June 26: The Republic of Balochistan has issued a sweeping political statement rejecting Pakistan’s constitutional and legal authority over the people of Balochistan, while urging the international community to recognise what it describes as the region’s independence.
In the statement, the organisation asserted that Pakistani laws have “no legal jurisdiction” over Baloch citizens and cited remarks by Pakistan’s Defence Minister, Khawaja Asif, in the National Assembly regarding Pakistani passports as reinforcing its long-standing claim of a distinct Baloch national identity.
The statement also rejected life imprisonment sentences reportedly imposed on Dr. Mehrang Baloch and Sibghatullah Shaji, describing the convictions as illegitimate and alleging that Pakistan lacks legal authority to prosecute Baloch citizens. It further accused Pakistan’s military of committing serious human rights violations and called for international legal accountability.
Describing Pakistan as an occupying force, the organisation claimed that its armed resistance is a defensive struggle conducted under the principle of self-defence and argued that the protection of Balochistan’s territory and resources is a legitimate national duty. It further alleged that Pakistani security forces have lost effective control over large parts of the region outside heavily guarded military installations.
The statement warned that Pakistani military personnel operating in Balochistan would be regarded as foreign occupiers under what it described as Balochistan’s own legal framework and reiterated its demand for the withdrawal of Pakistani forces from the territory.
Concluding its appeal, the Republic of Balochistan called upon the United Nations and the wider international community—including regional organisations and foreign governments—to recognise Balochistan as an independent state, arguing that such recognition would help address instability and extremism in the region.
Pakistan has consistently maintained that Balochistan is an integral part of the country and has rejected separatist claims, describing militant groups operating in the province as terrorist organisations.
