International Desk
The Republic of Balochistan has announced plans to establish national sports federations and seek participation in major international sporting competitions, despite lacking international recognition as a sovereign state.
In a declaration released on 20 July, Baloch activist and journalist Mir Yar Baloch outlined a vision to develop governing bodies for football, cricket, athletics, hockey, basketball, volleyball, boxing, wrestling, tennis, chess, esports and other disciplines. The statement said the proposed institutions would focus on grassroots development, youth training, women’s participation and athlete welfare.
The declaration also expressed an intention to pursue membership, where eligible under existing regulations, with leading international sporting organisations, including FIFA, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the International Cricket Council (ICC) and several global sports federations.
Highlighting football as a key part of Baloch identity, the statement described Karachi’s Lyari district—home to a large Baloch community—as “Little Brazil”, citing its long-standing football culture and enthusiasm during FIFA World Cup tournaments. It pledged to launch a National Football Development Programme alongside similar initiatives in other sports.
The declaration further invited governments, Olympic committees, sports federations, universities and professional clubs to cooperate through coaching programmes, scholarships, athlete exchanges and friendly matches.
The proposal comes amid continued political tensions surrounding Baloch nationalist movements. At present, the self-proclaimed “Republic of Balochistan” is not recognised as an independent state by the United Nations or the international community, and membership of organisations such as FIFA, the IOC and the ICC is subject to their respective constitutional and eligibility requirements.
The statement presents the initiative as an effort to showcase Baloch sporting talent internationally, though any formal participation in global competitions would depend on meeting the governing bodies’ membership criteria and international recognition standards.
