Dr. Sabiha Baloch, a leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), has condemned potential talks between Saudi Arabia and the Pakistani government to acquire a 15% stake in the Reko Diq mining project in Balochistan. She said any deal struck without the consent of the Baloch people amounts to exploitation of local resources.
In a statement shared on X, Dr. Sabiha argued that such an agreement would violate Article 11 of the Cairo Declaration, as well as Articles 1(2) and 55 of the United Nations Charter. She said that the Baloch, who have “long resisted and fought to protect their resources,” had not been consulted on the matter.
She accused Pakistani officials of using Balochistan’s natural wealth to offset corruption and financial mismanagement, describing it as part of a wider policy of resource extraction and suppression of dissent. Foreign investors in “so-called mega projects,” she said, would be complicit in this exploitation if they proceed without the Baloch people’s approval.
Dr. Sabiha pointed to longstanding ties between the Baloch and Arab nations, rooted in historical friendship and cultural connections. She warned that Saudi Arabia’s potential deal in Reko Diq could be seen as an act of systemic oppression, fueling resentment toward the Kingdom and jeopardizing cultural bonds.
She called on Saudi Arabia to refrain from joining projects that overlook local rights, saying that any agreement bypassing the Baloch people would be unjust and certain to face “strong resistance.” Without their consent, she warned, the deal would be perceived as complicity in the injustices faced by the Baloch.