In Geneva, Switzerland, on October 2, Baloch journalist and activist Bilal Baloch shared a stark view of life in Balochistan during an exclusive interview with . Speaking on the sidelines of the 60th United Nations Human Rights Council session, he warned that the region’s struggles run much deeper than most people realize.
Baloch described a place where Pakistani law enforcement barely shows up. Instead, Baloch freedom fighters hold the reins, using smart intelligence tactics to target government officials and military members. “The resentment against Pakistan’s establishment runs deep, especially among kids,” he said. That anger spiked after the 2006 killing of Baloch leader Nawab Akbar Bugti. Baloch claimed that if a referendum happened today, 99% of people in Balochistan would vote to break away from Pakistan.
Attacks on the military happen almost every day now, Baloch added. Fighters even track the movements of top officers, making the area feel like a hotspot for ongoing conflict.
He pointed to heavy state crackdowns as a big part of the problem. Authorities often cut off internet and mobile services to hide what’s really going on. Traditional media stays quiet under pressure, so social media became the main way to share news—until officials started cracking down there too. Activists face abductions to silence them, he alleged. Baloch blamed both the Pakistani army and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government, led by Army Chief Asim Munir, for thousands of enforced disappearances.
Families of those who vanished, especially women, have protested in Islamabad for more than 100 days. They’re demanding answers about their loved ones. Baloch highlighted the rough treatment these protesters face, like the case of activist Maram Baloch, who authorities reportedly assaulted and humiliated.
Baloch didn’t hold back on what he sees as Punjabi dominance in Pakistan. He accused Punjab-controlled institutions of pushing aside voices from Baloch, Sindhi, and Pashtun communities. He compared it to how Bengalis suffered before Bangladesh’s independence in 1971, saying the same harsh tactics now target Balochistan.
He also slammed Pakistan for leaning too hard on religion and shaky foreign ties. Despite acting like the Muslim world’s leader, Baloch said, the country gets little support from other Islamic nations during tough times.
Through it all, Baloch stressed the unbreakable spirit of the Baloch people. Their identity, culture, and strength hold firm against what he called a “systemic genocide.” “The world needs to get this: Guns, propaganda, or outside powers won’t wipe us out,” he declared. “We are a nation, and we will endure.” ()
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