The Baloch National Movement (BNM) organized the sixth Balochistan International Conference in Geneva, attended by political leaders, journalists, and intellectuals. The conference extensively discussed ongoing human rights violations in Balochistan and the exploitative roles of Pakistan and China.
In his keynote speech, Dr. Naseem Baloch, Chairman of BNM, highlighted the severe human rights violations in Balochistan, including enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and the plundering of Balochistan’s resources.
Discussing the historical significance of March 27, Dr. Naseem Baloch stated that 77 years ago, Pakistan forcibly annexed Balochistan. This annexation was imposed on the Baloch people, and since then, they have continuously faced military operations, economic exploitation, and grave human rights violations.
Commenting on the deteriorating human rights situation in Balochistan, he said, “Our land has been soaked in blood. State policies have turned Balochistan into a mass graveyard, where thousands of Baloch men, women, and children have been abducted, tortured, and killed. Thousands remain missing, leaving their families in a constant state of grief and uncertainty.”
The conference also addressed the increasing state repression, particularly the targeting of Baloch women. Baloch women, who have always been at the forefront of the resistance movement, are now facing the most brutal forms of state violence. Referring to the cases of Dr. Mahrang Baloch and Sami Deen Baloch, Dr. Naseem stated that these are not just individual incidents but part of a systematic effort to weaken the Baloch movement.
He described the ongoing oppression in Balochistan as not just human rights violations but crimes against humanity, exposing Pakistan’s blatant violations of international laws, including the UN Charter on Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
He questioned, “How can Western democracies claim to support human rights while backing a state that is committing genocide in Balochistan? Silence on these atrocities is not neutrality but criminal complicity.”
The BNM chairman called for immediate action from the international community and urged the United Nations to send an independent investigative mission to probe Pakistan’s crimes in Balochistan. He also appealed to human rights organizations, international media, and democratic governments to raise their voices against Pakistan’s atrocities and support the Baloch people’s right to self-determination.
In his concluding remarks, Dr. Naseem emphasized that repression and violence cannot weaken the resolve of the Baloch people. “Despite enforced disappearances, massacres, and all hardships, the Baloch struggle for freedom will continue with fearlessness and perseverance. We will not be silent. We will not retreat.”
The conference ended with a firm commitment that “this gathering should not be limited to words but serve as the beginning of concrete actions. We see it as our duty to our martyrs, the families of the missing persons, and the brave Baloch women who are standing strong against oppression.”
Apart from Dr. Naseem, several prominent figures also addressed the conference, including William Marks (author & journalist), Eleonora Mongelli (VP, Italian Federation for Human Rights – FIDU), John McDonnell (Member, UK House of Commons), Dr. Naseer Dasht (author & historian), Saeed Alam (Pashtun rights activist & PTM leader), Dr. Lakhu Lohana (Secretary-General, World Sindhi Congress), Dr. Ayesha Siddiqa (author), Mir Mohammad Ali Talpur (veteran Baloch activist & columnist), Reed Brody (Commissioner, International Commission of Jurists), and Imaan Mazari (lawyer & human rights advocate).
Manzoor Pashteen, leader of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), was also scheduled to speak at the conference, but due to technical issues, he could not participate. In his absence, Fazal Afridi represented PTM.
The conference saw participation from representatives of various oppressed nations and was broadcast live on nine different platforms, reaching thousands of viewers. The BNM media team provided real-time updates and video highlights throughout the event.
