WASHINGTON, D.C. — A representative of the self-declared Republic of Balochistan has appealed to the Export–Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) and the Trump administration to withdraw a newly announced $1.2 billion investment in Pakistan, arguing that the financing would exacerbate human rights abuses and strengthen military control in the contested region of Balochistan.
In a letter addressed to EXIM Bank President and Chair John Jovanovic, Baloch representatives warned that the new U.S. commitment — part of a larger $1.25 billion package — would “not drive economic growth in Balochistan but will deteriorate the ongoing human rights” situation and “cause growth of graveyards” in the region.
The letter, circulated publicly on December 10, maintains that Balochistan is not a recognized part of Pakistan, asserting that the territory’s 1948 accession to the newly formed state occurred “under coercive circumstances” without the consent of the Baloch population. The signatories argue that political resistance to Pakistan’s control has persisted for more than seven decades.
Claims of Resource Exploitation
Citing long-standing grievances, the Baloch representatives condemn what they describe as decades of extraction of natural resources without local benefit. They detail several major energy and mineral sites:
- Gas production in Sui, Dera Bugti, Loti, and Pirkoh, estimated at 334 million cubic feet per day, while local communities remain “deprived of basic services.”
- More than 2,000 coalfields in Mach, Harnai, Chamalang, and Duki, which have generated significant revenue but “without improving local living conditions.”
- Large-scale gold and copper projects in Saindak and Reko Diq, said to have operated “for decades without benefiting the Baloch population.”
The letter also accuses the Pakistani military of maintaining a repressive presence across the province, describing ongoing operations as examples of “displacement” and “heavy-handed anti-Baloch campaigns.”
Warning to the Trump Administration
The authors urge EXIM and the Trump administration to cancel the investment, arguing that U.S. financing routed through Pakistan’s military-linked institutions “risks empowering the same radical infrastructures” that they claim have undermined American security interests in South Asia.
They contend that the funding could unintentionally strengthen networks hostile to the United States and its allies, including Israel and India, while simultaneously deepening suffering in Balochistan.
“Rather than promoting stability,” the letter states, such financing “could undermine U.S. strategic interests… and further militarize a region already struggling under heavy-handed governance.”
Call for Direct Engagement with Baloch Representatives
The signatories emphasize that the United States could play a constructive role in Balochistan’s future, but only through direct engagement with the Baloch nation, not the government of Pakistan.
“We remain open to dialogue,” the letter concludes, requesting discussions aimed at “lawful, mutually respectful cooperation” aligned with democratic principles and human rights.
The appeal was widely shared on social platforms and tagged to senior U.S. officials and international media organizations.
