Switzerland not supporting terrorism; Pakistani forces behind human rights abuses: Baloch group

A leading rights group of Balochistan has rejected Pakistan’s allegations that Switzerland is supporting terrorism in the troubled Pakistani province.

“Their assertion of connecting terrorism to Switzerland is ridiculous,” Abdullah Abbas Baloch, the general secretary of Baloch Human Rights Organisation (BHRO), said. The Baloch Human Rights Group has volunteers spread across the Pakistani province and regularly comes out with reports highlighting human rights abuses in the mineral-rich province, which has been witnessing a largely subjugated secessionist movement.

Baloch claimed that it was a diversionary tactic of Pakistan to blame Switzerland, adding that Pakistani forces were responsible for over 300 extrajudicial killings and over 1,000 enforced disappearances in the last six months.

“They are the ones who are involved in terrorist acts in Balochistan,” Baloch said.

“Just two days ago, the body of a mutilated youngster was found in a village in Balochistan. They make these claims against democratic countries like Switzerland even as they censor human rights abuses in Balochistan. There is also a total media blackout that keeps the news from going out,” he added.

Baloch also noted that the development of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor through the mineral-rich restive province was furthering human rights abuses in Balochistan.

“An entire area called Kulwa in Kech district has been cleared to make way for the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Pakistani forces are burning down houses and displacing hundreds with complete impunity,” he claimed. Nearly 500 persons from the region who opposed the Pakistani’s forces’ aggression were abducted, he added.

Valued at $62 billion, the CPEC is a network of transport and electricity projects meant for enhancing connectivity between China and Pakistan. The CPEC starts from the Xinjiang province of China and ends at Gwadar in Pakistan. Part of China’s One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative, the CPEC has stoked controversy for passing through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

The chairman of Pakistan Senate, Mian Raza Rabbani, on Wednesday said that Switzerland’s Ambassador to Pakistan should be expelled from the country over support his support for terrorism in Balochistan.

Pakistan’s Law Minister Zahid Hamid has claimed that the Free Balochistan poster campaign was being run by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA). Hamid has also alleged India’s hand in the Free Balochistan campaign.

“The display of such publicity material is a serious violation of Pakistan’s territorial integrity and of international law and the UN charter. In view of the connections which India maintains with Baloch separatist leaders, and the fact that a large amount of money has been spent, it is obvious that India is behind this campaign,” he was quoted as saying in Pakistani media.

Reacting to allegations against India, Baloch said that New Delhi had a big role to play in the region.

The human rights activist, however, claimed that Indian human rights groups could have played a bigger role in the Baloch freedom struggle and highlight the rights abuses.

“While the issue is gaining international prominence, India can still do more in the region,” he said, adding that Baloch groups held a protest at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly on September 19.