Balochistan declares independence, yet to be recognised as independent state
A statement regarding the declaration of Balochistan’s independence from Pakistan has sparked discussion on social media. A statement published in the name of the “Republic of Balochistan” has claimed that the new administration controls 85 percent of the territory and that they have adopted their own national flag, national anthem, currency, and system of governance. However, neither the Pakistani government nor any international organization has officially recognized this claim.
On June 15, a post from a personal Facebook profile read, “Officially, Balochistan is an independent state from today! Pakistan was broken apart.” Posts were made with the same claim from multiple (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) personal Facebook profiles.
Upon verification, it is seen that on July 13, prominent Baloch leader and human rights activist Mir Yar Baloch posted a statement from his verified X account, writing in one part of the caption, “BREAKINGN NEWS The Republic of Balochistan’s Defense and Security Forces Have Secured 85% of Balochistan’s Territory” (verbatim). The statement in this post declared Balochistan’s independence. One part of the statement read, “Balochistan has declared its independence, adopted its national anthem, ‘Ma Chukain Balochani,’ introduced its national flag, established its own currency the ‘Balochi Falus’ and now exercises control over 85% of the territory of Balochistan.”
Following the publication of the statement, multiple (1, 2, 3, 4) Indian media outlets published reports citing it. The Sunday Guardian’s report stated, “A viral letter from the ‘Republic of Balochistan’ has claimed independence, a new flag, and currency, but officials have not verified the authenticity of this declaration.”
What the statement says
The statement published regarding the declaration of Balochistan’s independence has “The Republic of Balochistan” written at the top. On the top right side of the statement, the logo of The Republic of Balochistan is visible. Nowhere in the statement was the name of any organization or any leader seen. At the end of the declaration, it was stated, “The time has come for the free world to recognize the independence of the Republic of Balochistan and help open a new chapter of regional stability bringing an end to decades of Pakistan’s hostility, nuclear blackmail, and extremism against our nieghboring countries.” At the end of the statement as well, only “The Republic of Balochistan” is written.
History of Balochistan’s declaration of independence
The Baloch movement has been ongoing since 1947. After the partition of British India, the then-princely state of “Kalat”, which comprised a large part of present-day Balochistan, initially declared independence. However, in 1948, this region was incorporated into Pakistan; which many Baloch leaders and historians consider forced and illegal.
Since then, at least five major mass uprisings have taken place in Balochistan against the central government of Pakistan, of which the current phase of rebellion has been ongoing since 2003. In these movements, political activism alongside armed resistance played a role, where organizations like the Baloch Students Organization, the Balochistan Liberation Army, and the Balochistan Liberation Front are playing significant roles.
In continuation of this movement, on May 14, 2025, Baloch leaders issued a declaration seeking international recognition of Balochistan as an independent state and called for the deployment of United Nations peacekeeping forces for the protection of civilians.
For the third time, the independence of Balochistan was declared once again on July 13. However, despite the declaration of independence, no official statement regarding this has come from Pakistan, the United Nations, or any other state as of yet, nor has any state recognized Balochistan as an independent state.
