The Baloch people's quest for freedom after Britain colonised the Principality of Kalat, one of the 4 Baloch principalities, in 1876 continues today with the struggle against Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan. 

 

Baloch people, whose north is occupied by Afghanistan, east by Pakistan and west by Iran, face many violations of their rights today. Balochs are not benefited from the underground rich resources of their country and their fundamental rights and freedoms are restricted by the three countries, and frequently come to the agenda with practices such as migration, forced disappearance, detention and torture. 

 

Baloch people continue their struggle for temporary independence, which they gained after the withdrawal of Britain from the region in 1946. Balochs, who started an armed struggle with the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) in 2004, face many rights violations due to their struggle.

 

Baloch Yakjheti Committee (BYC), which carries out political struggle, is one of the organisations that have suffered the most from these pressures. Many activists of the BYC, whose leaders have been detained for a long time, are also facing arrest and repression.

 

BALOCH WOMEN HAVE BEEN RESISTING FOR 32 DAYS

 

While the fate of 9 thousand people in the BYC-led struggle is unknown, Baloch activists often take to the streets for the fate of the missing. Baloch women have been staging a sit-in in front of the Islamabad Press Club in Pakistan for 32 days to demand the release of BYC leaders arrested for the protests.

 

Nadia Baloch, sister of Dr Mahrang Baloch, who has been imprisoned since 22 March 2024 for leading protests against the killing of 3 Baloch, spoke to Mezopotamya Agency (MA) about the developments in the region.

 

'WE ARE ALSO IN ACTION FOR PEOPLE WHO CANNOT BE HEARD'

 

Nadia Baloch stated that they are not doing the sit-in protest only for their relatives in detention and said, "We are here to protest for the voiceless people: those who have been forcibly disappeared. Neither the law nor the constitution permits such forced disappearances. A year ago, Dr. Mahrang Baloch protested for the same reason; now she has been imprisoned along with her political colleagues. We are here for them as well, to demand the release of the BYC leadership ."

 

'THE STATE OF PAKISTAN DOES NOT LISTEN TO US'

 

Pointing out that the people sent by the state are trying to sabotage their actions, Nadia Baloch said: "As far as the Pakistani state’s attitude is concerned, they are not listening to us, and on a daily basis they harass us by sending suspicious people. I know many people who have different stories: students, lawyers, writers. Last time, in the presence of Dr. Mahrang Baloch at the court in Quetta, one lawyer, Hakkem Baloch, was taking pictures of the BYC leadership and was forcibly disappeared. There are many such stories. We are here with the families of the missing people."

 

'WE WANT EQUALITY'

 

Drawing attention to the emphasis on equality in the law, Nadia Baloch said, "Our demands are very simple: all missing persons must be treated according to the law, and the BYC leadership must be released. We are also human beings, and we must be treated as such. Our people must not be forcibly disappeared, and all so-called FIRs against the BYC leadership must be dismissed so they can continue their peaceful political struggle against the unlawful activities of the state."

 

Stating that they will continue to resist, Nadia Baloch added, "We know these people are deaf, but we also know that there is life in resistance , where there is power, there is resistance."

 

MA / Berivan Kutlu