QUETTA, BALOCHISTAN: Mehrdaar Baloch, Secretary General of BSO-Azad, said that as 14 August is remembered in history as the day of the creation of Pakistan, “we call it the Colonial state of Pakistan.” He said that after the withdrawal of the British Colonial empire, the subcontinent was divided and artificial boundaries were created in the region, causing hundreds of thousands of deaths. He said, however, that the day of formal British withdrawal was 15th August, 1947, and claimed that the date of 14 August as Pakistan’s creation is itself “a lie in history”. He said that on the basis of colonial interests, a state was formed and it began with a lie, asking what could be expected from a country’s existence and structure if its beginning was based on lies a question he said that resonates in every conscientious individual’s mind.
He further said that after the creation of what he called the “unnatural state” of Pakistan, it occupied Balochistan eight months later “through the barrel of the gun and fake agreements”. He said the Baloch nation never accepted this occupation and instead resisted and refused to surrender to outsiders, as Baloch history has witnessed similar resistance in the past. He said that through decades of military aggression and colonial rule over Balochistan, Pakistan tried its best to exploit Baloch land, injecting what he called its “fake identity and psychological influence”. He said Pakistan divided the Baloch population into other so-called “provinces” like Sindh and Punjab and claimed it promised equal rights and autonomy to Balochistan but was never serious about implementing them, instead engaging Baloch political parties in what he called its “puppet parliamentary system” through greed, individual interest, corruption, and blackmailing. He said every Baloch parliamentarian who experienced the system came away disappointed and claimed many nationalist leaders’ experiences proved that the Pakistani Parliament has no seriousness or authority over Balochistan and that Balochistan is a colony occupied by the Pakistani state.
He said Pakistan tried its best to deceive the Baloch nation and convince them to allow the exploitation of their land in exchange for so-called “development”. He said that after experiencing repeated betrayal, the Baloch realised and cleared their path toward the liberation of Balochistan. He said that at the beginning of the 21st century, Balochistan’s political landscape changed, with surface political struggle carrying clear liberation goals emerging alongside an increase in armed activity, as the Baloch nation became conscious and mobilised against the occupation. He said Pakistan’s existence in Balochistan has since become “a nightmare” for the state, claiming the Baloch resisted not only the occupying force but every identity of the coloniser. He said the Baloch nation began what he called “decolonisation” on every front, including political ideology, public psychology, culture and language, literature, and education.
He further said that once the Baloch realised their path toward liberation, they became organised and began resisting colonial influence, and that Pakistan’s creation day became a “Black Day” for the nation. He said this day serves as a reminder to Pakistan that its presence on Baloch land has been lost. He claimed that on this day, cellular networks and internet services are shut down, markets are closed, cities observe curfew, and areas under military presence become heavily militarised. He said people remain inside their homes rather than going outside, and that educational institutions, banks, and other government institutions remain closed for more than a week, with cities fortified by security forces. He said this day is observed as a Black Day and reflects what he described as the loss of the state’s influence over Balochistan. He alleged that because of this, the state has relied on force, violence, staged media events, and propaganda to maintain its hold.
He said all of this was observed on 14 August, 2026, alleging that footage circulated on social media by what he called “state-sponsored” accounts showed government officials celebrating in heavily militarised zones. He claimed that state-paid personnel organised some events in advance in some cases up to a week ahead filming them secretly and releasing the footage on 14 August to create the appearance the events had taken place that day. He further alleged that people are forced to hold flags and are harassed detained along with their vehicles and pressured into joining rallies through threats, while individuals struggling with drug addiction are, he claimed, bribed to participate. He said participants in these events face public humiliation within Baloch communities, alleging that anyone who takes part is treated as a “traitor” to the Baloch nation, and that as a result, bribed participants mask their faces to avoid being identified.
He said these are the realities behind what he described as fabricated scenes circulated on social media. He said that although the staged nature of these events and the state’s motive is widely understood, the state continues its approach regardless, which he said reveals the “non-existence” of the Pakistani state in Balochistan. He alleged that while conducting these propaganda efforts, the state seeks to conceal the truth and present a false image of its presence in Balochistan internationally.
He said that in reality, flags are rarely seen in public spaces outside government buildings, claiming this reflects widespread fear of professional consequences. He alleged that government officials who participate in state events are viewed unfavourably within Baloch communities and that many have tried to justify their participation as compelled rather than voluntary. He said many government employees have refused to take part in official events, and that some have subsequently been suspended or terminated as a result. He said 14 August has effectively become compulsory for government officials, who face suspension if they do not participate, while he claimed the general public neither celebrates nor takes part in such events voluntarily. He concluded by saying that if an event requires compulsion to take place, its true nature can be judged accordingly.
