Baloch Yakjehti Committee Condemns Exploitation by Pakistan and China in Balochistan
The Baloch Yakjehti Committee has strongly condemned the exploitation of Balochistan’s resources by Pakistan and China. In a statement titled ‘Imperial Megaprojects and Our National Survival,’ the committee highlighted decades of oppression faced by the Baloch people, likening their plight to that of a typical imperial colony.
The statement lamented that despite being the rightful inheritors of their land for millennia, the Baloch people live as refugees in their own territory, subjected to severe restrictions and threats. It outlined a litany of abuses including enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, forced displacements, and military operations, describing them as methods used to ‘massacre’ the Baloch people.
Central to the committee’s grievances is Gwadar, a key hub in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which it accused of lacking essential services such as clean water and reliable electricity. It pointed out that local fishermen are losing their livelihoods, while residents endure daily harassment and checkpoints in what has become a heavily militarized zone.
The BYC argued that Pakistan prioritizes Balochistan’s land and resources over the welfare of its people, asserting that megaprojects like CPEC serve to exploit rather than benefit the Baloch population. It alleged that these initiatives have exacerbated persecution against Baloch communities, transforming the entire region into what it described as a security-driven prison, severely deteriorating their quality of life.
‘However, now, we, the Baloch people, will no longer remain silent against the Baloch genocide and our exploitation,’ the statement declared defiantly. It announced plans to launch a public movement against what it termed as the ‘Baloch genocide’ and the exploitation of Baloch resources under the guise of megaprojects.
The committee’s objective is to confront both the Pakistani state and international stakeholders, including China, directly implicated in Baloch suffering. ‘We want to make it clear to the state of Pakistan and all countries involved directly or indirectly in the Baloch genocide and the exploitation of Baloch resources that we will no longer tolerate genocide on our land under any circumstances,’ the statement concluded. It underscored the urgent need for an end to Baloch persecution and the recognition of Baloch national rights as non-negotiable demands.
Doubts Revealed
Baloch Yakjehti Committee -: The Baloch Yakjehti Committee is a group that works to protect the rights and interests of the Baloch people, who live in the Balochistan region.
Exploitation -: Exploitation means taking unfair advantage of something or someone. In this case, it refers to Pakistan and China using Balochistan’s resources without giving fair benefits to the local people.
Balochistan -: Balochistan is a region in Pakistan that is rich in natural resources like gas and minerals. It is home to the Baloch people.
Imperial Megaprojects -: Imperial Megaprojects are large-scale projects that are often controlled by powerful countries or companies, sometimes at the expense of local communities.
Enforced disappearances -: Enforced disappearances happen when people are secretly taken away by authorities or groups, and their whereabouts are kept hidden.
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) -: The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a major project aimed at improving trade routes between China and Pakistan, involving roads, railways, and other infrastructure.
Baloch genocide -: Baloch genocide refers to the belief that the Baloch people are being systematically oppressed and harmed, to the point of trying to eliminate their culture and existence.
