerning that Europe still maintains economic ties and agreements with Pakistan despite the severe human rights violations in Balochistan. As a global economic and political power, Europe bears a responsibility to hold Pakistan accountable for its actions in Balochistan. The Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSP+) agreement requires Pakistan to uphold and respect human rights laws and values. We urge Europe to not only bring up the dire situation in Balochistan during the upcoming meeting but also to take firm actions to hold Pakistan accountable for its actions. The meeting for extending GSP+ status for Pakistan should be conditioned or canceled to honor the fundamental rights and dignity of the people of Balochistan. The Baloch people have suffered enough, and it is time for Europe to take a firm stance against the oppressors and stand in solidarity with the oppressed.
He warned, if the international community continues to support countries formed on fascist and religious extremist ideologies like Pakistan, it will fuel and sustain the rise of global terrorism to an even more dangerous level.
Chairman BNM said that once the Baloch people control their mineral-rich land and restore the freedom of their occupied nation-state, their progressive values, open markets, and humanitarian policies can contribute to sustainable peace and progress for Balochistan, neighboring nations, and the world at large.
He appealed to the international community to help the Baloch people become masters of their own land, with a progressive, secular society, open market, and humanitarian stance.
Text of BNM Chairman Dr. Naseem Baloch’s address at the side event during the United Nations Human Rights Council:
First of all, I would like to thank the organizers for inviting us to this conference.
I will now provide a brief overview of the current situation and brutalities by Pakistani forces in occupied Balochistan.
When we hear the name Balochistan, it is often associated with sorrow. Ever since Pakistan occupied the region, the people of Balochistan have struggled to live a normal life. Pakistan’s oppressive actions have put our livelihoods, culture, traditions, and languages at risk.
Most of the population in Balochistan used to live in the mountains and rely on herding for their livelihoods. However, with increased military operations, their livelihoods are at stake, and they are forced to vacate their mountains and villages.
Just in February 2023, there were 39 cases of forced disappearances, including two women, Rasheeda Zehri and Mahal Baloch. Mahal Baloch was first subjected to forced disappearance and then falsely accused of being a militant. She was abducted along with her mother-in-law and two children, and they were all kept incommunicado for more than 24 hours. Although the others were released, Mahal Baloch remained missing. After severe protests and demonstration ms by Baloch masses, she was presented to a court after a week. Similarly, Rasheeda Zehri was abducted with her husband and children. Although Rasheeda was released after 11 days of torture, her husband Rahim Zehri is still missing.
Another heart-wrenching incident came from the Geeshkaur area of district Awaran. This was the news of Dad Bakhsh Miskan´s brutal and bloody death. He was summoned to a military camp where he was brutally tortured. After his release, he succumbed to his injuries and died.
Earlier, Pakistan was the sole perpetrator of human rights violations in Balochistan, but now China has also joined hands to accelerate this suppression and implement a so-called developmental scheme, a part of the One Belt One Road initiative, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The forced implementation of this project has resulted in the displacement and enforced disappearance of thousands of native people along its route in Balochistan. Numerous villages have been burnt to pave the way for CPEC, and several army camps and checkpoints have been established in the name of security for Chinese interests, when in fact, these army personnel are responsible for the brutal human rights violations.
The Chinese-Pakistan alliance not only threatens Western interests but also directly attacks the basic human rights of the Baloch people. The Baloch struggle to protect their liberal and secular values against Pakistan’s ideologically Islamized army and its religious proxies. It is time for the international community to recognize that the Balochistan issue is not just a regional problem, but a global one. The world must stand with the Baloch people in their fight for freedom against Chinese hegemony and rising Islamic extremism.
It is concerning that Europe still maintains economic ties and agreements with Pakistan despite the severe human rights violations in Balochistan. As a global economic and political power, Europe bears a responsibility to hold Pakistan accountable for its actions in Balochistan. The Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSP+) agreement requires Pakistan to uphold and respect human rights laws and values.
We urge Europe to not only bring up the dire situation in Balochistan during the upcoming meeting but also to take firm actions to hold Pakistan accountable for its actions. The meeting for extending GSP+ status for Pakistan should be conditioned or canceled to honor the fundamental rights and dignity of the people of Balochistan. The Baloch people have suffered enough, and it is time for Europe to take a firm stance against the oppressors and stand in solidarity with the oppressed.
Pakistan poses a grave threat not only to Balochistan but also to the peace and stability of the entire region. It is imperative that the United Nations and other international powers identify and address the root causes of insecurity and loss of human lives worldwide and develop a comprehensive policy to counter them.
This region can never achieve security and stability as long as Pakistan continues to nurture and support fanaticism and terrorism. Pakistan’s policy of creating and using religious militant proxies has often resulted in the empowerment of unruly warlords and Islamic extremists, ultimately posing a threat to global peace. Pakistani-trained extremists have carried out terrorist attacks from Europe to the Middle East to India.
The civilized world should support nations and indigenous movements fighting against these dangerous religious fanaticisms. People like the Baloch, Sindhis, and Pashtuns are struggling to preserve centuries-old secular civilisations from the clutches of religious extremists. The international community must take note of this urgent issue and support the efforts of those fighting for freedom in the region.
Once the Baloch people control their mineral-rich land and restore the freedom of their occupied nation-state, their progressive values, open markets, and humanitarian policies can contribute to sustainable peace and progress for Balochistan, neighboring nations, and the world at large. Let us help the Baloch people become masters of their own land, with a progressive, secular society, open market, and humanitarian stance.
On the other hand, if the international community continues to support countries formed on fascist and religious extremist ideologies like Pakistan, it will fuel and sustain the rise of global terrorism to an even more dangerous level.
Thank you for your time.
