QUETTA: After the US designated the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its front organisation, The Majeed Brigade (TMB), as foreign terrorist organisations (FTO), a leading human rights activist slammed the decision, stating the Baloch are not the terrorists but a victim of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism.
Baloch human rights defender Mir Yar Baloch stated that Balochistan has endured 78 long years of state-sponsored terrorism, economic plunder, radioactive poisoning from Pakistan's nuclear tests, foreign invasion, and "brutal occupation" by extremist Pakistan.
He said that the people in Balochistan have been falling victim to the IS-Khurasan (IS-K), an offshoot of the terror organisation ISIS, which he called a deadly proxy nurtured by the country's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
Mir mentioned that the IS-K has currently issued a so-called fatwa calling for violence against Baloch political parties and their activists.
"This is yet another stark example of how Pakistan weaponises radical groups to crush legitimate political voices, suppress democratic aspirations, and destabilise the region, " Mir said in a post on X.
The human rights activist emphasised that throughout history, the Baloch people have shown unwavering goodwill towards the US, and during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, they never raised arms against America or the Soviets.
After 9/11, Mir stated NATO supply lines passed through Balochistan, yet not a single attack was carried out by Baloch freedom fighters or civilians on American personnel or convoys.
In contrast, he said that the Pakistani military and the ISI orchestrated "anti-American rallies", chanting "Death to America" while sheltering terrorists.
Mir also stressed that for a decade, Osama bin Laden lived under the protection of Pakistan's military in Abbottabad.