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India.com
a day ago
- Business
- India.com
Rs 50100000 crore: Pakistan has become battleground of US and China, they are fighting for.., what is the hidden treasure in Balochistan
US- China Mineral Cold War in Balochistan: We all have witnessed the cold war that was seen between USSR and the United States of America in the 1980s. However, would you believe if we say that there is an ongoing cold war in Asia too. It is easy to see that Pakistan is fast becoming a geopolitical hotspot as global superpowers like the United States and China are trying to grab the resources of the countries and compete for influence. With China and US trying to intensify their presence on Pakistan, the financial near insolvent country now stands at the center of a new strategic rivalry rooted in resources. What's the Mineral Cold War in Balochistan? We all know that Pakistan has trillions of dollors of resources and at the heart of this potential resource power is Balochistan. Balochistan is a resource-rich but unstable province of Pakistan, believed to hold $6 (approximately Rs 50100000 crore in INR)–8 trillion worth of mineral reserves, including rare earth elements like dysprosium, terbium, and yttrium—vital for electronics, green energy, and defense. The global race for these minerals is being dubbed a 'mineral cold war'. China vs. US Interests: Cold war Readers should note that while the US remains cautious due to instability in Balochistan, China has made aggressive inroads through large investments, especially via the $62 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). However, these projects face strong opposition from Baloch rebels, who see them as exploitative. The escalating US-China rivalry over rare earth access has made Pakistan a key player, though mining remains highly risky due to regional unrest. Baloch Yakjehti Committee marks 13th day of Islamabad sit-in Meanwhile, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) announced in a post on X that today is the 13th day in a row of the peaceful sit-in protest occurring in Islamabad, organised by families of individuals who have been forcibly disappeared and detained BYC leaders. As per a report by ANI, the BYC highlighted that, despite intensified intimidation methods from officials, which include monitoring, blocking buses, and recording students, the families are resolute in their determination. (With inputs from agencies)
Hans India
a day ago
- Politics
- Hans India
15-year-old boy abducted in Pakistan's Balochistan as cycle of persecution continues
Quetta: A 15-year-old Baloch teenager was forcibly disappeared by Pakistani security forces from Kech district in Balochistan, amid an ongoing wave of enforced disappearances across the province, said a leading human rights organisation on Tuesday. Raising concerns, Paank, the Baloch National Movement's Human Rights Department, said that on July 24, 15-year-old Qamber Fida was abducted from his house in the Tump tehsil of Kech district in Meerabad. "His abduction without charge or due process is a clear violation of international human rights law and constitutes a crime under the definition of enforced disappearance," the rights body said. Paank strongly denounced the "ongoing crimes against humanity" in Balochistan, including "arbitrary detentions, disappearances, and repression of dissent". The human rights body called on the Pakistani authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Qamber Fida and ensure his safety, saying that "all enforced disappearances must end, and those responsible must be held accountable". "The rights to life, liberty, and security must be upheld without exception. Baloch lives matter, and the world must not stay silent," Paank asserted. Meanwhile, another human rights organisation, Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), on Tuesday, demanded an immediate end to the mental and physical torture of a political activist, Imran Baloch, by the Pakistani authorities in Gwadar Jail of the province. "Baloch political activist Imran Baloch was detained four months ago under the 'Maintenance of Public Order (3 MPO)' and transferred to Gwadani Jail, where he remains imprisoned. Imran Baloch is being deprived of basic human rights in jail. Not only are medical facilities not being provided to him, but Imran is also being subjected to severe mental and physical torture," said a statement issued by BYC. "He is under constant surveillance day and night, and he is kept confined in a single room for 24 hours, where basic necessities such as light, fresh air, and proper food are not available. Imran Baloch is not allowed to meet with his lawyers or family, and he is being kept completely uninformed about his health condition, which has put his life at serious risk," the statement added. The BYC appealed to human rights organisations to take notice of this "inhumane treatment" by Pakistani authorities and play their role in ensuring the "immediate and safe release of Imran Baloch".
Express Tribune
6 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
BYC denounces terror, seeks dialogue
The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) on Thursday reiterated its commitment to a peaceful and democratic struggle, urging both the federal and Balochistan governments to initiate dialogue within the constitutional framework to address the longstanding grievances of the Baloch people. Speaking at a press conference at the Karachi Press Club, BYC central leader Sammi Deen Baloch said her organisation believes in lawful and nonviolent means of protest and has no affiliation with any terrorist activity. "We submit to the Constitution of Pakistan and recognise the state and its institutions," she said. "The BYC is a peaceful political movement, and we are open to dialogue with the federal government, the Balochistan government, or any legitimate representative of the state." Sammi Deen demanded the immediate release of detained political activists and stressed the urgent need for a resolution to the issue of missing persons, which she described as a humanitarian crisis. She also launched the BYC's biannual human rights report, covering the period from January to June 2025, which alleges that 752 individuals were forcibly disappeared across Balochistan in the first half of the year. Of these, 181 were later released, the report claims. Highlighting another grave concern, she condemned a recent case of honour killing in Balochistan that drew widespread outrage after a video of the incident circulated on social media. "Such tragedies are common in the province but often go unreported," she said. "These crimes persist because of a systemic failure. If the state stops the patronage of tribal chieftains, such incidents can be prevented." The BYC leader called on civil society, human rights organisations, and the media to raise their voices for justice, accountability, and the protection of fundamental rights in Balochistan.
