A prominent Baloch leader has written to India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, seeking New Delhi’s moral and diplomatic support against what he described as systematic repression by the Pakistani state in Balochistan. The letter has drawn attention to long-standing allegations of human rights abuses by Pakistan’s military and security agencies in the resource-rich but conflict-ridden province.

In the communication, the Baloch leader accused Pakistan of carrying out enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests and collective punishment of civilians under the guise of counter-insurgency operations. He alleged that generations of Baloch people have been denied political rights, economic opportunities and control over their natural resources, despite Balochistan being rich in gas, minerals and strategic coastline.

The letter reportedly urges India to raise the issue of Balochistan at international forums and to support an independent investigation into alleged abuses by Pakistani forces. It argues that Pakistan’s internal policies toward Balochistan expose what the writer called Islamabad’s “double standards” on human rights, particularly when Pakistan attempts to internationalise issues involving India.

Critics of Pakistan’s Balochistan policy have long maintained that the province has been treated as a security colony rather than a political partner, with heavy militarisation suppressing dissent instead of addressing genuine grievances. Human rights organisations have documented repeated claims of missing persons, mass graves and intimidation of journalists and activists in the region.

The appeal to India comes at a time when Pakistan is already facing international criticism over shrinking civil liberties, military dominance in politics and economic mismanagement. Analysts say such letters further complicate Pakistan’s global image, especially as it seeks foreign investment and international financial assistance. Islamabad has consistently denied allegations of abuses in Balochistan, blaming unrest on “foreign-backed militants.” However, critics argue that this narrative avoids accountability and ignores decades of political exclusion and economic exploitation.

The letter to Jaishankar underscores growing frustration among Baloch leaders and highlights how Pakistan’s internal conflicts are increasingly spilling onto the international stage. For Pakistan, the renewed spotlight on Balochistan reinforces uncomfortable questions about governance, federalism and the military’s unchecked role questions that continue to haunt the country’s credibility at home and abroad.

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