In a message from Huda Jail in Quetta, the head of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), Dr. Mahrang Baloch, said that the most important question we face today is: what must we do? As I write this letter from solitary confinement, our organization and movement are enduring the worst forms of state repression. Many of our comrades are imprisoned, and outside the jail, our organization is facing extreme restrictions.
To me, the primary issue is not that we are being subjected to violence, arrested, or held in prison. The critical question is: what should we, as an organization, do in such circumstances? I believe that without deeply reflecting on this question, we may not be able to move forward as a collective.
When I was arrested, along with several comrades, and the crackdown on our organization began (interestingly, I believe we use the word “crackdown” incorrectly this is not a mere crackdown but colonial repression), we already had some sense of what was coming. However, we still need to fully analyze and understand the gravity of the situation.
In my view, violence, arrests, imprisonment, or the lack of large-scale protests in response are not signs of defeat. I do not believe in such notions. To me, defeat lies in political and intellectual stagnation. If we become politically or intellectually hollow, that will be the day of our real defeat. One of our foremost responsibilities in these circumstances is to protect ourselves from political and intellectual backwardness. The highest form of defense against such regression is “organization.” But merely having an organization is not enough there must be a developed political consciousness centered within it, one that acts like a net, connecting and equipping every unit, cadre, and sub-institution with progressive political understanding.
If we want our organization and movement to grow, and if we wish to protect ourselves from political stagnation, our focus must remain on these essential aspects. There is no denying that we already have a politically conscious and organized structure, but to be complacent or overly satisfied with our current state would be a form of stagnation. We must never pause our progress; we must continually nurture a culture of effort, reflection, and inquiry.
We must also understand that an organization like BYC is not the result of an accident or a singular event it is the outcome of continuous struggle, reflection, and pursuit. And its success also depends on ongoing struggle, critical thinking, and tireless effort.
For us, the organization has always been, and must always remain, paramount and essential. The oppressive system we are struggling against cannot be defeated without a well-structured organization. Therefore, our focus must be on organizational discipline. We cannot allow our emotions to override our reason, not even for a moment. We must stay away from anything that could weaken our collective strength. Even in the worst circumstances, we must not become scattered. Organization is not a constraint it is our strength. We must remain organized in all situations.
Every one of our comrades must maintain full control over their thoughts and emotions and avoid any action under pressure that could harm our collective purpose. Even the smallest decisions must be made with a full understanding of the current context. We must not let misguided debates on social media influence our organizational decisions in any way.
In conclusion, “Success is ultimately ours; we must carry this struggle forward with courage, determination, and thoughtful reflection.”
