The Irish government has acknowledged growing concerns over the detention of civil society activists in Balochistan and reaffirmed its commitment to monitoring the human rights situation in the region.
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Harris, responded to a parliamentary question from Paul Murphy T.D. on Tuesday, 13 May, regarding the arrests of several Baloch human rights activists, including Dr. Mahrang Baloch, Beebow Baloch, Gullzadi Baloch, Bebarg Baloch, and Sibghatullah Shaji.
In his written reply, Minister Harris stated that Ireland is aware of the recent arrests and ongoing unrest in Balochistan. He confirmed that the Irish Embassy in Islamabad is closely monitoring the situation and has engaged with the EU Delegation and like-minded international partners to determine the most effective diplomatic response.
“Ireland’s commitment to the promotion and protection of universal human rights remains clear,” Harris said, highlighting Ireland’s focus on freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, association, and political participation. He emphasized that these principles underpin Ireland’s bilateral and multilateral engagement with Pakistan.
The Minister also noted that human rights remain central to EU-Pakistan relations. He referenced the concerns raised during the 14th EU-Pakistan Joint Commission held in November 2024, where the EU-Pakistan Sub-Group on Democracy, Governance, Rule of Law, and Human Rights addressed several critical issues. He added that such human rights concerns are also integral to trade discussions, particularly in the context of the GSP+ trade preferences afforded to Pakistan.
The continued imprisonment of activists in Balochistan has drawn international attention from human rights organisations, who allege that enforced disappearances, intimidation, and arbitrary detention are being used to silence dissent in the region.