The westernmost province of Pakistan, Balochistan, shares its border with Iran, Afghanistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the Arabian Sea.

The Balochs, who form approximately 50 per cent of the total population of Balochistan, entered the region in 14th century CE.

Balochistan, which is volatile and rife with historical tensions, has witnessed regular insurgencies since Pakistan annexed the autonomous Baloch state of Kalat in 1948.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-statue-of-mohammad-ali-jinnah-destroyed-in-blast-in-balochistan-416388">Also read |&nbsp;Pakistan: Statue of Mohammad Ali Jinnah destroyed in blast in Balochistan</a>

Balochs complain about the lack of autonomy and long-standing social and economic neglect in addition to a deteriorating human rights scenario in the country.

They have faced extreme deprivation and marginalisation from both Pakistan and Iran that has resulted in a strong desire for liberation among them.

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Balochistan is Pakistan's largest and poorest province despite being rich in natural resources.

Resentment has been fuelled by billions of dollars of Chinese money flowing into the region through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a key part of Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative, which locals say gave them little benefit as most new jobs went to outsiders.

The Balochistan conflict has a long, complex history, but since that time the stakes have risen as Balochistan’s wealth of copper, gold, gas and coal deposits caught China’s eye.

The prospects of Pakistan’s most reliable ally pouring in money excited successive governments while fuelling Baloch resentment over how little would come their way.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/exclusive-things-have-got-worse-in-balochistan-akbar-bugtis-grandson-appeals-for-global-support-323071">Also read-EXCLUSIVE| 'Things have got worse in Balochistan': Akbar Bugti's grandson appeals for global support</a>

Separatist militants have frequently targeted Chinese construction in Gwadar, a port on the Balochistan coast, near the entrance to the strategically-important Gulf.

And in 2018, the Balochistan Liberation Army launched an assault on the Chinese consulate in the southern port city of Karachi, killing four Pakistani police and civilians.

In his first video interview in five years, Allah Nazar Baloch, head of the ethnic Baluch group Baluchistan Liberation Front (BLF), also vowed further attacks on a Chinese economic corridor, parts of which run through the resource-rich province.

The planned $46 billion trade route is expected to link western China with Pakistan’s Arabian Sea via a network of roads, railways and energy pipelines.

Balochistan, where separatist militants have waged an insurgency against the state that has grown in profile as ally China develops mining there, has long been plagued by enforced disappearances. Families say men are picked up by the Pakistani security forces, disappear often for years, and are sometimes found dead, with no official explanation.

The 2006 arrest of Akhtar Mengal, the Chief Minister of Balochistan, is a glaring example. He was arrested and denied basic rights of medical treatment or bedding while being imprisoned. Adding insult to injury, he was also kept in a cage during subsequent court proceedings.

A federal commission set up nine years ago listed 6,506 cases of enforced disappearances nationwide by the end of 2019. Most came from the northwestern province of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

Karima Mehrab, a refugee from the Balochistan region of western Pakistan who was also known as Karima Baloch, went missing in Toronto’s downtown waterfront area. Police found her dead body later.

Mehrab was a prominent student organizer who campaigned for Balochistan’s separation from Pakistan, and later fled to Canada amid threats. She was named one of the BBC’s 100 inspirational and influential women of 2016.

Previously, Sajid Hussain, a Balochistan journalist and activist living in exile in Sweden, was found drowned there, according to media reports.

In 2020, the Balochistan National Party (BNP) quit Prime Minister Imran Khan’s parliamentary bloc, frustrated by unfulfilled promises to address Baloch grievances including the festering issue of the disappeared.

Though residing in the same region, the ethnic identity of the Baloch has remained in sharp contrast to the ultranationalism that defines the Pakistani state. Therefore, the Pakistani security forces, who see many of the Baloch nationalist groups as terrorists, have crushed any opposition or demand for reform.

Using the military to quell any Baloch uprising into submission has become a norm, and any attempts at protest have been reduced to naught.

While gas was discovered in the province in the 1950s, it was largely used to supply Karachi and Punjab, with Quetta, the capital of Balochistan only receiving access to these local resources in the 1980s.

Since then, Islamabad has provided this natural gas only to supply the army cantonments in Balochistan, and as of 2014, 59 percent of the urban population of Balochistan did not have access to the resource.

