The Baloch National Movement (BNM) organized the 12th Balochistan International Conference at the Geneva Press Club, coinciding with the 63rd session of the UN Human Rights Council. The event featured discussions on the human rights situation in Balochistan, enforced disappearances, the arrest of political activists, natural resources, the right to self-determination, and the region’s political future.
The conference was titled “Occupied Balochistan at a Crossroads: Human Rights, Justice, and the Struggle for Freedom – A Tribute to the Legacy of Chairman Zubair Baloch.”
In addition to Baloch political activists and human rights representatives, the conference was attended by representatives from Sindhi, Pashtun, Afghan, Kashmiri, and Gilgit-Baltistan communities. Human rights experts from Europe, a British Member of Parliament, and journalists also addressed the gathering. The conference was part of the BNM’s three-day Geneva campaign, during which the organization highlighted the situation in Balochistan to global institutions and international representatives. Speakers at the conference included Dr. Naseem Baloch, Chairman of the Baloch National Movement (BNM); Manzoor Pashteen, leader of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM); John McDonnell, British Labour MP and former Shadow Chancellor; Dr. Lakhu Lohana, a Sindhi nationalist leader and prominent figure in the World Sindhi Congress; Jamal Baloch, media coordinator for ‘Paank’ (the BNM’s human rights wing); Sohail Ahmed Abro, Chairman of the Jeay Sindh Freedom Movement; Sherbaz Khan, representative of the Workers Party Gilgit-Baltistan; Dr. Ghafoor Lewal, Afghan author, writer, and former Afghan ambassador to Iran; Antonio Stango, President of the Italian Federation for Human Rights (FIDU) and Professor of International Organizations and Human Rights at Rome Link Campus University; and journalist Shahid Qazi from Balochistan. The conference was hosted by BNM members Mehra Baloch and Saleem Baloch.
Dr. Naseem Baloch: There is a human being behind every report and statistic regarding Balochistan
In the keynote address, BNM Chairman Dr. Naseem Baloch stated that this gathering was not merely another political meeting, but a voice for the human lives that reflect the reality of the situation in Balochistan.
He remarked that behind every report, every photograph, and every statistic concerning Balochistan, there lies a human being.
According to him, a mother waits for the return of her forcibly disappeared son, a child grows up without a father, and families stand at prison gates asking the question: “Where is our loved one?”
Dr. Naseem Baloch also paid tribute to Dr. Abdul Rasheed—known as Dr. Nokap Baloch—a member of the BNM Central Committee who was killed by agents of the Pakistani army on September 10. He stated that armed individuals arrived posing as patients and killed the very person whose vocation was to treat others.
Citing the political struggle and ideology of the martyred Chairman Zubair Baloch, he noted that Baloch was targeted for advocating national liberation, rejecting occupation, and fostering political consciousness among the youth.
According to him, while the enemy snatched Zubair Baloch away from them, they could not take away his political vision.
Dr. Naseem Baloch also mentioned the life imprisonment sentences handed down to Dr. Mahrang Baloch, Sibghatullah Shah Ji, and Gulzadi Baloch. He asserted that the BNM’s political stance is one of an independent and sovereign Balochistan, and that the struggle for human rights cannot be separated from the struggle for national liberation.
In his address, he presented the humanitarian crisis in Balochistan not merely through statistics, but by highlighting the families and individuals directly affected by these circumstances.
Manzoor Pashteen: Those raising peaceful voices are being handed prison terms and life sentences.
Manzoor Pashteen, leader of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), addressed the conference via video link.
Referring to Mahrang Baloch, Bibo Baloch, Gulzadi Baloch, Bebagar Baloch, Sibghatullah Baloch, and other activists, he stated that their only “crime” was raising a peaceful voice.
According to him, the state has imprisoned them and sentenced them to life imprisonment.
Manzoor Pashteen stated that Baloch youth are being subjected to enforced disappearances daily, while women and children in their homes are falling victim to aerial attacks. He noted that those who raise questions regarding natural resources are labeled as terrorists and either jailed or subjected to enforced disappearance. Regarding the Pashtun regions, he highlighted the plight of over 200,000 affected people and cited the thousands of deaths and disappearances. According to him, 72 infants—aged one year or younger—were killed in military drone strikes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during 2025 and 2026.
