WE ARE FIGHTING FOR FREEDOM, SAYS DIL MURAD BALOCH OF BNM

‘Our movement continues to progress based on its foundational principles and evolutionary process,’ says Dil Murad Baloch, the Secretary General of the Baloch National Movement.

- ABHINANDAN MISHRA

Dil Murad Baloch, the Secretary General of D the Baloch National Movement (BNM), the largest political party advocating for the independence of Balochistan, spoke to The Sunday Guardian about why Balochistan and its people are looking towards Delhi and why Balochistan should not be seen just through the prism of its strategic importance. Question 1: In his 2016 Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the human rights abuses in Balochistan, drawing international attention to the issue.

Do you feel this acknowledgement had any tangible impact on the Baloch movement or global perceptions of the struggle? What has changed since then? Dil Murad Baloch: I do not agree with the notion that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech brought significant international attention to the Baloch issue, as the Baloch movement had already been mentioned several times in the global media before 2016. We had hoped that, following this statement, India, along with other countries, would take the issue of Balochistan to international forums like the United Nations, much like Pakistan consistently places the Kashmir issue at the top of its agenda in every UN session. If the Baloch national issue were truly a part of the Indian government's policy, it would not have been limited to a single sentence, and the nature of the movement itself might have transformed.

Had this been part of India's official policy, it could have had a profoundly positive impact on the Baloch movement. A strong stance from a major state like India in favour of the Baloch cause would have been immensely beneficial to us.

Our movement continues to progress based on its foundational principles and evolutionary process. Any current global discourse on the Baloch issue is a result of the unparalleled sacrifices of the Baloch people, the vision of our leadership, and the relentless efforts of our political workers.