A Baloch separatist organisation has issued a new statement declaring that Pakistani nationals will no longer be allowed to enter Balochistan without visas or official documentation, escalating its long-running campaign to portray the region as an independent state.
The group says security forces loyal to the self-declared “Republic of Balochistan” are preparing to establish immigration-style checkpoints along the borders with Sindh and Punjab to block what it describes as “unauthorised or unlawful entry”. Pakistan has not responded to the latest claims, but Islamabad has consistently rejected assertions that any such “republic” exists, calling separatist statements propaganda.
Separatists Claim Pakistani Troops ‘Trapped’ in Cantonments
According to the statement, Baloch fighters are “fully prepared and alert”, and allegedly have pushed Pakistani forces out of remote regions, confining them to military cantonments. The group further claims that Pakistan’s ground presence in Balochistan has “nearly collapsed”, alleging that around 400,000 Pakistani troops stationed in the region are committing abuses — accusations Pakistan has repeatedly denied in the past.
The statement also asserts that local residents refuse to cooperate with Pakistan’s military, leaving troops “deeply trapped”, although there is no independent verification of these claims.
Talk of New Border Controls and ‘Pre-Emptive Operations’
The group says it may soon create formal immigration counters at entry points with Sindh and Punjab, treating Pakistani nationals as “foreign entrants”. Such steps would amount to the most significant attempt yet by separatists to enforce de facto borders — a move that experts say would be fiercely contested by Islamabad.
The statement also alleges that Baloch forces have launched pre-emptive operations, including raids on military vehicles, which they claim are used for large-scale drug trafficking. Over recent months, separatists say they have seized convoys carrying “substantial quantities” of narcotics.
Pakistan’s government has long dismissed similar allegations as fabricated and designed to discredit its counter-insurgency operations.
Anti-Narcotics Push Along Provincial Borders
Baloch fighters also claim to be targeting opium cultivation along the borders of Balochistan with Sindh and Punjab, asserting that such activity is being carried out “under the supervision of Pakistani forces”. Again, there is no independent evidence supporting these accusations.
Separatists Call Pakistanis ‘Intruders’
The statement concludes with a call to restrict the entry of all Pakistanis, describing them as “intruders” who allegedly threaten security and stability in the region. The separatist movement maintains that controlling cross-border movement is essential for what it calls the “security of Balochistan”.
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest but least populated province, has been the site of a decades-long insurgency. Pakistan insists it is fighting foreign-backed militants and claims the majority of Baloch citizens support the state. The intensity of the conflict — and the opacity of the region — means many such assertions remain impossible to verify.
