Baloch Struggle: A Siege of Humanity and Deafening Global Silence

Shahdad Baloch

The Baloch people, rich in history, culture, and resources, find themselves confronting two brutal states: Pakistan and Iran. As these oppressive regimes tighten their grip, the world’s response remains shockingly indifferent. At the heart of this international neglect lies a burning question: How do world powers, institutions that claim to champion human rights and justice, justify keeping the Baloch nation shackled? Nations like Pakistan and Iran, notorious for human rights abuses and war crimes, continue their barbarism unchecked.

Balochistan—an oppressed nation with a legitimate demand for freedom—suffers brutal suppression in the form of capital punishment, enforced disappearances, mass graves, and the horrifying “kill and dump” policy that has become routine. This systematic and deliberate oppression of the Baloch people is not only a humanitarian crisis but a glaring example of the international community’s silence. The United Nations, NATO, and other world bodies that claim to uphold human rights have yet to intervene meaningfully. Interventions have occurred for less—Kosovo, East Timor, and Libya come to mind—yet Balochistan’s cries for freedom have gone unanswered. Why? What makes the suffering of the Baloch people any less urgent or deserving of attention than that of other oppressed peoples?

Baloch leader Hyrbyair Marri recently pointed out that the United Nations is “obsolete.” He suggested that oppressed nations should stop expecting the UN to help them gain freedom because the UN acts in the interests of powerful nations. “Tens of thousands of Baloch have disappeared, been murdered, and lynched by Iran and Pakistan,” he said, “yet these nations have never faced an investigation by the UN. This is due to diplomatic comforts and a blind eye to the ongoing genocide in Balochistan.” His words cut to the core: global inaction is not just indifference but complicity.

In both Iran and Pakistan, the Baloch face daily atrocities. Their land is stolen, their lives taken, and mass graves filled with the bodies of innocent Baloch activists and civilians expose the extent of state-sponsored terror. Families mourn without closure, while the international community remains trapped in a cycle of empty condemnations. These hollow words are nothing more than deception. Whether it’s the Baloch, Kurds, or any other oppressed nation, their struggles go largely unnoticed. Leadership across these communities must unite, as the UN has proven ineffectual, and inaction allows the bloodshed to continue unabated.

Pakistan and Iran view Balochistan not as the homeland of a proud people but as a treasure trove of natural resources. Abundant reserves of gas, coal, and minerals have made it a target for exploitation—particularly by China, which backs both Iran and Pakistan in their imperialist endeavours. Despite this, global powers continue to ignore the broader regional dynamics, including Iran’s growing influence in the Middle East and its policies towards Israel, while Pakistan pursues its own nefarious designs at the expense of the Baloch and Pashtun nations.

These colonial forces, in their alliance with imperial China, aim to dominate Balochistan’s strategic gateway, the Strait of Hormuz. This is not a development project, as Pakistan claims, but a colonial expansion. As Marri recently warned, the establishment of a Chinese naval base at this vital location will grant China enormous strategic power, potentially reshaping the global order. Marri’s prediction is a wake-up call to the silent world, especially as he also cautioned against the Iran nuclear deal, calling it “a deal with the devil.”

Global institutions must now ask themselves a critical question: Who are they really serving? Is it the Baloch, who cry out for freedom and justice, or the corrupt political and military elites in Pakistan and Iran, who are willing to trade their people’s suffering for wealth and power? The world has yet to act decisively, instead lingering in a haze of uncertainty about Balochistan’s future.

Some argue that the Baloch might not be able to govern themselves if granted independence, conveniently ignoring the Balochistan Liberation Charter. This comprehensive framework envisions a democratic, secular, and peaceful Balochistan. As Hyrbyair Marri has said, “A free Balochistan is not just an aspiration; it is a necessity for regional stability. Our demand for a secular Balochistan reflects the deep-seated values and aspirations of the Baloch people themselves.”

The world’s reluctance to support Baloch independence exposes a deeper flaw: the international community is blind to its own failures. Humanity, as a global principle, is being applied selectively. While other oppressed nations have received international support, the Baloch remain disregarded. This selective application of justice serves global powers’ interests but does nothing for the Baloch, who are fighting for their survival. The silence of world powers is deafening, and their inaction raises an uncomfortable question: Is the world truly dedicated to defending human rights, or is it merely using the concept as a tool for political and economic gain?

The time has come for the global community to look in the mirror. Humanitarian organisations that claim to protect the oppressed are complicit in the problem. They continue to fund corrupt regimes like Pakistan and Iran, turning a blind eye to the suffering they are enabling. While Pakistani elites profit from international aid and cooperation, the Baloch people are left to fend for themselves, shackled in their own land.

It is time for the world to wake up. Balochistan’s liberation is not a question of “if,” but  “when.” The Baloch have already made it clear that they will not rest until they are free from the chains of Pakistan and Iran. Their struggle is not one of hatred or vengeance but of hope for a prosperous future, grounded in democracy, secularism, and equality.

The world must act before it’s too late—before the silence becomes permanent.

“Friend, you look at me with eyes veiled,
While I seek from you the world’s truth concealed.
My shoulders have borne the burden of lies,
Yet still, I stand beneath the skies.
For the words of my heart remain unheard,
While my soul longs for justice, its wings unstirred.”

These lines capture the frustration and hope of a nation under siege, calling out not only to the oppressors to leave but to the world at large to support the struggle for freedom. The time for action is now before history marks this era as one of shameful inaction and betrayal.