Pakistan's own bombshell: it's called Balochistan

In the geopolitical silence that has shrouded Pakistan's southwestern region for decades, Balochistan has returned on the international spotlight with explosive force. A vast, rugged territory, rich in natural resources - copper, gas, coal, and gold - yet marked by poverty, political marginalization, and chronic underdevelopment. To ignite the conflict again was the unilateral declaration of independence of the Republic of Balochistan, announced on May 8, 2025, by one of the main figures of the separatist movement, the activist Mir Yar Baloch.

The declaration - shared via social media - was not merely a symbolic act, but an articulated political manifesto, calling for the immediate withdrawal of Pakistani military forces, the deployment of United Nations peacekeeping troops, and the opening of a diplomatic representation of the new state in New Delhi. It was a direct appeal to India, Pakistan’s historical rival, and to the international community, to recognize the legitimacy of a people who, according to independentists, have never identified with the Pakistani state.

Acting as the armed wing of the insurrection is above all the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a paramilitary organization considered terrorist by Islamabad, but believed by many Baloch to be the only force truly capable of opposing the central government's 'colonization' of their territory. Established in the early 2000s, the BLA has its roots lie in the long-standing resentment dating back to Balochistan’s forced annexation to Pakistan in 1948. In that year, following the British withdrawal, the Khanate of Kalat was militarily absorbed despite widespread local opposition.

The BLA defines itself as a national resistance movement advocating for political, ethnic, and economic liberation. Its main goals include:

- Full independence of Balochistan from Pakistan and the establishment of a secular, sovereign state;

- The direct control of natural resources by the Baloch people, with redistribution of the profits to the local population;

- The end to Chinese presence in the region, accused of perpetuating a new economic colonialism through infrastructure projects such as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC);

- The protection of the human and cultural rights of local communities, repressed by decades of authoritarian central governments;

- The fight against ethnic discrimination by Pakistan's Punjabi majority.

In recent months, the group has multiplied its attacks against military and strategic targets. The offensive, dubbed "Operation Herof 2.0", included more than 70 coordinated actions: ambushes on army convoys, temporary occupations of road junctions such as the Ornach Cross in Khuzdar, destruction of military vehicles, and strikes on intelligence posts. Spokesman Jeeyand Baloch stated that these operations are only the beginning of a broader campaign to "liberate Belucian soil from all forms of occupation".

Adding further relevance to the movement was the release of video footages documenting some of these operations. Among the latest casualties are at least 14 Pakistani soldiers, killed in an attack on a military convoy. Other reported incidents include the use of remote-controlled explosives in Kalat, rocket assaults in Panjgur, and the elimination of intelligence agents in Noshki.

Public outrage is also mounting over the Pakistani government's ambiguous role in mining activities in the region. Emblematic is the case of the Reko Diq mine, which contains gold and copper deposits estimated to be worth hundreds of billions of dollars. Yet most of the profits end up almost entirely in the hands of foreign multinational corporations, offering no benefit to local residents. Meanwhile, the port of Gwadar, the crown jewel of the CPEC, has become a symbol of exclusion: barred to locals, militarised and increasingly controlled by outside interests, particularly the Chinese.

This dynamic fuels a strong anti-colonialist sentiment, according to which Islamabad - with the complicity of Beijing - is selling off Balochistan in exchange for foreign capital. The side effects of the mega infrastructure projects, such as the pollution of the coastline and the depletion of groundwater reserves, directly affect traditional activities such as fishing and farming, further aggravating the socio-economic crisis.

Amid this violent and unstable context, there are also signs of social progress. On May 12, 2025, an unprecedented event took place: for the first time, a Hindu woman, Kashish Chaudhary, was appointed Assistant Commissioner of Balochistan. Her nomination, hailed by the provincial Prime Minister Sarfaraz Bugti as a “sign of hope and inclusiveness,” shows that amidst the ruins of war, seeds of justice and equality can still sprout.

But the Baloch struggle is far from being a merely ethnic or localist issue. It is a crucial geopolitical fault line: China is watching with apprehension the growing instability in one of the key provinces of its Belt & Road Initiative; while the United States and India are weighing whether and how to support, even morally, a secession that could weaken Pakistan and shift the regional balance of power.

The lingering question is whether Balochistan, now boldly asserting its sovereignty, will succeed in transforming its rebellion into a recognized state. Or whether its people will continue to live under the shadow of conflict, amidst the mountains of silence and the wreckage of gold.

Mondo Internazionale APS - Riproduzione Riservata ® 2025