Sindhi Delegation Visits Protest Camp, Calls for Peace in Balochistan

SHAAL (QUETTA): The Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) protest camp, now in its 5,761st day, received a notable visit over the weekend as leaders from the Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM) expressed solidarity with the families of the victims of enforced disappearances in Balochistan.

The ongoing protest, spearheaded by VBMP’s Vice Chairman, Mama Qadeer Baloch, seeks justice for the enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings that have plagued the region.

The Sindhi delegation, consisting of JSQM leaders Nabi Bakhsh Jatoi, Pir Bakhsh Soomro, and others, arrived from Larkana, Sindh, to stand in solidarity with the Baloch families. During their visit, they emphasised a shared experience of suffering, as Sindh also grapples with severe human rights violations, including the disappearances of pro-freedom Sindhi activists. “We Sindhis and Baloch understand each other’s pain better,” Jatoi stated.

In his address to the delegation, Mama Qadeer Baloch said that the actions of Pakistani authorities have contributed to the perception that the country is neither a welfare state nor a federation, but rather a confinement for oppressed nations. He added that while urban areas contend with death squads, rural communities face threats from bandit groups, leading to a gradual erosion of human rights amid increasing violence.

Mama Qadeer expressed deep concern over the ongoing turmoil in Balochistan, attributing it to decades of oppression and injustice. He criticised the Pakistani authorities for failing to address the underlying issues, claiming that the state’s escalation of violence only exacerbates the crisis.

Echoing sentiments of peace and cooperation, Mama Qadeer emphasised that “no nation can achieve peace or prosperity by destroying Balochistan.” He urged Pakistani authorities to abandon aspirations of conquest and instead seek solutions that foster peace and respect for  the Baloch people.

The visit underscored the growing alliance between Sindhi and Baloch communities in their respective struggles against state oppression. As tensions rise and calls for justice amplify, the hope for a peaceful resolution remains contingent upon addressing the injustices faced by oppressed nations in the region that include Baloch, Pashtun and Sindhis.