Speakers at a program organized by the Shaheed Rashid (Awaran) Zone of the Baloch National Movement (BNM) stated that Pakistan’s nuclear tests on Baloch land symbolize occupation and subjugation in Balochistan. They said the explosions contaminated underground water reserves and caused severe environmental destruction. The event was held in connection with May 28, which the Baloch nation commemorates as “Black Day.”
The speakers stated that on May 28, 1998, Pakistan conducted nuclear tests in Chagai, a region of Balochistan rich in natural resources, water reserves, grazing lands, and human life. As a result of the tests, many residents were forced to leave their homes, while radioactive contamination caused irreversible environmental damage.
They further said that the Pakistani state deliberately selected Balochistan for nuclear testing because it views the region as an occupied territory. According to the speakers, the lives of the people of Balochistan hold no value for the Pakistani state. They added that the nuclear explosions led to the spread of various diseases, including skin cancer, across a vast area. Despite documented evidence, these humanitarian and environmental impacts have largely been ignored at both regional and international levels.
The speakers said:
“For Pakistan, the lives and property of the Baloch people hold no importance. Every day, dozens lose their lives due to substandard roads and poor transportation infrastructure, while the Pakistan Army continues to carry out enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings. This is part of the ongoing genocide of the Baloch nation. The nuclear tests conducted by the Pakistan Army in Chagai were also part of a broader policy aimed at destroying the Baloch nation on every level.”
During the event, it was emphasized that, unlike the Pakistani state, the Baloch nation remembers May 28 as a Black Day.
The program was addressed by BNM Awaran Zone President Ustad Mehran, Vice President Talar Naz, Sarbaz Wafa, and Wadaar, while the event was moderated by Zonal Finance Secretary Mirak.
It is worth noting that the Baloch National Movement (BNM) observes May 28 as Black Day every year around the world. On this occasion, awareness campaigns are organized regarding the radioactive and environmental impacts of Pakistan’s nuclear tests in Balochistan. Through protests and public events, the Baloch national stance against nuclear weapons is highlighted. BNM calls for Pakistan’s nuclear weapons to be dismantled under the supervision of international institutions, arguing that they pose a permanent threat to both the region and the wider world.
