Balochistan: Baloch leader Hyrbyair Marri’s latest interaction with Defensive Offense

Hyrbyair Marri, a Baloch leader and head of the Free Balochistan Movement, said in a recent interview with Defensive Offense that the corruption of one army man that has come to light is only the tip of the iceberg there are several such cases that the Pakistani army men came to Balochistan with empty hands and went back with millions of dollars.

Balochistan is a resource-rich region, so they transfer themselves to Balochistan by paying money to GHQ. This is a mafia. They go Balochistan as protectors but in reality, they go their only to earn money by committing corruption, extortion and drug trade.

Hyrbyair Marri said that the world doesn’t know how Pakistan is exploiting Balochistan. On the one hand, they have illegally occupied Balochistan and call it a part of Pakistan before the international community to legitimize this illegal occupation. On the other hand, they are committing gross human rights violations in Balochistan and violating all UN and international laws.

He said that the army as an institution is involved in loot and plunder in Balochistan and they are allocating billions of dollars for themselves through NLC and FWO. They have a share in every mega project of Balochistan and they are fully involved in the exploitation of the Baloch national wealth.

Talking further about the looting of the Pakistani army in Balochistan, he said that they are also involved in the looting of coal in Chamalang in the Kohistan Marri region, this coal is the best in the world from which they (army) are earning millions of dollars While people in Balochistan do not even have access to clean drinking water. They [Pakistan Army] are sitting at home with everything under their control.

He said that earlier bureaucrats, businessmen and members of parliament used to commit theft or corruption, now the army has infiltrated everywhere and is involved in all kinds of corruption. Now they are asking for a share from the bank balance of the people for fear that people are not depositing money in the banks.

In response to a question, Hyrbyair Marri said that the minister of Balochistan cannot make a statement without the permission of the army, the army itself writes the script for them, their job is just to read those statements. These are puppets, they have no choice.

He said the army don’t trust them [pro-Pakistani parliamentarian Baloch) because the army knows that if they’re not loyal to their homeland (Balochistan), what can they do for the army. They also have no value in Balochistan because the Baloch have boycotted the elections. These people get access to parliament by getting around 100 votes. Now you think for yourself what will be their status & value?

In response to another question, Hyrbyair Marri said that Pakistan forcibly signed the accession documents, in response to which Khan’s brother Prince Abdul Karim started a resistance movement against the occupation and he tried to contact Russia for help at that time but we did not get any help because they [Russia] did not know the importance of Balochistan. However, the struggle for independence continued and continues to this day.

Regarding India, Hyrbyair Marri said that maybe they are afraid of Pakistan. India is a big country but it is always trying to appease Pakistan. It is useless to establish a relationship with Pakistan. It’s an old saying, “A stubborn person will never accept logic” same goes for the Pakistan army, they are crooks and they do not understand the logic of words. He said, we, the Baloch, are doing whatever we can to rid ourselves of Pakistan.

Commenting on the current situation of the subcontinent and the formation of Pakistan, Mr Marri said that Britain is responsible for the division of the subcontinent and because of them we [Baloch] are slaves today. He said that Britain made Pakistan for its own interest, India is a regional power, they have to do something.

He further added, “Afghanistan is a weak and small nation but we have good relations with it. Since India is a powerful country, India has to be our voice now.”

He said the politicians and common people of India do not know much about Balochistan, they have to know about us and understand our problem first. Indian politicians do not know the difference between Baloch and Pashtun leadership, he said, ‘once an Indian politician told me that your leader Bacha Khan was a very good man’ I said that Bacha Khan is valued among Baloch people as we respect him, but he was not a Baloch.’

First, they [India and its decision makers] should know in which region Balochistan is located, what is its significance of Balochistan and what will be the benefit in establishing a relationship with Balochistan?

Mr Marri stressed that India must help the Baloch, as it is in India’s interest in the long run.

He said that the incidents of terrorism in India took place because India was not doing anything, merely strengthening the borders would not help unless India there were reliable allies of India in the region.

“India is our neighbor as Sindh and Punjab are part of India and our border is connected to these two areas,” he said. It is a different matter if you accept the line drawn by Britain if so, it is a great pity.

Talking about Iran, Mr Marri said that Iran is also involved in crimes against the Baloch. In the last ten years, about one and a half thousand Baloch have been executed under false allegations. One of the most ridiculous allegations is that Iran blames Baloch of being an ‘enemy of God’ what law is that? There are such stereotypes in the 21st century, yet the West is not taking action against them.

“The Taliban have the support of Pakistan and there is no tendency for religious extremism in Balochistan because our social structure is stable and it cannot be easily undermined, Mr Marri said adding that ‘billions of dollars have been spent in this region for Promoting extremism but it has not affected the Baloch. The Baloch are a conscious nation, and we have a history and we are connected to it.”

He said that many Indian journalists and intellectuals were not aware of the facts about Balochistan as sometimes they say there is a class struggle going on in Balochistan, sometimes they say Balochistan is part of Pakistan or Baloch are Pakistan’s ‘own’ people.

“Balochistan is an occupied territory and there is only one slave class, and I see that Indian journalists are miss informed. They should get information about Balochistan. If we understand each other, we can move forward and work together against our mutual enemies. But now India has to come up with a clear policy,” Hyrbyair Marri said.

Speaking about the Durand Line, Mr Marri said that it was a line drawn by the British through which some areas of Balochistan were included in Afghanistan and some areas of Afghanistan were included in Balochistan.

Explaining this, he said, “the Baloch have no claim over Pashtun areas, it was the policy of the British to “divide and fight” so that we would be weakened, and Pakistan is doing the same today.

“When Balochistan becomes independent, the Pashtuns will have this right to determine whether they want to live with the Baloch, of course, they can stay as equal citizens. If they want to join Afghanistan, then this is their right.”

Addressing the Indian people at the end, Hyrbyair Marri said that the people of India should keep in touch with the Balochs, learn more about Balochistan and become the voice of the Baloch. We have more confidence in the people of India. So people to people contact is very important.

He said that the government of India should also raise its voice regarding Balochistan. It is also in the interest of India. If Balochistan becomes independent then there will be peace in India as well because India is currently under siege. India has to act with foresight and long term interests must be taken into account.

“Assisting the Baloch will be in India’s interest but we want our relationship to be based on equality and mutual respect and we are ready for that,” he said.

Click on the link below to watch the full interview.