As of January 2020, the Sui Southern Gas Company, which supplies gas to Sindh and Balochistan, reported the shortfall of gas at nearly 40 percent.

Such deprivation, combined with the repression and blatant disregard for the Baloch people, is held as justification for their increasing resentment and larger aspirations for freedom.

(With inputs from agencies)

The westernmost province of Pakistan, Balochistan, shares its border with Iran, Afghanistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the Arabian Sea. The Balochs, who form approximately 50 per cent of the total population of Balochistan, entered the region in 14th century CE.

The westernmost province of Pakistan, Balochistan, shares its border with Iran, Afghanistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the Arabian Sea. The Balochs, who form approximately 50 per cent of the total population of Balochistan, entered the region in 14th century CE. Balochistan, which is volatile and rife with historical tensions, has witnessed regular insurgencies since Pakistan annexed the autonomous Baloch state of Kalat in 1948. Also read | Pakistan: Statue of Mohammad Ali Jinnah destroyed in blast in Balochistan Balochs complain about the lack of autonomy and long-standing social and economic neglect in addition to a deteriorating human rights scenario in the country. They have faced extreme deprivation and marginalisation from both Pakistan and Iran that has resulted in a strong desire for liberation among them. Balochistan is Pakistan's largest and poorest province despite being rich in natural resources. Resentment has been fuelled by billions of dollars of Chinese money flowing into the region through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a key part of Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative, which locals say gave them little benefit as most new jobs went to outsiders. The Balochistan conflict has a long, complex history, but since that time the stakes have risen as Balochistan’s wealth of copper, gold, gas and coal deposits caught China’s eye. The prospects of Pakistan’s most reliable ally pouring in money excited successive governments while fuelling Baloch resentment over how little would come their way. Also read-EXCLUSIVE| 'Things have got worse in Balochistan': Akbar Bugti's grandson appeals for global support Separatist militants have frequently targeted Chinese construction in Gwadar, a port on the Balochistan coast, near the entrance to the strategically-important Gulf. And in 2018, the Balochistan Liberation Army launched an assault on the Chinese consulate in the southern port city of Karachi, killing four Pakistani police and civilians. In his first video interview in five years, Allah Nazar Baloch, head of the ethnic Baluch group Baluchistan Liberation Front (BLF), also vowed further attacks on a Chinese economic corridor, parts of which run through the resource-rich province. The planned $46 billion trade route is expected to link western China with Pakistan’s Arabian Sea via a network of roads, railways and energy pipelines. Balochistan, where separatist militants have waged an insurgency against the state that has grown in profile as ally China develops mining there, has long been plagued by enforced disappearances. Families say men are picked up by the Pakistani security forces, disappear often for years, and are sometimes found dead, with no official explanation. The 2006 arrest of Akhtar Mengal, the Chief Minister of Balochistan, is a glaring example. He was arrested and denied basic rights of medical treatment or bedding while being imprisoned. Adding insult to injury, he was also kept in a cage during subsequent court proceedings. A federal commission set up nine years ago listed 6,506 cases of enforced disappearances nationwide by the end of 2019. Most came from the northwestern province of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Karima Mehrab, a refugee from the Balochistan region of western Pakistan who was also known as Karima Baloch, went missing in Toronto’s downtown waterfront area. Police found her dead body later. Mehrab was a prominent student organizer who campaigned for Balochistan’s separation from Pakistan, and later fled to Canada amid threats. She was named one of the BBC’s 100 inspirational and influential women of 2016. Previously, Sajid Hussain, a Balochistan journalist and activist living in exile in Sweden, was found drowned there, according to media reports. In 2020, the Balochistan National Party (BNP) quit Prime Minister Imran Khan’s parliamentary bloc, frustrated by unfulfilled promises to address Baloch grievances including the festering issue of the disappeared. Though residing in the same region, the ethnic identity of the Baloch has remained in sharp contrast to the ultranationalism that defines the Pakistani state. Therefore, the Pakistani security forces, who see many of the Baloch nationalist groups as terrorists, have crushed any opposition or demand for reform. Using the military to quell any Baloch uprising into submission has become a norm, and any attempts at protest have been reduced to naught. While gas was discovered in the province in the 1950s, it was largely used to supply Karachi and Punjab, with Quetta, the capital of Balochistan only receiving access to these local resources in the 1980s. Since then, Islamabad has provided this natural gas only to supply the army cantonments in Balochistan, and as of 2014, 59 percent of the urban population of Balochistan did not have access to the resource. As of January 2020, the Sui Southern Gas Company, which supplies gas to Sindh and Balochistan, reported the shortfall of gas at nearly 40 percent. Such deprivation, combined with the repression and blatant disregard for the Baloch people, is held as justification for their increasing resentment and larger aspirations for freedom. (With inputs from agencies)