Addressing Europe, he stated that if taking a major political step is not feasible, then at the very least, no further funds or weapons should be supplied to such a state.
Describing the Pakistani Prime Minister as a sycophant of Trump, he remarked that appeasing a single individual is being prioritized over the lives of hundreds of thousands of people.
John McDonnell: Britain Should Recognize the Baloch People’s Right to Self-Determination
John McDonnell, a British Labour Party MP and former Shadow Chancellor, addressed the conference via video link. He has represented Hayes and Harlington since 1997.
He stated that Britain’s colonial history places a special responsibility upon it to acknowledge the Baloch people’s demands for peace, justice, and the right to self-determination.
McDonnell affirmed that he would continue to provide political and diplomatic support in the UK to Baloch individuals affected by Pakistani oppression.
Referring to new restrictions, he noted that they have exacerbated the difficulties faced by asylum seekers; as he put it, some people seek asylum because their lives are in danger.
He also acknowledged that changing British policy is not easy, given the relationship between London and Islamabad. However, he emphasized the need for an extensive dialogue with the new leadership regarding immediate issues and civil liberties.
Dr. Lakhu Lohana: Balochistan Is Not at a Crossroads; It Is on the Path to Independence
Dr. Lakhu Lohana, a Sindhi nationalist leader formerly associated with the World Sindhi Congress, took issue with part of the conference’s title, stating that Balochistan is not at a crossroads but is instead on the path to independence.
He remarked that the “night of subjugation” fell upon Balochistan on March 27, 1948, adding, “That night has not ended; it is growing darker.” Highlighting Balochistan’s natural resources, Dr. Lakhu Lohana stated that despite the presence of gold, copper, coal, gas, and oil, poverty and malnutrition persist in the region, alongside high rates of maternal and infant mortality.
Citing the example of Sui gas, he noted that while vast quantities of gas have been extracted, women still have to travel for miles just to fetch water.
He questioned how many more bodies from Balochistan must bleed before the world acknowledges the atrocities taking place and the need to halt them.
Inviting Sindh and Balochistan to embark on a shared political journey, he asserted that Balochistan is not at a crossroads but is on the path to freedom.
Paank: 485 Enforced Disappearances and 181 Deaths Reported in Six Months
At the conference, Jamal Baloch—the media coordinator for Paank, a Balochistan-based human rights organization—presented data from the group’s documented report.
According to Jamal Baloch, Paank received reports of 485 enforced disappearances and 181 extrajudicial killings over the past six months. He noted that the disappearances of 32 women and children were also recorded.
He clarified that these figures represent only the incidents reported to Paank, as many families refrain from reporting such events due to threats.
Based on the six-month data, the figures indicate a monthly average of 81 enforced disappearances, with an average of 30 of the missing individuals being killed. The monthly averages and reported figures presented by Paank were also highlighted in external reporting on September 25.
Jamal Baloch also addressed the issue of drone strikes and aerial bombardment in Balochistan. According to him, six people—including three children—were killed in such attacks last month. He noted that a 285-kilogram bomb was used in one of the attacks.
Regarding political activists, he stated that they are first subjected to enforced disappearance, later shown as arrested, and forced to read scripted statements on the media.
He declared, “We have the right to live. We want to be free. We have the right to be in our schools.”
Sohail Ahmed Abro: Referendums should be held in Balochistan, Sindh, and other regions.
Sohail Ahmed Abro, Chairman of the Jeay Sindh Freedom Movement, stated that Balochistan remained an independent state for centuries before falling under military occupation on March 27, 1948.
He remarked that the state prioritizes mineral resources and land over the people.
Abro stated that over 30,000 Baloch individuals have been subjected to enforced disappearance, while more than 8,000 people have been killed over the years. He also referred to the aerial bombardment in Surab.
Describing the Sindhi, Baloch, Pashtun, Kashmiri, Gilgiti-Balti, and Saraiki peoples as nations oppressed by the same occupation, he proposed the adoption of a joint strategy.
He demanded that the United Nations conduct referendums in Balochistan, Sindh, Pakhtunkhwa, Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and the Saraiki region.
