Balochistan Movement Gains Steam; Maps, Flags Of ‘Independent Nation’ Go Viral

<p>The Balochistan independence movement has gained steam once again after Baloch leaders declared independence from Pakistan citing decades of violence, enforced disappearances, and human rights violations in the region.&nbsp;</p>
<p>’Republic of Balochistan’ has been trending on social media as images of a proposed national flag and maps of the independent Baloch state went viral.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Prominent Baloch activist and writer Mir Yar Baloch said that people across Pakistan-occupied Balochistan took to the streets and voiced the demand for independence with widespread protests and declared that “Balochistan is not Pakistan,” reported All India Radio.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Mir also urged the international community and the United Nations to recognise the “Democratic Republic of Balochistan” as a sovereign state.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Afghan Leader Condemns Pakistan’s Action</h2>
<p>Member of Afghanistan’s Parliament in exile, Mariam Solaimankhil has sharply criticised Pakistan’s military establishment for abuses including forced disappearances and suppression of peaceful activists.&nbsp;</p>
<p>She dubbed the situation to be “forced colonisation, forced occupation”, contrary to Pakistan’s claim of counter-insurgency.&nbsp;</p>
<p>”I think everyone is sick of a military dictatorship that they’re living under,” she told ANI in an interview.&nbsp;</p>
<p>”In Balochistan, we have peaceful nonviolent activists like Dr Mahang Baloch, who’s in prison, but people like Osama bin Laden and the leaders of Lashkar e Taiba are allowed to roam freely within the country,” she added.</p>
<h2>What Is The Balochistan Issue?</h2>
<p>The rocky southwestern province of Pakistan, Balochistan has been a hotbed of a decades-long insurgency by separatist militant groups. The region witnesses frequent attacks against the government, army and Chinese interests in the region.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The separatists also demand a share in the mineral-rich resources.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), the biggest of the various ethnic insurgent groups &mdash; seeks secession from Balochistan. BLA accuses the Pakistan government of unfairly exploiting Balochistan’s rich gas and mineral resources.</p>
<p>In March, a train with 450 passengers was hijacked and the BLA claimed responsibility for the attack.&nbsp;</p>