Baloch pro-independence leader Advocate Raheem Baloch has strongly rejected a recent statement made by Pakistan’s Army Chief General Asim Munir, who claimed during an event organized by the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation in Islamabad that “Balochistan is Pakistan’s destiny and a crown jewel.”
Responding to the claim, Raheem Baloch called the statement false and misleading, asserting that Balochistan is neither Pakistan’s destiny nor its crown jewel, but rather an occupied region under the control of the Pakistani state through brute force.
He accused the Pakistani government of exploiting Balochistan’s natural resources in collaboration with multinational companies while maintaining its occupation through state repression. “The Baloch nation is engaged in a growing resistance against this colonial stranglehold”.
Advocate Raheem Baloch also criticized General Munir’s remarks about the strength of the Baloch freedom movement, in which the army chief claimed that only 1,500 fighters were active. He argued that the reality on the ground contradicts this claim and that such underestimations reflect the military’s frustration and failure.
He said that, “The disappointment, anger and desperation visible on the General’s face reflect the actual situation in Balochistan”. Drawing a historical comparison, Raheem Baloch warned that Pakistan’s colonial policies in Balochistan mirror those once implemented in Bangladesh, which ultimately led to Pakistan’s humiliation and disintegration in 1971.
He emphasized that the unwavering struggle and sacrifices of the Baloch people demonstrate their firm resolve, stating, “The Baloch know that their survival, dignity and prosperity lie only in an independent Balochistan.”
