'PM Modi has given hope to Baloch freedom fighters'

Prof Naela Quadri Baloch hopes that PM Modi's message of goodwill in his I-Day speech signals support from the Indian government in their fight for independence

Professor Naela Quadri Baloch

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's outreach to Balochistan in his Independence Day speech may have rattled Pakistan, but it continues to give hope to the Baloch freedom fighters, who now hope that words will translate into action from the Indian government.

"Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a strong hope to the independence struggle of Balochistan, whereas previous Indian governments did nothing for us," said Prof Naela Quadri Baloch, one of the leaders of the Baloch freedom struggle and president of the World Baloch Women's Forum.

Genocide
"Pakistanis take our women, kill our men and children. More than 31,000 Baloch people are missing from the geography which is controlled by Pakistan," said Quadri, whose husband is also a captive of the Pakistan Army.

She alleged that the Pakistan army was systematically killing Baloch people, including local Hindus, using chemical weapons, gas and guns.

Speaking at the Mumbai Press Club yesterday, Quadri said what had hurt the Baloch freedom fighters was that although the public perception was that they had support from the Indian government and its agencies like the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), though no Indian leader or government has ever gone on record to say that they advocate the cause of Baloch freedom.

"However, what Mr Modi said and what external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj said in her speech has made our freedom struggle more serious," said Quadri adding that Modi's moral intervention has changed the scenario in Balochistan.

In India's interests too
Quadri further added that the current government has a huge mandate and supporting the Baloch struggle is in the best interest of India as well. "Indian people support us and we want to make this people-to-people relation sustainable. We know that when people of this country will support us, the Indian government too will support our cause."

"People say RAW is there (in Balochistan)? But we say if RAW is there, why doesn't the Indian government say so? We have been telling the Indian government to say it if they really support us. Are we fools?" she said.

Kashmir separate issue
Modi had merely made a passing reference to Balochistan in his speech, but Pakistan immediately retaliated by raking up the Kashmir issue in international circles. However, Quadri stated: "This is about our freedom struggle, our independence. It is not at all related to the Kashmir issue. Kashmir is your problem."

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