Baloch living on both sides of artificial border are inseparable: Hyrbyair Marri

LONDON: The pro-freedom Baloch leader and head of Free Balochistan Movement, Hyrbyair Marri, in a statement said that the recent announcement of Iran and Pakistan to form a ‘Rapid Action Force’ in Balochistan shows that despite difference and accusation against each other, both religious fanatic states consider Balochistan and Baloch people their enemy.

He said, “It’s not their love for each other that brings them together but it is their hatred against the Baloch nation that has united them. This so-called quick action force will not be deployed on the border between Tehran and Islamabad but they will be stationed in Balochistan and their target will be Baloch people on both sides of the artificial border.”

Mr Marri said that both Iran and Pakistan speak different languages (Persian & Punjabi), have different cultures, different foods, and even their borders do not meet but they are united against Baloch because they know unity is a strength. “We the Baloch, on the other hand, have one country, we speak the same language and we are fighting for the same cause but some Baloch are siding with Iran and some with Pakistan against their own brothers and strengthening the foreign occupation on Balochistan. I have said multiple times that we should unite but for a purpose and on clear points. We must give priority to Baloch national interest before anything else,” he added.

The Baloch leader said that first the British divided Balochistan by drawing the artificial GoldSmith and Durand Lines, then Iran built a wall on Balochistan’s border to divide Balochistan and now Pakistan is planning to erect a 950km wall on border between Iranian occupied Balochistan and Pakistan occupied Balochistan, in order to block families from both sides of the artificial line to visit their relatives. In the 21 first century world is demolishing walls and bridging gaps between nations but Pakistan and Iran are dividing Balochistan.

He said, “The occupiers must remember that national identities cannot be demolished and nations cannot be annihilated by either drawing artificial borders or erecting walls. The Baloch living on both sides of occupied Balochistan are like flesh and bone, they are inseparable.”