The aggression of the occupiers in Balochistan is not a new phenomenon; since the very first day of the occupation, the Baloch nation has been a victim of Pakistani and Iranian aggression.
QUETTA: The spokesperson of the Free Balochistan Movement (FBM) issued a statement saying that the recent announcement of a large-scale military operation and aggression in Balochistan in the Pakistani Apex Committee meeting is a failed attempt to convince the world, especially China, that no such operation or military aggression is happening in Balochistan. Instead, they are merely “considering” it.
However, the facts are completely contrary, as military aggression and operations have been ongoing in Balochistan for the past two decades, and from the very first day of Iranian and Pakistani occupation, the genocide and military aggression against the Baloch nation have persisted. Since the occupation of Balochistan by Iran and Pakistan, there has not been a period free from military aggression and the Baloch genocide. From day one, the Baloch people have been the victims of these aggressive policies, and no rhetoric will stop the Baloch nation from pursuing its struggle for freedom.
The spokesperson further mentioned that several new players have joined those carrying out aggression in Balochistan in recent years. These actors, driven by economic and military interests, have partnered with the occupying forces of Pakistan and Iran to use Balochistan for their own gains. China, in particular, has been strengthening its ties with Pakistan, Iran, and other regional countries to secure its economic and political expansion, ensuring that the exploitation of Baloch resources and the ongoing struggle for Baloch national freedom are suppressed.
The statement also emphasised that the Iranian and Pakistani occupation forces cannot counter the Baloch national struggle, they continue to receive support at regional and global levels. It has now become clear that the Baloch nation faces not only Iranian and Pakistani aggression but also the expansionist policies of other countries. An example of this is China’s statement that it will send People’s Liberation Army (PLA) personnel to ensure the safety of its nationals in Balochistan, which highlights the international support for Pakistani and Iranian occupation forces. This proves that without external help and support, Pakistani and Iranian occupying forces could not maintain their grip on Balochistan, and the Baloch people could soon achieve the dream of independence.
The recent statement from Pakistan’s Apex Committee, suggesting strengthening military operations and border surveillance mechanisms in Balochistan, calls for heightened vigilance by the Baloch nation. The spokesperson pointed out that in recent years, both Iran and Pakistan, in covert cooperation, have carried out airstrikes on both sides of the so-called “Goldsmith Line,” resulting in the deaths of many Baloch civilians, including women and children. It is also evident that, under China’s leadership, Iran and Pakistan have entered a new phase of reconciliation, during which they are working together to eliminate Baloch resistance and inflict irreparable harm on Baloch collective power.
Historically, Iran and Pakistan’s collaboration against the Baloch people dates back to 1970, during the reign of Shah Iran, when Iranian forces, under pressure from Pakistan’s Bhutto government, carried out bombings in Balochistan and provided Pakistan with military and financial aid. This historical context makes it clear that any attempts to consider Iran or Pakistan as friends or liberators of the Baloch people is a grave mistake.
The FBM spokesperson also highlighted that despite these claims of no military operations in Balochistan, recent reports from Iranian-occupied Balochistan confirm large-scale operations by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
On November 26, the IRGC admitted to carrying out an operation in which 26 Baloch individuals were martyred, and over 50 others were arrested. Additionally, in recent months, innocent Baloch have been sentenced to death based on fabricated charges related to their political beliefs. This indicates that both the Iranian and Pakistani occupiers are escalating their efforts to extend their aggression against the Baloch people further.
Furthermore, the resumption of joint military exercises between China and Pakistan after five years signals that China is now standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Pakistan and Iran in exploiting Baloch resources and contributing to the genocide of the Baloch people. China’s involvement is driven by its desire for unimpeded access to global markets via the Gwadar port, but this is impossible while the Baloch resistance to occupation continues.
The spokesperson concluded that while these powers try to maintain the status quo through military means, the Baloch people’s struggle for independence will continue, and they will not back down from their aspirations for freedom.