'Pakistan control limited to Quetta': Razzak Baloch makes explosive revelations about Balochistan independence movement

With Islamabad still reeling under the decisive blow dealt by India during Operation Sindoor, the Baloch freedom movement is taking advantage of the situation and making bold moves to break away from Pakistan. Prominent Baloch leaders, including Mir Yar Baloch, have declared independence of the 'Republic of Balochistan', appealing to India and the United Nations for recognition and support. The independence announcement, trending widely on social media, symbolises a coordinated push for sovereignty and a rejection of Pakistan's authority, with calls for international peacekeeping forces and the withdrawal of Pakistani security personnel from Balochistan.Meanwhile, Razzak Baloch, secretary general of the Baloch American Congress, has made an explosive claim that Pakistani authorities are no longer in control of vast swathes of the Baloch region."Pakistani forces cannot even leave Quetta after dark," Baloch told TAG TV. He pointed out that even elected Pakistani officials have admitted to this situation, noting the military avoids patrolling from 5 pm to 5 am due to security fears. Razzak Baloch has said that Pakistan has lost control over 70–80 percent of the region.Razzak also urged global powers, especially India and the United States, to support the Baloch struggle. "If India supports us, our doors will open,” he said. He warned that delays in support would only strengthen what he described as a “barbaric army,” affecting the region’s stability.Baloch ended with a stark warning, saying it would be wiser for the Pakistani army to withdraw with dignity rather than face a situation like Bangladesh, where only their boots were left behind. He called for peace, regional stability, and an immediate end to military oppression across Pakistan’s provinces.The recent declarations are rooted in decades of grievances over military repression, enforced disappearances, and exploitation of the region's natural resources. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), under leaders like Bashir Zaib, has intensified armed resistance, targeting Pakistani military and Chinese projects linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. A few days earlier, Baloch activist Mir Yar Baloch has claimed independence from Pakistan. “Balochistan is not Pakistan,” he wrote on social media, where hashtags like Republic of Balochistan trended alongside photos of proposed national flags and maps.Mir had also voiced support for India amid tensions with Pakistan and China. Referring to India’s Operation Sindoor after the Pahalgam terror attack, he said, “You are not alone, Narendra Modi. You have the backing of 60 million Baloch patriots.”Also read: 'We're not Pakistani': Baloch leader declares independence, has this request from IndiansThe Baloch independence movement has deep historical roots, tracing back to 1947, when the princely state of Kalat briefly declared independence following the partition of British India. In 1948, it was forcibly annexed by Pakistan, a move that Baloch nationalists have never accepted.Activists argue that Islamabad has exploited the province’s gas and mineral wealth while keeping locals in poverty. Balochistan remains Pakistan’s poorest province, with limited infrastructure and media access. Years of conflict have left a troubling record of human rights abuses, including enforced disappearances and killings.