Malaysia Sun
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Malaysia Sun
State suppression in Islamabad: Pakistan denies Baloch families' right to protest enforced disappearances
Islamabad [Pakistan], July 19 (ANI): Pakistani authorities have intensified efforts to suppress the demonstration by barring families from reaching the protest site and sealing off roads leading to the Islamabad Press Club, on the fourth consecutive day of a sit-in protest by families of forcibly disappeared persons and detained leaders of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), the BYC reported. Since the protest began, the demonstrators, including women, children, and elderly family members, have been denied the right to set up tents or a proper camp. Despite facing harsh weather conditions ranging from heavy rain to intense heat, they have steadfastly continued their peaceful protest barefoot and without shelter, according to the BYC. The latest move by Pakistani authorities to block access to the protest area reflects a clear attempt to silence the voices of the Baloch community demanding justice for the forcibly disappeared and detained individuals, the committee stated. The BYC condemned the ongoing restrictions on the fundamental right to peaceful assembly and called out the illegal detention of their leaders, describing these actions as part of a systematic campaign by the Pakistani state to suppress Baloch political expression and human rights advocacy. 'The sealing off of roads leading to the Islamabad Press Club is a deliberate effort to crush our peaceful protest and intimidate families seeking answers about their missing loved ones,' the BYC said in a statement. The protest is part of a broader movement highlighting the plight of thousands of Baloch who have reportedly been subjected to enforced disappearances, torture, and extrajudicial killings in Pakistan, as documented by various human rights organisations. The BYC reaffirmed its commitment to continue the sit-in until all detained leaders are released and demands for truth and accountability are met, urging international observers and human rights groups to take note of Pakistan's ongoing violations against the Baloch people. (ANI)
The Wire
13-07-2025
- Politics
- The Wire
Activists In Balochistan Maintain Resolve As Mahrang Baloch Approaches 4 Months In Jail
South Asia As Mahrang and other leaders of the BYC remain in jail, activists say they will continue to challenge the 'bogus' FIRs against them. She demanded accountability from the authorities, asking, 'Who has killed and abducted [the] Baloch?' She stressed that false allegations and spurious charges cannot absolve the state of responsibility. 'It is enough now – we have endured grave injustices and immense hardship,' she said, her voice thick with emotion as she spoke to The Wire. 'Despite everything, we still believe in the constitution and the rule of law. But we don't know whether justice will be served – or if injustice will be our only fate.' Mahrang, a prominent leader from Balochistan and head of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), was arrested on March 22 for holding a protest over the authorities' refusal to hand over several bodies. Officials claimed the deceased were involved in the Jaffar Express attack that same month. However, BYC leaders demanded that DNA tests be conducted and due process followed, rather than allowing the state to quietly bury the bodies. They further alleged that the government had produced the bodies of missing persons, falsely labeling them as terrorists. On July 8, the Anti-Terrorism Court in Quetta – the capital of Balochistan province – ruled that Mahrang and her BYC colleagues Beebow Baloch, Gulzadi Baloch, Bebarg Baloch Sibagatullah Shah and Ghaffar Baloch were to be removed from Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO), which allows law enforcement to detain and arrest people accused of posing a threat to public order. However, they were simultaneously re-arrested under new, allegedly fabricated FIRs, and the court granted police a ten-day remand. Nadia said that since March 22, they had insisted the government unlawfully jailed BYC leaders under Section 3 of the MPO or in fabricated FIRs. 'It took 107 days for the court to recognise that the BYC leaders could not be detained simultaneously under both the MPO and FIRs,' she said. The court eventually ordered the removal of the MPO charges while allowing the FIRs to proceed. Speaking to The Wire, Nadia said the authorities were likely to bring forth multiple FIRs in an attempt to keep the BYC leaders behind bars. Still, she added, they would continue to challenge what she described as 'bogus FIRs'. Mahrang's legal notice to DG ISPR On June 18, Mahrang served a legal notice to Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, director general of the Pakistan armed forces' Inter-Services Public Relations division (DG ISPR), stating that he had made defamatory remarks against her and the BYC during a press conference on May 23 and a speech on June 2. In the notice, she claimed that he had described them as a 'deformed evil face', which she said damaged her reputation. She maintained that the BYC was a peaceful civil rights group and noted that she had recently been nominated for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize. Akhtar Mengal, president of the Balochistan National Party and former chief minister of Balochistan, told The Wire that allegations like those made against Mahrang had long been used against those who questioned Islamabad's policies in the province. 