London [UK] February 28, (ANI): Baloch nationalist leader Hyrbyair Marri has accused Pakistan of repeated military aggression against Afghanistan and of occupying Balochistan, in a post on X.
Marri claimed Pakistan has “repeatedly carried out unprovoked airstrikes and drone attacks against Afghan civilians,” calling those actions clear breaches of international law. He said the international community’s silence on what he described as successive assaults on Afghanistan and Balochistan amounts to complicity, giving Islamabad a “free hand” to flout international norms and the rights of Afghans and Baloch.
Addressing the disputed Durand Line, Marri maintained the border is a colonial imposition. He said Afghan historians argue Amir Abdul Rahman Khan never consented to or signed the agreement that created the line, and that Afghanistan has rejected its legitimacy through multiple Loya Jirga (grand council) decisions. He accused Pakistan of treating Afghanistan as a “so-called fifth province,” reflecting long-running tensions over the boundary.
Marri also charged that Pakistan has “illegally and forcibly occupied” Balochistan and is committing war crimes against the Baloch population. He urged Afghans and Baloch to “once again unite in resistance” against what he termed Punjabi domination and territorial violations.
Citing historical ties, Marri pointed to Baloch resistance during British expansion, including fighting in the Bolan Pass and the assault on Kalat that led to the death of Khan Mehrab Khan. He recalled Baloch support for Afghan leader Mirwais Khan Hotak in the early 18th-century struggle with the Safavid Empire, referencing battles such as Gulnabad and the Siege of Isfahan as examples of historical cooperation.
Marri argued an independent Balochistan would keep peaceful relations with neighbours, notably Afghanistan and India. He said Pakistan’s closure of airspace during India-Pakistan tensions in May 2025—much of which he described as over Balochistan—caused major economic losses. A “free Balochistan,” he insisted, would not weaponize airspace or permit its territory to be used for attacks on neighbours.
He also criticised the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and several Muslim-majority states for selective responses, saying they condemned remarks by the US Ambassador to Israel about territorial claims but remained silent on what he termed the occupations of Balochistan and Kurdistan and alleged displacement and killings in those regions. (ANI)
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