Hyrbyair Marri’s Message to Belarus And other Foreign Investors

On November 26 the pro-freedom Baloch leader Hyrbyair Marri, the President of the Free Balochistan Movement (FBM), issued a strong warning to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, urging him to reconsider his interest in investing in occupied Balochistan. In a recent social media post, Marri criticised Lukashenko’s potential support for the Pakistani regime, claiming it would result in financial and political setbacks for Belarus, given the unstable and repressive conditions in the region.

The statement comes amid reports suggesting that Lukashenko has shown interest in developing economic ties with Pakistan, particularly in the resource-rich Balochistan region, which has been under Pakistan’s occupation since 1948. Marri, who has been a vocal advocate for Balochistan’s independence, warned that such investments would be fraught with risks due to the ongoing conflict and human rights violations in the region.

“The Belarusian president seems eager to gamble on an unstable occupying power (Pakistan) by eyeing investments in occupied Balochistan. This will be a sure recipe for losing money,” Marri wrote, adding that Belarus would be following in the footsteps of China, whose investments in the region have been met with widespread Baloch resistance. He emphasised that the Baloch people would not tolerate foreign investments that further entrench the occupation of their land by Pakistan, and foreign investors would be “putting themselves on a path of discord and conflict.”

Marri’s statement highlights a broader concern among Baloch people regarding foreign involvement in Balochistan, which is strategically important due to its natural resources, including vast mineral reserves, oil, and gas. Despite its economic potential, Balochistan has been subject to harsh military control by Pakistan, with a long history of human rights abuses, including forced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and the suppression of political dissent.

The Chinese Experience in Balochistan

Marri also made a pointed reference to the situation with China, which has invested heavily in the region through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a multi-billion-dollar infrastructure and trade project. While the Pakistani government has hailed CPEC as a development boon, it has faced consistent resistance from pro-freedom armed organisations who view it as an exploitative endeavour that benefits the Pakistani state and foreign corporations at the expense of the Baloch people.

“If the Chinese, with all their economic clout, aren’t welcome in Balochistan, Belarusian investors will face the same fate,” Marri stated, highlighting that any foreign investment in the region would inevitably be met with Baloch opposition. The FBM leader warned that Lukashenko and other potential investors should take note of China’s struggles in the region, where numerous Chinese projects have been targeted by Baloch insurgent groups.

Marri’s warning reflects the growing international awareness of the resistance movements in Balochistan, particularly as Pakistan’s human rights abuses gain more attention globally. Baloch activists, both within Balochistan and in the diaspora, have been working to highlight the plight of the Baloch people and to call for an end to Pakistan’s occupation of their land.

Pakistan’s Suppression of Information

A key aspect of Marri’s statement focused on the Pakistani government’s efforts to suppress information from Balochistan. Pakistan has long imposed strict media restrictions on the region, including an outright ban on foreign journalists entering Balochistan. Marri pointed to the recent imposition of an embargo on foreign reporters, which Pakistan claims is necessary for security reasons, given the ongoing insurgency in the region.

However, Marri and other critics argue that this is a deliberate attempt by Pakistan to conceal the ongoing abuses. “Pakistan has placed an embargo on foreign journalists entering and reporting on the situation in occupied Balochistan, on the pretext that there is a high-security risk for their safety,” Marri wrote. “This is a thinly veiled attempt to hide the brutalities they are committing against the Baloch population.”

Marri’s statement follows an increase in reports of Pakistani military crackdowns, forced disappearances, and the targeting of civilians in Balochistan. Last week, the Pakistani military reportedly shot at unarmed political protesters in the capital city of Quetta, leading to international condemnation. The Pakistani government’s inability to ensure security in its own capital city, Marri argues, raises serious questions about its ability to protect foreign investments in the region.

“Pakistan cannot even protect its capital city from unarmed political opposition protesters, and just today has ordered the military to shoot-on-sight. How do you expect them to protect your investments?” Marri said.

A Message to the International Community

Marri’s comments also serve as a broader message to all foreign governments and corporations considering involvement in Balochistan. He urged them to recognise that supporting Pakistan’s occupation of Balochistan would be detrimental not only to the people of the region but also to their own long-term interests.

“A message to all other nations intending to come to Balochistan and illegally exploit the Baloch resources: You will be putting yourselves onto the path of discord and conflict with the Baloch nation, whether that is Iranian or Pakistani-occupied Balochistan,” Marri said.

The Baloch struggle for independence has gained significant attention in recent years, with growing numbers of Baloch activists calling for international support. The region, which straddles the borders of Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan, is home to a rich cultural heritage and a large population that has long been seeking to regain their lost independence from the countries that occupy their land.

Despite the challenges faced by the Baloch resistance, Marri remains adamant that the Baloch will not accept foreign exploitation of their resources. He called on nations like Belarus and others to “pack their bags and return to their countries” rather than pursue economic ventures that support an occupying regime.

The Road Ahead

The Baloch liberation movement has historically faced significant opposition from Pakistan and Iran, as well as from foreign powers that have pursued economic and geopolitical interests in the region. However, as global attention to human rights issues grows, Balochistan has become an increasingly important focal point in the discourse surrounding occupation and independence.

Marri’s call for Belarus to avoid involvement in Balochistan may be a sign of the growing sophistication and reach of the Baloch independence movement. As more countries and companies take note of the ongoing struggle in Balochistan, the international community will face tough questions about their role in supporting or challenging occupations in regions like Balochistan.

For now, pro-freedom Baloch political parties including the Free Balochistan Movement and its supporters continue to rally for the recognition of Balochistan’s right to freedom and to expose the human rights abuses committed by Pakistan’s military regime. As the political and economic landscape shifts, the Baloch people remain resolute in their pursuit of independence.