New Delhi, October 7: The Republic of Balochistan has strongly criticised United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres for his remarks during his recent visit to Pakistan, accusing him of overlooking alleged state violence and human rights violations in Balochistan.
In a statement dated Wednesday, the Republic of Balochistan said describing Pakistan as a “great country” and portraying it as a victim of terrorism ignored what it termed decades of state violence and suffering endured by millions of Baloch and Afghans.
The statement particularly criticised Guterres for praising Pakistan’s military while, according to Balochistan, Baloch civilians, including women, children and elderly people, continue to face military operations and bombings.
The Republic of Balochistan claimed that the UN chief’s portrayal of Pakistan as the “real Pakistan” was unjust to what it described as 60 million Baloch people affected by Pakistan’s “forcible occupation, state terrorism, aggression and economic exploitation”.
It also accused Guterres of failing to question the legality of Pakistan’s presence in Balochistan. Referring to an incident in the Balochistan Assembly two days before Guterres’ address, the statement said Assembly member Zabad Reki threw his Pakistani passport on the floor during his speech, describing the episode as an indication of opposition to Pakistan’s political system.
The Republic of Balochistan further alleged that Guterres had been briefed by Pakistan’s military and civilian leadership in a manner that did not reflect the situation on the ground in Balochistan.
Claiming that Pakistan was “decisively losing” its war in Balochistan, the statement said Balochistan was functioning as an independent country and seeking diplomatic cooperation with the international community in economic, commercial and defence-related fields.
The statement also referred to Pakistan’s past association with Osama bin Laden and criticised Guterres for praising the country while visiting Islamabad. It called on the United Nations to declare Pakistan a “global terrorist state” and accused it of being a major source of instability in the region.
The Republic of Balochistan urged the international community to engage directly with Balochistan and recognise what it described as its “legitimate right to independence”.