Concluding his address, he reiterated the words of G.M. Syed: “Freedom is our right; freedom is possible; and one day, we will achieve freedom.” Sherbaz Khan: Expression of Solidarity from Gilgit-Baltistan
Sherbaz Khan, a representative of the Workers Party Gilgit-Baltistan, addressed the conference and expressed solidarity with other oppressed nations of the region.
He voiced solidarity with the people of Gilgit-Baltistan and with the nations in the region that are struggling for their rights and political demands.
Dr. Ghafoor Lewal: The world is not yet properly hearing about these issues
Dr. Ghafoor Lewal—an Afghan author, writer, and former Afghan ambassador to Iran—addressed the conference via video link.
He stated that human rights violations in Balochistan and Pashtun regions have not yet been properly understood at the global level.
According to him, families have lost loved ones; women and children are abducted from their homes, and their tortured bodies are discovered later. Thousands remain victims of enforced disappearance.
He noted that the issue is not merely one of human rights violations; the world is also not fully aware of these people’s demands or the reasons behind their sacrifices.
Dr. Ghafoor Lewal highlighted two fronts in this regard: one involves raising awareness among the people themselves about their rights, while the other entails conveying credible information to the international community.
He remarked that those living under duress cannot undertake this task themselves; therefore, intellectuals, journalists, and communities in exile must become their voice.
He emphasized that this is not just a struggle for facts; it is a struggle for an audience, a struggle for the truth, a struggle for education, and a struggle to ensure a voice is heard.
Antonio Stango: Many nations have limited access to international institutions
Antonio Stango—President of the Italian Federation for Human Rights (FIDU) and Professor of International Organizations and Human Rights at Rome Link Campus University—discussed the global human rights system and the reality of its practical application.
He observed that the concept of human rights and the reality of human rights violations are drifting further apart. According to him, when representatives of nations deprived of collective rights attend United Nations meetings, some government representatives label them terrorists, asserting that they belong in prison rather than at such forums.
He noted that this conference is being held at the Geneva Press Club rather than at the Palais des Nations because certain governments oppose such meetings within the United Nations.
Antonio Stango concurred with the conference’s stance that sustainable peace is impossible without justice, and reconciliation cannot occur without trust.
Describing the International Criminal Court in The Hague as a tribunal for serious international crimes rather than a political court, he emphasized that international justice must be allowed to function.
Shahid Qazi: The Balochistan issue cannot be viewed solely through a security lens.
Shahid Qazi, a journalist from Balochistan—who has hosted the program “The Unmuted Voice” and previously worked with NBC News and ITV—discussed the political and humanitarian dimensions of the Balochistan issue.
He stated that the Balochistan issue has long been portrayed exclusively from a security perspective, whereas its humanitarian and political aspects cannot be overlooked.
He argued that student protests, the search for a missing son, and demands for justice are not threats to national security but rather issues of human rights.
In his words, death brings grief, whereas enforced disappearance brings uncertainty.
He remarked that while Balochistan’s natural resources are extracted, the lives of the local people remain unchanged; if the dignity of the people is disregarded, no seaport can serve as a symbol of prosperity. He urged the international community not to accept any claim blindly, but rather to listen, investigate, and verify.
According to him, the truth does not fear transparency.
He stated that if the disappearance of an individual in Europe is considered a significant issue, then disappearances in Balochistan must also be treated as such; and if the right to freedom of expression exists in Geneva, it should also exist in Quetta.
He concluded his address with the words: “Fear will hold you captive; hope will set you free.”
Conference Conclusion: Emphasis on Viewing Human Rights, Justice, and Political Future as Interconnected
Throughout the conference, the situation in Balochistan was presented through the lens of interconnected issues—spanning human rights, enforced disappearances, the arrest of political activists, natural resources, justice, the right to self-determination, and the region’s political future.
In their addresses, speakers highlighted the challenges facing not only Balochistan but also Sindh, Pashtun regions, Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and the Saraiki belt, identifying commonalities regarding political and human rights across these areas.
A consensus emerged among the speakers that issues concerning imprisonment, enforced disappearances, natural resources, and the political future in Balochistan cannot be viewed in isolation from one another.
The conference was dedicated to the political struggle and vision of the late BNM Chairman Zubair Baloch; it served as a platform to present the human rights and political issues of Balochistan to international human rights circles, political representatives, journalists, and other participants gathered in Geneva.
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