A Bold Proclamation
Baloch nationalist leaders have announced a historic rupture from Pakistan with the declaration of the Republic of Balochistan. Mirar Balo, a well-known Baloch writer and activist, spearheaded the declaration, which was shared on social media and has since attracted a lot of attention from around the world.
In order to strengthen the legitimacy of the new republic, Mirar Balo has made a number of requests, such as the opening of a Baloch embassy in New Delhi, UN peacekeeping, and the total removal of Pakistani forces from the area.
The recently established state has designated Kuwait as its capital and asserts that it has its own flag, parliament, emblem, and national anthem. According to reports, a transitional administration is being constituted, promising minorities and women inclusive representation. “Friendly states” have received invitations to a state ceremony that is coming shortly.
A Region In Chaos
A wave of coordinated violence quickly followed the statement. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) asserted accountability for 51 sites and 71 concurrent strikes that targeted:
• Pakistani military and intelligence outposts
• Police stations
• Mineral transport convoys
• Important highways and communication routes
These acts of violence had a symbolic message in addition to being military in intent. The BLA cautioned regional nations like India to stop believing in the possibility of peace with Islamabad and called Pakistan’s peace efforts a “mirage.” They declared that it is now impossible to prevent a “new order” in South Asia.
Strategic and Historical Background
Tension has long existed in Pakistan’s largest and most resource-rich province, Balochistan. Originally known as the princely state of Kalat, it was controversially seized by Pakistan in 1948. Due in significant part to the Gwadar Port, a key hub in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the area has enormous strategic significance.
Balochistan continues to be Pakistan’s poorest and most neglected region in spite of its natural resources. The Baloch people have endured decades of suffering due to:
• Economic deprivation
• Political suppression
• Military crackdowns
• Enforced disappearances
• Environmental degradation linked to Chinese projects
The movement has been further energized by recent events, such as the purported extrajudicial murder of Baloch activist Tariq Baloch.
International Requests and Local Concerns
Mirar Balo and other activists are urging the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Gulf countries, the United States, the United Nations, and India to acknowledge Balochistan’s sovereignty and back its cause. Citing continued exploitation of natural resources and human rights abuses, calls for a UN peacekeeping force have grown.
To further emphasize their call for Indian cooperation, some activists have even suggested renaming Jinnah’s home in India “Balochistan House” as a symbolic gesture.
The humanitarian urgency was underlined by human rights activist Meen Mari, who said that international agreement is essential to freeing Balochistan from what he called a “colonial occupation.” He called for democratic countries to step in diplomatically and morally and warned of rising violence.
What’s next?
Fears of a return to extreme militarization reminiscent of the East Pakistan crisis in 1971 have been raised by Pakistan’s military’s threat of a harsh response. Any protracted instability might have significant geopolitical and economic repercussions because Balochistan lies at the center of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
The proclamation of an independent Balochistan could alter the geopolitical landscape of South Asia, as regional powers keenly monitor the situation. The decades-long fight has suddenly exploded into a global discourse, regardless of whether the movement receives international recognition or is suppressed.