Dalbandin, a small but politically significant town in Balochistan, witnessed a rare moment of defiance on the 25th of January 2025. Despite the state-imposed digital blackout, thousands gathered to listen to Dr Mahrang Baloch, central organizer of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) and a powerful voice in the Baloch rights movement. The occasion was Baloch Genocide Remembrance Day, a day dedicated to commemorating the decades of state oppression, enforced disappearances and human rights violations suffered by the Baloch people.
Standing before a determined crowd, Dr Mahrang Baloch did not hold back. Her speech was not merely an address to the Baloch people but a direct and urgent appeal to the international community, foreign investors and human rights organizations.
“Not only Pakistan but also foreign powers and their multinational corporations are actively involved in looting our resources, further intensifying the genocide of the Baloch people.”
With these words, she challenged the global players complicit in Balochistan’s exploitation.
Balochistan: A Land of Untold Suffering
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province, is rich in natural resources yet remains one of the most impoverished regions. The province holds vast reserves of gold, copper, coal, and gas, yet its people reap none of the benefits. Instead, they face brutal crackdowns, enforced disappearances, and systematic oppression.
Families of the disappeared spend years searching for their loved ones, moving from one protest to another, holding up faded photographs and pleading for justice
Since the discovery of gas in Sui in the 1950s, Balochistan’s resources have fuelled the rest of Pakistan while Baloch villages remain without basic amenities. The same exploitation continues with gold and copper from Saindak, coal from Duki, and the deep-sea port of Gwadar. These riches do not benefit the Baloch people but are extracted to fund the very machinery that suppresses them.
China, Pakistan’s closest ally, continues to invest billions in CPEC despite reports of widespread human rights violations in the region, while Saudi Arabia, another key investor, turns a blind eye, prioritizing economic gains. The United States and Europe, though critical of Pakistan on other issues, almost never address Balochistan in their diplomatic engagements.
Dr Mahrang Baloch directly addressed these foreign investors:
“Today is January 25, Baloch Genocide Remembrance Day. BYC has formed a report and a message on the illegal resource exploitation by international companies. This message is directed to all those nations and entities that have chosen to invest in Saindak and Reko Diq projects in Balochistan, a land rich in resources but besieged by the legacy of exploitation and oppression.”
The Saindak and Reko Diq projects, instead of bringing progress, have come to be seen by these activists as symbols of plunder. The revenue generated from these projects is siphoned off, while Balochistan remains mired in poverty.
The so-called economic agreements behind these projects, Mahrang Baloch emphasized, are made not with the consent of the Baloch people.
The Human Cost: Enforced Disappearances and Extrajudicial Killings
One of the most painful aspects of Balochistan’s struggle is the systematic practice of enforced disappearances. Thousands of Baloch men, women, and even children have been abducted by Pakistani security forces, never to be seen again. The Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) has documented thousands of cases, yet the Pakistani state continues to deny its involvement.
Families of the disappeared spend years searching for their loved ones, moving from one protest to another, holding up faded photographs and pleading for justice. Many of those who disappear are later found in mass graves, bearing signs of brutal torture. Others return home broken—physically and mentally—only to live in constant fear.
Dr Mahrang Baloch gave voice to this pain:
“Under the pretext of security for these projects, the Baloch people are subjected to untold atrocities. Entire villages have been razed, families displaced, and lives destroyed to secure areas around these projects.”
Extrajudicial killings have also become a norm in Balochistan. Young activists, poets, and students are abducted, falsely labelled as insurgents, and later found dead. Their bodies tell the story of what they endured—burn marks, broken bones, and gunshot wounds.
“Every dollar you invest fuels this cycle of violence. Every ounce of mineral extracted under your watch is stained with the blood of innocent Baloch people—men, women, and children.”
Violation of Indigenous Rights and International Law
Mahrang Baloch also highlighted the violation of indigenous rights. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) grants indigenous communities the right to self-determination and control over their resources. Yet, Pakistan systematically violates these rights, allowing foreign corporations to exploit Balochistan’s wealth without local consent.
“The Baloch people have the right to control their resources and decide their future. This is not just a moral imperative but a legal and ethical one.”
She called upon international corporations and governments:
“Use your influence to advocate for justice and accountability.”
“Demand an end to human rights abuses committed in the name of security for your projects.”
“Stand not with the oppressors but with the oppressed.”
The Road Ahead: Resistance and Hope
The people of Balochistan are not opposed to investment or development—they demand justice, dignity, and sovereignty.
“We are not opposed to investment. We are not opposed to progress. What we demand is justice. What we demand is respect for our sovereignty and our rights.”
Dr Mahrang Baloch’s speech in Dalbandin was more than a statement of defiance—it was a call to action. The world cannot continue to ignore Balochistan’s plight while reaping the benefits of its resources.
She left the international community with a final warning:
“The future belongs to those who stand on the right side of history. And now, you must choose which side you are on.”
For too long, the voices of the oppressed have been drowned out by the rhetoric of power and profit. But history has shown that no force can silence a people who refuse to be erased.