Amid the unrest in Kashmir since India stripped of the region's special status, a group of Baloch people has now sought India's support to free Balochistan from Pakistan, reports Indian media.
One of the most volatile provinces in the southwestern borders of Pakistan, Balochistan has been struggling since 1948 against Pakistani occupation as the Baloch people say that they got independence from the British on Aug 11, 1947.
The province, rich in natural gas fields, has also accused China of plundering their economic wealth especially after the construction of modern transportation networks, numerous energy projects, and special economic zones under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor.
Apart from this, human rights violations in Balochistan have always drawn concerns of the international community and other human rights watchdogs.
Expressing solidarity to India on the occasion of the country’s 73rd Independence Day on Thursday (Aug 15), Baloc activists said they need India’s support to free their land from the domination of Pakistan and its military establishment, reports ANI.
“I want to wish my Indian brothers and sisters a very happy Independence Day. The success they have made in the last 70 years makes Indians proud. Today, Indians are proud all around the world. We Balochs are thankful for their solidarity and help. We want them to raise their voice for a free Balochistan. We need their support. Thank you and Jai Hind,” ANI quoted Baloch activist Atta Baloch as saying.
Another Baloch activist, Ashraf Sherjan, also after wishing India on this occasion urged the latter to “raise Balochistan officially in all forms, including the United Nations.”
“I wish a very happy Independence Day to all my Indian brothers and sisters. We appeal to India to raise Balochistan officially in all forms, including the United Nations. The people of Balochistan are suffering genocide at the hands of Pakistan and its military establishment,” ANI quoted Sherjan as saying . said.
“Balochistan is bleeding,” he added.
The activist further requested India to be “please be the voice of the voiceless” and concluded his remarks by calling out loud in Hindi, “Bharat mata ki jai.”
On Aug 14, Pakistan observed its Independence Day as ‘Kashmir Solidarity Day’, in a protest against India’s decision to abrogate Article 370 that accorded Jammu and Kashmir with special status and passing a bill, which bifurcated the region into two Union Territories of India.
However, the cash-strapped nation was left red-faced after #BalochistanSolidarityDay and #14AugustBlackDay started trending on Twitter with more than 100,000 tweets and 54,000 tweets, respectively.