Pakistan: ncing and claims it encourages repression of Balochistan
Pakistan: According to The Balochistan Post, the Baloch National Movement (BNM) has strongly condemned the US Export-Import (EXIM) Bank’s decision to finance the Reko Diq mining project with $1.25 billion, stating that the funding will increase state-led repression in the province and strengthen Pakistan’s hold on Balochistan.
The Balochistan Post reports that the BNM called the US action a breach of international ethics and a support of Pakistan’s exploitation of Baloch resources, expressing “deep concern” about it in its statement. According to the organization, these collaborations are a direct cause of “genocide, enforced disappearances, and plunder of the Baloch nation’s natural wealth.”
In resource-rich regions of Balochistan, the BNM said that the funding package, which was presented as a development effort, would instead open the door for additional military operations, forced civilian relocation, and heightened monitoring. The statement cautioned that rather than fostering regional stability, the United States is “aiding Pakistan’s occupation” via its financial support.
The group also said that Washington needs to acknowledge the historical ramifications of supporting repressive governments as it had previously opposed colonial tyranny. “This decision undermines the Baloch struggle for self-determination and strengthens Pakistan’s repressive apparatus,” said a spokeswoman.
According to The Balochistan Post, he continued, US funding will probably result in the building of more army stations, checkpoints, and security infrastructure tools that are often used to quell unrest in the area.
The BNM called attention to the current humanitarian catastrophe and asked the United States to consider the fact that hundreds of Baloch youngsters are still missing and are purportedly being kept in cruel circumstances in secret military detention facilities.
According to the organization, the relatives of those who went missing “continue to live in perpetual grief, waiting endlessly for their loved ones.” The statement’s conclusion said, “The United States must choose between supporting human rights and endorsing oppression.” “Such assistance doesn’t heal the wounds of the Baloch; it deepens them,” The Balochistan Post stated.