WASHINGTON — A prominent Baloch activist has appealed to Bollywood actors and India’s film industry to produce a major film highlighting what he described as Pakistan’s forced occupation of Balochistan and decades of alleged human rights abuses in the region.
Tara Chand, president of the Baloch American Congress, made the appeal in a post on social media platform X, calling on Indian filmmakers to tell what he said is the untold story of Balochistan’s history and ongoing struggle.
“The film should tell the truth that Balochistan became independent and was then forcibly and undemocratically occupied by Pakistan in March 1948,” Chand wrote. “Since that occupation, the Pakistani army has invaded and controlled Balochistan and its regions.”
Chand alleged that Pakistan has, for decades, exploited Balochistan’s vast natural resources while leaving the local population impoverished and marginalized. He accused the Pakistani military of extracting natural gas, minerals, gold, silver, coal, and coastal and marine resources worth billions of dollars, while denying the Baloch people economic benefits and political rights.
According to Chand, resistance to Pakistani rule began immediately after what he termed the region’s forced annexation and has continued in various forms ever since.
“The Baloch have revolted many times against Pakistani rule, with the largest rebellion beginning around 2000, and this resistance continues to this day,” he said, alleging that the Pakistani army has killed large numbers of Baloch civilians and committed serious human rights violations during the conflict.
He further claimed that Pakistani security forces are responsible for widespread enforced disappearances across Balochistan, including the alleged abduction of political activists, lawyers, teachers, doctors, students, and women.
“Thousands of Baloch men and women are languishing in military prisons without due process,” Chand said. “Despite decades of repression, the people of Balochistan continue to fight for their freedom and their homeland.”
Chand added that enforced disappearances continue on a daily basis, with civilians allegedly being abducted and pressured into surrendering, even as the broader Baloch resistance movement remains active.
Last week, the Baloch leader also sought to draw international attention to the situation in Balochistan during observances marking International Human Rights Day. In another post on X, he accused Pakistan’s military of committing serious abuses in the region and claimed that several Baloch activists and leaders have been detained without charges.
“Today is Human Rights Day around the world, and we want to remind the international community that Pakistan’s radical Islamic army has committed serious atrocities in Balochistan,” Chand wrote, alleging that Baloch leaders and thousands of students, professionals, and political workers have been forcibly abducted and taken to secret detention facilities.
Pakistani authorities have repeatedly denied allegations of systematic abuses in Balochistan, stating that security operations in the province are aimed at countering militancy and maintaining law and order. (Source: IANS)
