London: The Republic of Balochistan has strongly condemned remarks by Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi over Astola Island, rejecting his suggestion that the island could be developed into a tourist destination comparable to the Maldives.
In a sharply worded statement issued on 17 April, the Baloch body accused Pakistan of seeking to exploit the island’s resources and ecology, while asserting that Astola Island and other assets in Balochistan belong solely to the Baloch nation.
The statement described Astola Island as an ecological and civilisational asset, citing its marine biodiversity, rare wildlife and protected environmental status. It accused Pakistani authorities of environmental degradation, illegal resource extraction and undermining indigenous heritage across the region.
Escalating its rhetoric, the statement warned Pakistan’s military presence in Balochistan was “numbered”, claimed widespread public resistance was rising, and called for the immediate withdrawal of Pakistani forces, invoking parallels with Pakistan’s 1971 military surrender in Dhaka.
It further alleged that businesses, livelihoods and freedom of movement in Balochistan had been disrupted by what it described as an “occupying force”, while insisting there was no legal or moral justification under international law for such a presence.
Astola Island, also known as Jezira Haft Talar, lies around 25 kilometres off Pasni in Gwadar district and is regarded as the largest offshore island off the Balochistan coast. The statement highlighted its status as a Marine Protected Area, home to endangered green turtles, migratory birds and coral communities.
Often referred to as the “Island of the Seven Hills”, Astola was portrayed in the statement as both a symbol of Baloch heritage and a focal point in the wider political dispute over sovereignty, resources and control in the region.
