New Delhi: The Republic of Balochistan has issued a strongly worded statement warning Pakistan against any attempt to disrupt events planned for August 11, which it describes as Balochistan’s Independence Day.
In a post on X, the group claimed that it has declared Balochistan a “free, independent and sovereign nation” and said millions of Baloch people worldwide are preparing to mark the occasion. The statement alleged that Pakistani security forces have intensified operations across the region to prevent the planned observances.
The group further alleged that dozens of Baloch women and around 50 young people had been detained in recent days and claimed that organisers of the Independence Day events were facing harassment and intimidation. These allegations have not been independently verified, and Pakistani authorities had not publicly responded to the specific claims at the time of writing.
The statement also warned that any interference with the August 11 events could lead to heightened tensions ahead of Pakistan’s Independence Day on August 14. It urged Pakistan to refrain from displaying its national flag in Balochistan and called for the withdrawal of Pakistani security forces from the region.
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province by area, has witnessed a long-running insurgency involving separatist groups seeking greater autonomy or independence. Pakistan maintains that Balochistan is an integral part of the country and has consistently rejected separatist claims while describing militant organisations operating in the province as terrorist groups.
The latest statement underscores the continuing political tensions surrounding Balochistan ahead of competing commemorative dates later this month.
