London, February 28 (ANI) — Baloch nationalist leader Hyrbyair Marri has accused Pakistan of carrying out repeated military attacks on Afghanistan and of occupying Balochistan, in a post on X.
Marri alleged that Pakistan has “repeatedly carried out unprovoked airstrikes and drone attacks against Afghan civilians,” actions he described as clear violations of international law. He said the international community’s lack of response to what he called successive assaults on Afghanistan and Balochistan amounts to complicity, effectively giving Islamabad a free hand to ignore international norms and the rights of Afghans and Baloch.
On the disputed Durand Line, Marri called the boundary a colonial imposition. He cited Afghan historians who, he said, maintain Amir Abdul Rahman Khan never consented to or signed the agreement that established the line, and noted that Afghanistan has, in his view, rejected the border’s legitimacy through several Loya Jirga (grand council) decisions. He accused Pakistan of treating Afghanistan like a “so‑called fifth province,” reflecting long‑standing tensions over the frontier.
Marri further charged that Pakistan has “illegally and forcibly occupied” Balochistan and is committing war crimes against the Baloch people. He urged Afghans and Baloch to “once again unite in resistance” against what he characterized as Punjabi domination and territorial violations.
Drawing on historical ties, Marri recalled Baloch resistance during British expansion, including fighting at the Bolan Pass and the assault on Kalat that he said resulted in the death of Khan Mehrab Khan. He also pointed to earlier cooperation with Afghan forces, noting Baloch support for Mirwais Khan Hotak in the early 18th century during conflicts with the Safavid Empire, and referencing battles such as Gulnabad and the Siege of Isfahan.
Marri argued that an independent Balochistan would maintain peaceful relations with neighboring states, including Afghanistan and India. He criticized Pakistan’s decision to close airspace during India‑Pakistan tensions in May 2025—an action he said caused significant economic losses—and maintained that a sovereign Balochistan would not militarize or permit its airspace to be used for attacks on neighbours.
He also criticized the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and several Muslim‑majority countries for selective responses, saying they condemned remarks by the US Ambassador to Israel about territorial claims while remaining silent, in his view, on alleged occupations of Balochistan and Kurdistan and on reported displacement and killings in those regions.
(ANI)
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