Geneva: Chairman of the Baloch National Movement (BNM), Dr. Naseem Baloch, has said that no foreign investment or project will be allowed in Balochistan without the consent of the Baloch nation, regardless of which regional or global power is involved. “No state has the right to exploit our homeland against our will. The wealth of Balochistan belongs to the Baloch people and only we will decide how it is used.
Speaking at the 7th International Balochistan Conference in Geneva, Dr. Naseem Baloch referred to history, stressing that Balochistan was not a creation of recent times but had long maintained a distinct identity, with its sovereignty recognized in agreements between the Khan of Kalat and British colonial authorities well before the creation of Pakistan.
He noted that in 1876 the British signed a treaty with the Khan of Kalat, recognizing Balochistan as an independent state under British control with limited responsibilities in defense and foreign policy. Crucially, the British never annexed Balochistan into British India.
Dr. Baloch said that when the British withdrew in 1947, Balochistan declared independence on August 11, just days before Pakistan’s creation. For a short but significant period, it functioned as an independent state with its own parliament, foreign policy and diplomatic relations. However, on March 27, 1948, Pakistan occupied Balochistan, despite both chambers of the Kalat parliament rejecting any proposal for accession. He said this led to immediate resistance, as the Baloch never accepted Pakistan’s claim and continue to view the annexation as an illegal occupation.
He recounted that resistance and uprisings have continued since then — in 1948, 1958, 1962, 1973 and again in the 2000s. The Pakistani state, has responded with overwhelming military force, mass arrests, censorship and economic exploitation. He added, In recent decades, human rights abuses have intensified to alarming levels, with Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch documenting enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, torture in custody, mass graves and the violent suppression of peaceful political activity.
He said that, “Journalists, students, teachers and activists are among those most targeted. Thousands remain forcibly disappeared in Pakistani torture cells, leaving families in anguish. Balochistan today is one of the most militarized regions in South Asia, its people suffering under violence while its vast natural resources — gas, gold, copper and its strategic coastline, are being plundered and sold to the world. He added that the conflict has displaced countless families, many of whom now live in exile.
Dr. Naseem Baloch urged the international community to recognize the historical basis of Baloch self-determination and the disputed nature of Pakistan’s claim. He called on the United Nations to send a fact-finding mission to investigate enforced disappearances, mass graves and other abuses and demanded international legal scrutiny of Pakistan’s actions under humanitarian and human rights law. Above all, he emphasized recognition of the Baloch people’s right to self-determination, as enshrined in the UN Charter.
He said that, “This is not merely a political demand but a matter of historical rectification and adherence to law. Our struggle is not to destabilize the region but to achieve a just, peaceful and lasting solution based on justice, accountability and the right of nations to decide their own destiny”.
Dr. Naseem Baloch stated, “The international community has a moral and legal responsibility to engage with the Baloch question. A fair and principled approach to Balochistan is not only essential for justice but also crucial for lasting peace and stability in South Asia.”
