Baloch Activists Rally Outside UN Headquarters Demanding Independence
Protestors urge UN intervention as Sami Baloch criticizes Pakistan’s neglect of Balochistan, highlighting human rights violations.
New York, Sep 27: Members of the Baloch community staged a protest outside the United Nations headquarters in New York on Friday, demanding independence for the Balochistan region. Demonstrators held banners reading “Free Balochistan” to draw global attention to their cause.
Sami Baloch, leader of the Baloch National Movement, criticized Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for focusing on international peace issues during his UNGA address while ignoring the situation in Balochistan. “The Prime Minister spoke of peace for Palestine, but what about Balochistan? Our people have been forcibly occupied since 1948, facing extrajudicial killings and imprisonment without charges,” Sami Baloch told ANI.
He added, “If Pakistan truly wants regional peace, it must begin with Balochistan. Our leadership and peaceful protestors remain imprisoned, and their voices suppressed. True peace can only be achieved if Balochistan is free.”
During the 80th UN General Assembly, Sharif highlighted issues such as Israel’s actions in Gaza and the expansion of settlements in the West Bank, citing the tragic death of six-year-old Hind Rajab. He also addressed climate change, emphasizing Pakistan’s disproportionate suffering from floods in 2022 and 2025 despite contributing less than 1% to global emissions.
The protest underscores ongoing tensions between the Baloch community’s demands for autonomy and Pakistan’s international diplomacy efforts, drawing attention to human rights concerns in the region.
