Dr. Naseem Baloch, chairman of the Baloch National Movement (BNM), has criticized the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad for what he described as its failure to acknowledge serious human rights violations in Balochistan. Responding to the embassy’s statement on social media platform X, he said Pakistan has shut down all democratic avenues for the Baloch people.
The BNM chairman’s scatching remarks came after a social media statement that the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad posted on their X account condemning the Baloch Liberation Army’s (BLA) seizure of the Quetta-bound Jaffar Express train. In the statement, the U.S. Embassy described BLA as a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist group.”
“We extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to the victims, their families, and all those affected by this horrific act. The Pakistani people deserve to live free from violence and fear”, the statement said. “
Dr. Naseem Baloch stated in reply to the U.S. Embassy statement that BNM and other peaceful political organizations advocating for Baloch rights have faced severe repression. Their leaders, he claimed, have been assassinated, forced underground, or compelled into exile. He pointed to the recent case of Gul Zadi, a human rights activist affiliated with the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), who was allegedly abducted by Pakistani forces on Wednesday due to her political activism. Although she was released after several hours, Dr. Baloch called her brief disappearance a blatant act of state terrorism meant to send a message of fear.
Expressing deep concern over the U.S. Embassy’s stance, Dr. Baloch accused Washington of endorsing Pakistan’s “fabricated narratives” while ignoring the worsening human rights situation in Balochistan. He alleged that despite presenting itself as a democracy, Pakistan is engaged in enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and war crimes in the region.
He urged the U.S. and the international community to reject Pakistan’s claims and recognize the Baloch people’s right to self-determination, stating that doing so would be a step toward justice and peace.