Baloch posters in Switzerland to isolate Pakistan more: Husain Haqqani

Former ambassador of Pakistan to United States Husain Haqqani has said that the Baloch posters in Switzerland highlighting atrocities being committed by the Pakistani forces in Balochistan, will pave the way for greater isolation of Islamabad.

"PM Abbasi's statement at UNGA was basically directed at his own supporters inside Pakistan and it had no impact whatsoever at the International level. Unfortunately, Pakistan is headed towards International isolation and its leaders does not want to acknowledge it," Haqqani told ANI.

"I'm somebody who advocates human rights for Balochistan but I m not a supporter of free Balochistan yet I would say that baloch have human rights and the fundamental right to voice whatever they feel," he added.

The ex-envoy said that attempts to try and silence Baloch people inside and outside Pakistan is not conducive to normal relations between Pakistan and the Baloch people.

"I Would also say that the idea of trying to put pressure on Switzerland and demanding that the Swiss Ambassador not come to Pakistan over something as trivial as putting up of the posters in Geneva, will pave the way for greater isolation of Pakistan, will Pakistan expel every ambassador of every country where there are posters put by Balochs, Sindhis, Muhajir," he said.

Pakistani authorities had summoned the Swiss ambassador in Islamabad this week and demanded that a series of Geneva-based posters to "Free Balochistan" be removed.

The summons came in the wake of a publicity campaign recently run in Geneva. Large posters were erected in the city, including on the side of buses, by an organisation demanding freedom for the separatist Balochistan region of south-west Pakistan.

This move by Pakistan came in the wake of the Baloch, Sindhi and other oppressed minorities of Pakistan highlighting their plight through public expressions and demonstrations in Geneva on the sidelines of the the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) meet.

The Pakistan Government also accused the Swiss Government of supporting terrorism.

Reacting to Pakistan's bizarre charge, Baloch and Sindhi leaders, who are organising anti Pakistan protests here, said, "It is ironic that the Pakistan government would accuse the Swiss government of allowing terrorists to use its soil for anti-Pakistan activities.

Earlier, the Balochistan leaders asserted that Pakistan's frustration with 'Free Balochistan' posters, displayed by some Baloch Activists across Geneva, is so evident that now it is trying to crush their peaceful political movement event in the western countries.

In an interview to Times of Geneva, Representative of Balochistan to European Union and United Nations, Mehran Marri and President Balochistan Republican Party, Brahmadagh Bugti categorically said that the posters displayed in Geneva have nothing wrong in it.

"I don't understand why Pakistan is getting frustrated on these posters. If you see at the posters, there are only birds flying and I don't see anything wrong in these posters. These are for peace and prosperity and especially to highlight the Baloch problem internationally to make the international community understand the Baloch problem," Brahmadagh Bugti said.