Balochistan’s most active armed group, Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF), has warned Saudi Arabia to refrain from investing in China Pakistan Economic Corridor.
In a statement released to media on Monday, BLF’s spokesperson Goharam Baloch, said that Saudi Arabia should refrain from partnering with Pakistan to make any investments in Balochistan.
Goharam Baloch said that Balochistan is the land of Baloch people and Baloch are the only owners of its natural resources. ‘Pakistan has forcefully occupied Balochistan and the Baloch nation is struggling against this occupation,’ he said.
BLF’s statement comes only few days after Pakistan’s Information Minister said that Saudi Arabia will invest in China funded multi-billion dollar project China Pakistani Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Addressing a media conference, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry had said that three agreements of grant have been signed with Saudi Arabia and a delegation of Saudi Arabia will reach Pakistan on Sunday. “Saudi wants to bring a major investment in CPEC”, he said while not disclosing the details of the grant agreement.
BLF said that: ‘we want to inform the delegation of Saudi Arabia that they should avoid any investments in Balochistan as long as it is not a free country’.
Goharam Baloch said that in order to quash Baloch nation’s struggle for independence Pakistan is inflicting countless brutalities including forced disappearances, torture and extrajudicial killings. ‘Now in a bid to increase exploitation of Baloch resources, Pakistan is searching for international partners to pump more money in its economy,’ BLF said.
‘China in order to extend its expansive designs made agreements with Pakistan to construct CPEC disregarding the Baloch nation completely. However, due to strong resistance by Baloch nation, CPEC has now become a quagmire for China. Now Pakistan is looking for other international partners including Saudi Arabia so that they are also deceived into this quandary,’ BLF said.
‘However, BLF makes it clear to Saudi Arabia and other countries that they have to align their interests to those of Baloch nation and the most prominent interest of Baloch nation at the time is its independence. All the nations should support the struggle of Balochistan independence,’ Goharam Baloch added.
Goharam Baloch warned that whoever invests in Balochistan before the independence will face strong resistance by Baloch nation.