From Pakistan's repression to Chinese discrimination: The untold story of Balochistan

With the Baloch political and human rights activists demanding a special rapporteur in the UN to investigate Baloch human rights violation, scores of Baloch nationals staged a protest outside the United Nations headquarters in Geneva today against Pakistan.

Member of European Parliament Ryszard Czarnecki said that European Union (EU) might change its economic policies if Pakistan&#39;s attitude towards the Baloch issue remains unchanged.

&quot;For European Union, it is completely unacceptable that the government in Pakistan still uses violence against the people of Balochistan. We can observe the rise in violence in this region. The EU has a special economic relationship with Pakistan and probably we should change this policy to Pakistan because in my opinion our economic relations with Islamabad should depend on the attitude of the Pakistani Government in human rights in Balochistan,&quot; Czarnecki told ANI.

Leading the protest in Geneva, Baloch activist Mehran Marri accused Islamabad of using unfair tactics.

&quot;Our demand, from day one, to UN is to take Balochistan issue seriously and first and foremost send a fact finding team. Although teams have been sent in the past, but when they go to Pakistan their activities are absolutely obstructed,&quot; Marri told ANI.

Highlighting the deteriorating condition of Baloch nationals in Pakistan, Maari said, &quot;It has taken a nastier turn. This time from four to six months, the Pakistan military and intelligence agencies have embarked upon abducting women and children and taking them to undisclosed locations. I am sure they are being violated.&quot;

&quot;China entering the equation is a toxic mix. Punjabi and Chinese collation to exploit and loot Balochistan has worsened the situation, but China has to realise that Punjabis have been nobody&#39;s friend and Pakistan has not been America&#39;s friend,&quot; he added.

Baloch political activists and human rights defenders raised the situation of deteriorating human rights in Balochistan earlier on Friday and condemned the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) at a side event during the 34th Session of UN Human Rights Council. 
 
(ANI)

Baloch nationals, who protested outside the UN headquarters in Geneva, asked for a UN special rapporteur to probe human rights violations

With the Baloch political and human rights activists demanding a special rapporteur in the UN to investigate Baloch human rights violation, scores of Baloch nationals staged a protest outside the United Nations headquarters in Geneva today against Pakistan. Member of European Parliament Ryszard Czarnecki said that European Union (EU) might change its economic policies if Pakistan's attitude towards the Baloch issue remains unchanged. "For European Union, it is completely unacceptable that the government in Pakistan still uses violence against the people of Balochistan. We can observe the rise in violence in this region. The EU has a special economic relationship with Pakistan and probably we should change this policy to Pakistan because in my opinion our economic relations with Islamabad should depend on the attitude of the Pakistani Government in human rights in Balochistan," Czarnecki told ANI. Leading the protest in Geneva, Baloch activist Mehran Marri accused Islamabad of using unfair tactics. "Our demand, from day one, to UN is to take Balochistan issue seriously and first and foremost send a fact finding team. Although teams have been sent in the past, but when they go to Pakistan their activities are absolutely obstructed," Marri told ANI. Highlighting the deteriorating condition of Baloch nationals in Pakistan, Maari said, "It has taken a nastier turn. This time from four to six months, the Pakistan military and intelligence agencies have embarked upon abducting women and children and taking them to undisclosed locations. I am sure they are being violated." "China entering the equation is a toxic mix. Punjabi and Chinese collation to exploit and loot Balochistan has worsened the situation, but China has to realise that Punjabis have been nobody's friend and Pakistan has not been America's friend," he added. Baloch political activists and human rights defenders raised the situation of deteriorating human rights in Balochistan earlier on Friday and condemned the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) at a side event during the 34th Session of UN Human Rights Council. (ANI)

Pakistan's violence against people of Balochistan unacceptable: EU parliamentarian

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From Pakistan's repression to Chinese discrimination: The untold story of Balochistan

Pakistan's violence against people of Balochistan unacceptable: EU parliamentarian