Berlin [Germany], August 12 (ANI): The Chairman of the Human Rights Commission of Balochistan (HRCB), Taj Baloch, has blamed the Pakistan Army for carrying out genocide in Balochistan.

"During a military operation, they siege the entire village and abduct men. While leaving the place, they burn the houses. Those picked up by the Army remain disappeared for six months or a year. In some cases, the dead bodies of those abducted were found in a day or two. The Army claims them to be killed in an encounter," Taj Baloch said.

He further said that last year, a total of 1,082 people from Balochistan were abducted and they are still missing, while 5,400 political activists, writers and teachers have been extra-judicially killed.

He also clarified that the figures are just 5 per cent of the cases that are being reported.

He was speaking at an event titled "China's One Belt One Road Initiative - Its adverse impact on Balochistan and the region," which was organised by the European branch of Baloch National Movement (BNM), a Baloch nationalist political group in Berlin on August 11.

"In many cases, the military is encouraging people to join militancy and is later on killing them. The exact figure of those disappeared is still unknown, because not a single house is left uncounted from where a member has not disappeared, not a single house where there is no widow and an orphaned child. People, who are raising voice against the non-availability of drinking water, are also being targetted. This is a violation of human rights," he added.

Taj Baloch categorically said that the human rights violations in Balochistan have risen after the launch of multi-billion dollar China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

"The number of enforced disappearances has risen, because the CPEC is a long highway and if any house lies on its way, they burn it down. When these people go to any other place for a temporary settlement, they are being targetted. They have no food and shelter. Despite the humanitarian crisis, there is hardly any organisation working in Balochistan," Taj Baloch told ANI.

Deputy Convenor of the Baloch National Movement in North America, Nabi Baksh Baloch said, "After the CPEC, the situation is getting worse, but the situation started when Pakistan occupied Balochistan on March 27, 1948. Since then, Pakistan has been targetting doctors, educationalists and other intellectual people. Now, to make the CPEC project successful, Pakistan and China are jointly targetting the Baloch."

In order to provide security to the Chinese facilities, Pakistan is raising special security groups and intensifying Army operations in Balochistan.

China came up with its One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative in 2013, and during the last four years, it has displayed its willingness to follow-through on its plans.

It is gaining traction as more and more countries from around the world are joining the OBOR. This was evident in the meeting held in Beijing this May, where the Chinese President called it the "project of the century".

The OBOR is now being renamed as Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to overcome the limitations of the earlier nomenclature, because it is expected to involve many roads and many belts.

The initiative involves investment of about USD 4 trillion or more as it is in an ever-expanding mode and more and more countries are joining it in the hope of reaping trade and commercial dividends out of massive infrastructure being built around Asia, Europe and Africa to facilitate flow of goods and services. (ANI)


This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI