After the US declared the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its offshoot group, The Majeed Brigade (TMB), as foreign terrorist organizations (FTO), a senior human rights activist strongly condemned the decision, claiming that the Baloch nation are victims of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism and not terrorists.
Mir Yar Baloch, a Baloch human rights activist, pointed out that Balochistan has endured 78 years of state violence, economic exploitation, radioactive pollution due to Pakistan's nuclear tests, foreign occupation, and what he called the "brutal occupation" by extremist Pakistani troops.
He noted that the population of the region is being targeted more and more by Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K), which is an affiliate of ISIS and has been termed by Mir as a deadly proxy force nurtured by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
Mir added that IS-K issued a fatwa recently, which called for targeting the Baloch political parties and activists.
"Here is yet another striking instance of how Pakistan arms and uses radical elements to suppress legitimate political voices, democrat aspirations, and destabilize the region," he explained in an X post.
The activist also reiterated the long-standing goodwill the people of Baloch have towards the US, remembering that during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, they did not raise arms against the Americans or the Soviets.
Following the 9/11 attacks, even though NATO supply lines ran through Balochistan, Mir highlighted that neither Baloch combatants nor civilians attacked American soldiers or convoys.
Contrarily, he stated, the Pakistani military and ISI organized "anti-American rallies" chanting "Death to America" while at the same time harboring safe shelter for terrorists.
Mir also highlighted that for years Osama bin Laden existed under the Pakistan military's protection in Abbottabad.
Pakistan's own leaders have owned up to orchestrating a pretend jihad against US and Western interests, misleading allies while inciting extremism. The same radicals, however, are being accorded the status of 'strategic partners,' whereas the rightful owners of Balochistan—a land of resources—are being labeled as terrorists," Mir criticized, highlighting the stark double standards.
Referring to Pakistan as a "rogue state in military uniform," he repeatedly accused it of being a "liability" to international peace, economic stability, and global trust.
The human rights activist called for the recognition of Balochistan's independence, arguing it would give the US a moderate, stable, and democratic ally.
He claimed Balochistan is in stark contrast to the "corrupt" Pakistani military elite, globally shunned by its own citizens, and appealed to Washington to stand for truth, justice, and the Baloch people.
Today, Balochistan continues to resist Pakistan, struggling for basic human rights in the face of enforced disappearances, extrajudicial executions, and systematic oppression.
Several Baloch leaders are still behind bars without charges or a fair trial, denied bail, and usually kept under dubious or blanket preventive detention legislation, as per reports in local media.
Courts in most instances involving Baloch activists have time and again denied bail, whereas their families and lawyers have been continually denied access to detainees despite orders from courts.
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