'These accusations have been used against everyone who has challenged the state's injustices,' he said, citing the example of Nawab Akbar Bugti, who was killed in August 2006 during General Pervez Musharraf's military rule. 'Bugti believed in democracy – but he was assassinated for demanding justice.' Mengal warned that if the state continued to ignore the voices of the Baloch, they would be forced to seek other paths. 'It is the state that is pushing the Baloch against the wall,' he said. 'Peaceful voices in Balochistan are being punished. It's not just Mahrang – every Baloch who asks for justice is treated the same way.' Sabiha Baloch, a key organiser of the BYC, told The Wire that the Baloch people had long been victims of state violence and were left helpless. She said that the only recourse available to them was the constitution, through which they demanded justice. 'Those who raise their voices are often labeled either terrorists or anti-state,' she said, adding that BYC has faced such accusations repeatedly. Speaking about Mahrang's legal notice, Sabiha called it a courageous move. 'Mahrang's stance is a bold step. I don't think anyone has ever dared to challenge such a powerful man in such a powerful position,' she said. 'This practice of branding people as anti-state must end.' Sammi Deen Baloch, a recipient of the International Human Rights Award and another key organiser of the BYC, told The Wire that the state's treatment of the Baloch was riddled with contradictions. 'When a Baloch wins an international human rights award, the mainstream media calls us Pakistani,' she said, referring to her own experience when the headlines read like the following: 'Pakistan's Sammi Deen Baloch receives international award for human rights activism.' 'But when the Baloch demand justice, ask for their rights or seek the whereabouts of their loved ones, they are labeled anti-state.' Nadia said her family had endured ongoing violations and injustice, adding that her concerns extended beyond her sister's case. 'Even when I go to the hospital, Vigo vehicles [a pickup truck often used by authorities engaged in covert work] follow me,' she said. According to her, the decision to send the legal notice to the DG ISPR was not an easy one. 'Mahrang took days to reflect before proceeding, especially as the state continued to portray her as anti-state,' she said, calling the DG's speech and press conference 'baseless'. 'Mahrang is in jail, yet she has sent a legal notice to a powerful authority – someone who controls not only the country but Balochistan as well,' Nadia said. 'Her decision sends a message to the state: the Baloch are asking for justice and cannot be silenced by being labeled anti-state.' 'If they have proof, let them present it in court,' she added. 'Mahrang will fight it through legal means. Otherwise, no one has the right to defame her character.' Terrorist groups issue threats as authorities serve notice to silence voices Sabiha further stated that the state was not only labelling Baloch activists as anti-state, but that even terrorist organisations like the Islamic State had issued statements targeting leaders of the BYC, declaring them anti-state and calling for their killing. She said the statement named herself, Mahrang and others, including a local journalist. 'No one in the state has taken notice of these threats,' she said. 'How is it possible that a terrorist group is openly threatening political activists and ordinary citizens, and yet the state remains silent?' Sabiha alleged that the silence from authorities amounted to complicity. 'Now those who seek justice for the Baloch are being targeted by terrorist organisations – and the state's silence is evidence that it is happening with their approval,' she said. Mengal had led a protest rally in March against the arrest of Mahrang and other members of BYC. During the rally in Mastung's Luk Pass, a suicide bomber attempted to attack the protesters. Demonstrators identified the attacker and thwarted the attempt. But the violence was not the only response Mengal faced. After he publicly demanded the release of Mahrang and other BYC members, he received a notice from the Cyber Crime Reporting Unit. Authorities accused him of using his X account to spread false information and glorify a proscribed individual, i.e. Mahrang. Speaking to The Wire, Mengal said that terrorist organisations like the Islamic State were, in his view, linked to the state. 'The Baloch who demand justice are either threatened directly by the state or by state-sponsored militants,' he said. Referring to the suicide attack attempt during his rally, he noted that the government had neither reached out to them about the incident nor launched an investigation. 'Those who believe in democracy are being threatened in multiple ways to silence them,' he said. 'But those who follow the establishment's script – like the Form 45 crowd – face no such threats.' Form 45 refers to the official election result count. 'These threats will not silence the Baloch, and not even Mahrang,' Mengal said. 'We will continue to raise our voices for justice.' Nadia recalled Mahrang's words, saying that when the latter returned from Islamabad, people across Balochistan had welcomed her warmly. 'That was our reality then – and this, too, is our reality now,' she had told Nadia. 'We are in jail merely for demanding justice.' The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
