17 May: In a dramatic escalation of one of South Asia’s longest-running conflicts, Baloch nationalist leaders have formally declared independence from Pakistan, citing decades of marginalization, enforced disappearances, and military oppression. Images of the proposed national flag and maps of an independent “Republic of Balochistan” have flooded social media, as global attention turns to the rugged, resource-rich province.
Prominent Baloch activist Mir Yar Baloch, speaking from Europe, urged the United Nations and the international community to recognize the newly declared republic. “Balochistan is not Pakistan,” he stated in a widely shared post, calling on world powers to support their cause.
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province by area, has long simmered with separatist sentiment. Its annexation in 1948 following the brief independence of the princely state of Kalat has been a historical flashpoint. Over the decades, five major insurgencies have erupted, all met with severe military crackdowns.
Despite being rich in natural gas, coal, and minerals, Balochistan remains Pakistan’s most impoverished and underdeveloped region. Local activists accuse Islamabad of exploiting its resources while denying the region meaningful autonomy or benefits. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which cuts through Balochistan, has further fueled tensions, with residents claiming they are being displaced and militarized in the name of foreign investment.
Leading figures in the independence movement include Mir Yar Baloch, BLA commander Bashir Zaib, UBA leader Mehran Marri, BRP head Brahumdagh Bugti, and Dr Allah Nazar Baloch of the BLF. While some advocate diplomatic means, others, like Zaib and Nazar, represent the armed resistance.
Exiled leaders have also begun lobbying for India’s support. Drawing parallels with India’s 1971 intervention in Bangladesh, leaders like Bugti and Mir Yar Baloch are calling for strategic and diplomatic backing from New Delhi.
India has not issued an official statement, but analysts suggest the development could deepen regional tensions, especially with Pakistan likely to view any Indian engagement as interference. With strategic stakes high, particularly in relation to CPEC and Chinese interests, the international community now faces a complex dilemma: support a long-oppressed people’s right to self-determination, or risk destabilizing an already fragile region.
The “Republic of Balochistan” may be nascent, but its declaration has undoubtedly sent shockwaves across South Asia.
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