World must consider Balochistan's condition before joining OBOR initiative: Baloch leader

Baloch Republican Party (BRP) member from Germany, Ashraf Sherjan has advised countries joining China's the One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative, to first consider the situation in Balochistan before taking any step further.

"I would request all other countries to consider the situation of Balochistan before joining the OBOR project," Sherjan said.

Asserting that the OBOR initiative is almost linked with the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Sherjan said the people and leaders of Balochistan have already rejected the CPEC project.

He further said that the CPEC is not in the interest of people of Balochistan but only for people of Punjab province and Pakistan.

"We the people of Balochistan have even rejected Pakistan and China. So, we request to the countries that are joining this OBOR initiative, we want to inform them before they take any step forward for OBOR that please considered the situation in Balochistan and see what is happening in Balochistan. Just to make China happy due to the CPEC, Pakistan is already killing the people of Balochistan," he said.

Sherjan added that a slow motion of Balochistan genocide is going on just because of the CPEC.

"But in between interest of China and in interest of Pakistan and for the people of Balochistan, there is no benefit and no interest in this project," he said.

He asserted that Baloch leaders in exile have been protesting against the CPEC and they will continue to do so against Pakistan and China.

"So, I and the Baloch nation request to countries which are joining the OBOR that they will be on the losing side. So better don't waste your time, don't waste your energy and don't waste your money on the OBOR," he said.

Sherjan also appreciated India for skipping the OBOR summit in Beijing beginning today.

Baloch people and activists have been consistently protesting against the CPEC, alleging that Pakistan is only concerned about exploiting the resources of Balochistan for Beijing and its advantage.

Considered to be a part of China's One Belt, One Road initiative, the USD 51 billion CPEC will cover significant parts of Balochistan, Sindh and the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).