New Delhi: Three days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi invoked the struggles of Baloch nationalists in Pakistan, in his Independence Day speech, a student leader from the turbulent neighboring region took the occasion of Raksha Bandha to express her gratitude.
Karima Baloch, the chairperson of Baloch Student Organisation, in a video posted on activist Tarek Fatah’s Youtube channel, asked PM Modi to be a brother to Baloch women who have lost their brothers in atrocities inflicted by Pakistan Army in the region, asking him to further their cause on the international forum.
“Hum apni jung khud lad lege, aap bas humari awaaz ban jae (We will fight our own war, you just be our voice),” Karima said, in her message to PM Modi, requesting him to engage the world in a dialogue about the genocide and human rights violations in Balochistan
Karima concluded the video with a message for the Prime Minister in his native language, Gujarati, saying that the Baloch community would be grateful if he stands with them.
Ever since PM Modi’s speech on August 15 mentioned Balochistan, several Baloch leaders have showered praise for his stance on Balochistan.
Khalil Baloch, chairman of the Baloch National Movement, said in a statement that the “policy of indifference towards Pakistan’s war crimes in occupied Balochistan that include both ethnic cleansing and genocide, adapted by the international community is worrying. The Indian Prime Minister’s statement on Balochistan is a positive development.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his Independence Day address, had thanked the people of Balochistan, Gilgit and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir for the goodwill they have shown towards him.
He had last week in an all-party meeting on Kashmir said the “time has come that Pakistan shall have to answer to the world for the atrocities committed by it against the people in Balochistan and PoK”.
His statement about atrocities in Balochistan has hit a nerve with Pakistan, who has now voiced that it would raise the Kashmir issue at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Karima, the first female chairperson of the Baloch Students Organisation as well as its party the Baloch National Front, is currently in Canada.
She reportedly arrived in Canada after escaping a Pakistani military attack in Balochistan.
