We are no longer alone, says rebel Baloch leader

Rebel Baloch leader Mazdak Dilshad Baloch on Saturday thanked India for its support to his cause, saying it meant that they were "no longer alone".

Participating in a seminar on "Baloch Nationality" at the RSS-backed India Policy Foundation (IPF), he told the gathering, which included top journalists, former diplomats and retired armed forces officers that their's was "the strongest movement of Balochistan; it is a grass root movement run by baloch people not by any Khan or tribal leader".

Emphasising the importance of Indian support to Baloch movement, he said: "You do not know how alone we were. But now, we are not alone."

Citing the atrocities meted out to Baloch people by the Pakistani establishment, he said that there is no home in Balochistan which has not sacrificed its member.

"Pakistan army beats our children in school and make them sing the national anthem of Pakistan. I have lived in Pakistan and I can say that the people of Pakistan are no different from Pakistan army."

On the future governance of Balochistan, he said, "We believe in democracy, our traditional tribal system was closer to democracy. Even during the time of the Khan (of Kalat), we had two house parliament. Future Balochistan will be a democracy."

Thanking the people of India, he said: "We want 'Azad' Balochistan. We don't want to be with Pakistan. In last 70 years no Baloch has came to India but today we have come here and I want to thank all of you for your support."

IPF also released a booklet titled "Balochistan - What the world needs to know" edited by Prof Geeta Bhatt of Delhi University.

--IANS

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