Speaking at an educational session organized by the Baloch National Movement (BNM), Baloch writer Yaseen Ghani stated that Balochistan has increasingly come under international scrutiny due to its vast mineral wealth and strategic significance. He noted that China is particularly focused on Gwadar and mineral extraction, while Western powers are closely monitoring the evolving political dynamics of the region.
The program, titled “Mineral Resources and Their Global Relevance,” was hosted by BNM’s Department of Education and Training (Capacity Building Council) and moderated by Ejaz Baloch from the UK chapter.
Ghani emphasized that Balochistan is among the most resource-rich regions in the world, with abundant reserves of gold, copper, iron, chromite, coal, gas, sulfur, oil, and other rare minerals—resources that are critical to the global economy and technological advancement. This mineral wealth, he said, has made Balochistan a prime target for occupying forces and corporate interests.
He highlighted how Pakistan has long exploited Balochistan’s natural resources—such as gas, marble, coal, and chromite—while China has invested heavily in projects like Saindak and infrastructure to access warm waters. These investments, worth billions of dollars, aim to make China self-sufficient at the expense of local communities.
Ghani criticized the devastating impact of these projects on the local population, particularly in areas like Saindak, where large-scale extraction of gold and copper has led to environmental degradation and the establishment of military outposts. Many regions have been declared “sensitive” and converted into militarized zones, with frequent reports of humiliation at security checkpoints, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings. He pointed to China’s complicity in these human rights abuses, suggesting that imperial powers often seek to silence resistance through coercion and violence.
Concluding his remarks, Yaseen Ghani stated that while international investors typically avoid regions marked by strong resistance, this has worked in favor of the Baloch people. The resilience and determination of the Baloch national movement have made the region less attractive to exploitative ventures, as investors recognize that stability is a prerequisite for sustainable profit.
