Is the World Complicit in the Genocidal Policies of Pakistan and Iran in Balochistan?

By Shahdad Baloch                                                                        

A pressing question emerges amid the ongoing activism of Mahrang Baloch and the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) regarding the long-standing issue of Baloch missing persons: Is the global community complicit in the systematic persecution of the Baloch people by Pakistan and Iran? The growing oppression in both countries, despite international condemnation, raises serious concerns. The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and NATO have previously recognised genocidal patterns in conflicts such as those in Kosovo and East Timor, where opposition activists were brutally executed.

If the Baloch cause was not already understood by the UNSC, recent statements by human rights advocates—such as Mary Lawlor, UN Special Rapporteur—on the dire conditions faced by the Baloch under Pakistani rule have further exposed the brutality. Lawlor’s remarks on the arrest of Dr. Baloch and her companion reflect the sheer scale of repression against peaceful activism, which has even prompted calls for military intervention from the UNSC. Logically, the UN body is recognising grave concerns in Balochistan and is awaiting a response from its other organ, the UNSC.

The Baloch nation must assess its position and decide whether to continue relying on the United Nations. If global institutions fail to act, the Baloch people should seek international intervention, as mere condemnations have allowed Pakistan and Iran to continue their oppressive policies unchecked. The repeated betrayal by so-called human rights champions is fueling a sense of deep disillusionment, leading many to believe that the global policy on human rights is, in fact, aligned with tyrants who are accelerating the Baloch genocide.

A State-Sponsored Genocide

The ground realities in Balochistan are far more horrific than what is reported. The Baloch Yakjehti Committee has documented instances, witnessed by the people of Quetta, where Pakistani security forces directly threw hand grenades at peaceful protesters. Meanwhile, in Iran, systematic killings and abductions of Baloch individuals continue unabated, with an alarming rise in executions. The Baloch nation is facing two globally recognised forms of uninterrupted genocide: the “Kill and Dump” policy in Pakistan and the “Hanging Persecution” in Iran. Leading human rights organisations have acknowledged these as deliberate state policies aimed at eradicating the Baloch identity.

The combination of these two extermination strategies places the Baloch nation in an unprecedented crisis, exacerbated by global inaction. Whether it is the systematic brutality witnessed on “Bloody Friday”—coordinated efforts by Pakistan and Iran to crush Baloch resistance—or the suppression of protests following the martyrdom of three Baloch activists, the world’s silence signals disturbing complicity. The recent brutal crackdown on peaceful demonstrators, including the arrest of Mahrang Baloch, sends a chilling message: as long as the world remains silent, the Baloch nation will continue to endure atrocities on an even greater scale.

Frustrated and Exhausted, Yet Brutal

The Pakistani military, unable to suppress the resilient Baloch guerrilla fighters, is venting its frustration on innocent, peaceful protesters. This is a living nightmare for the Baloch people, who have every right to interpret their struggle in the context of the national interest of the Baloch nation. Balochistan was unjustly divided and annexed by Britain, and it is high time that the international community acknowledges this historical injustice on humanitarian grounds.

The question remains: Is global silence a deliberate policy, or is it merely a precursor to greater intervention? The fate of the Baloch movement remains uncertain—will it follow the path of Vietnam, Kosovo, or East Timor, where prolonged resistance led to eventual recognition? Or will it suffer the fate of the Basque separatist movement, where, despite decades of determination and armed resistance from 1959 to 2011, surrender became inevitable? Unlike the Basques, however, the Baloch struggle is not merely a separatist movement—it is a battle for survival against a coordinated genocidal policy enforced by Pakistan and Iran. The world must decide: Will it continue to align with tyranny, or will it act before further bloodshed occurs?