'We're not Pakistani': Baloch leader declares independence from Pak

Baloch representative Mir Yar Baloch has declared Balochistan independent from Pakistan, accusing Islamabad of decades-long violence, enforced disappearances, and human rights abuses in the region. The announcement was made via posts on social media platform X.

Calling it the “national verdict” of the Baloch people, Mir Yar wrote: “Tum maroge hum niklenge, hum nasal bachane nikle hain. Aao hamara saath do.”

He said Baloch people across “Pakistan-occupied Balochistan” are on the streets and that the world can no longer remain silent.

Mir Yar also urged Indians—especially media, YouTubers, and intellectuals—not to refer to Balochs as “Pakistan’s own people.”

“We are not Pakistani, we are Balochistani. Pakistan’s own people are the Punjabi who never faced air bombings, enforced disappearances and genocide,” he said.

The Baloch leader expressed full support for India’s position on Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). He said:

“Balochistan fully supports the India decision of asking Pakistan to vacate PoK. The international community must urge Pakistan to immediately leave PoK to avoid another humiliation of surrender on its 93,000 army personnel in Dhaka.”

He warned that if the situation escalates, the blame would fall on Pakistan’s military leadership: “India is capable of defeating Pakistan army and if Pakistan didn’t pay any heed then the only Pakistani greedy army generals must be held responsible for bloodshed because Islamabad is using PoK people as human shields.”

Mir Yar called for official recognition of Balochistan’s independence and urged the international community to reject Pakistan’s narrative, stating that Balochistan was forcibly annexed with foreign help.

The region has witnessed ongoing violence, disappearances, and extrajudicial killings for years. Rights groups have accused both Pakistani security forces and armed militants of widespread abuse. Civilians remain trapped in the conflict, with minimal media access and little legal recourse.

Adding to the growing dissent, former Balochistan Chief Minister and Balochistan National Party (BNP) President Akhtar Mengal recently voiced serious concerns about the situation.

In a post on X, Mengal said: “There is not a single inch of Balochistan left where the government can claim authority. They have lost this war completely and irreversibly. It is over.”

Mengal accused the Pakistani state of ignoring repeated warnings from Baloch leaders: “We warned them, just as those before us warned them. But instead of listening, they mocked us. They dismissed our words as empty threats while they fueled a system of oppression, looting, and bloodshed.”

He held every major institution—government, judiciary, political parties, and the military—responsible for the region’s suffering.

“To the federal government, to the political parties, to the judiciary, and to the establishment—you have brought Balochistan to the brink of destruction with your own hands. But this time, it is beyond our control. And it is beyond yours as well,” he said.

Mengal resigned from his National Assembly seat in September 2024, citing worsening conditions and the rising number of enforced disappearances targeting Baloch activists. He said he no longer saw any purpose in remaining part of the system.

The crisis further deepened on March 11, 2025, when Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) militants hijacked the Quetta–Peshawar Jaffar Express, taking more than 212 passengers hostage, including security personnel.