Balochistan has 3 main political parties that are striving for Independence and all of them are based out of Europe due to continuous persecution of the Pakistani Establishment. Baloch Republican Party is a legacy party spanning decades in the political landscape of Balochistan. Mark Kinra interviews Mansoor Jan Baloch, a key member of the party’s inner circle and discusses a range of issues, the Party’s stance on the question of Balochistan’s self-determination, the UK Government’s stance towards the question of Balochistan, threats by Pakistan, Nawab Brahumdagh Bugti’s asylum in India, Dr Mahrang Baloch and Sammi Deen’s peaceful protests, Negotiation with Pakistan etc.
Mansoor Jan Baloch sitting on the Chair during a protest in the UK, Photo: Mansoor Jan Baloch
Excerpts of the interview:
MK: Please tell us something about yourself.
MJB: My name is Mansoor Jan Baloch. I am the President of the Baloch Republican Party (BRP) for the United Kingdom, Europe and Gulf Countries Chapter and a member of the BRP’s Central Committee. My role is to raise voice and awareness for the Baloch cause, Baloch have been living under the torturous and murderous regime of Pakistan since 1947.
I grew up in tehsil Tump of Kech district in a village called Balicha of Balochistan. I did my schooling from Balicha and then moved to Turbat for college. I did my first and second years at Turbat Degree College and then transferred to Balochistan University in Quetta to complete my degree in Political Science. For my master’s, I travelled to Karachi in Pakistan as I wanted to do a masters in Political Science or Sociology but due to the quota system, only 3 to 4 seats were reserved for the Baloch so ultimately I had to do my masters in Urdu from Karachi University.
In 2002, I moved to the UK and studied Business Administration at Westminster University, got married and since then I have settled in the UK.
MK: How did you get associated with BRP, where it is spread across Europe and what is BRP’s stance on Balochistan’s independence?
MJB: In 2006, Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti was killed by General Pervez Musharraf. His grandson Nawab Brahumdagh Khan Bugti also faced the wrath of Pakistan because of which he had to move to Switzerland in 2010. To offer my condolences, I visited Nawab Brahumdagh Bugti in Geneva in 2010, it was during our conversation that he stated that we need to bring the attention of the world, especially the Western world towards Balochistan and highlight atrocities by the terrorist state of Pakistan against Baloch and Balochistan.
Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti created the Jamhoori Watan Party which in 2008 was converted to Baloch Republican Party by Nawab Brahumdagh Bugti. BRP is spread across all of Europe, Australia, Canada, South Korea, the US, the UK etc. In contrast to other European countries, we have faced the worst experience in Switzerland. As a BRP member, we have participated in the United Nations to highlight our issues, however, in 2018 we once planned a rally from Geneva Central Station to the United Nations but I was arrested by the Swiss authorities. Swiss authorities called me a terrorist and blamed me for destabilizing the Swiss-China and Swiss-Pakistan relationship. Not only did they ban me and BRP from operating and entering into Switzerland but this barred me from even approaching the UN asking for basic human rights. They even tried to deport me to Pakistan but my wife saved me and I was sent back to the UK as I am a British citizen.
BRP’s stance on the issue of Balochistan is very clear, we do not need any school or water or electricity and we only want Independence as Balochistan was never part of Pakistan and never will be. When Baloch talks about Balochistan it encompasses Greater Balochistan; covering parts of Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan.
MK: There was an effort to ally with Baloch political parties but BRP didn’t show much interest, why is that?
MJB: If you see the history of Kurdistan, there were so many different organizations, that were working in different ways. Similarly, the Baloch people have a different organization and different political parties but the aim is one, independence of Balochistan.
MK: As the head of BRP in the UK, do you find the UK Government supportive of your cause?
MJB: I have written several petitions to the UK Government and even met several ministers across the board to highlight the plight of Balochistan, their response is full of words but their intent is based on their national interests.
UK and Pakistan share good relations and they will not jeopardize it over Balochistan. UK Parliamentarians have raised their voices against missing persons and extrajudicial killings in Balochistan but other than that nothing. In person, they do say we will support Balochistan but when the time is right.
BRP protest rally in UK, Photo: Mansoor Jan Baloch
MK: What is the response of the Pakistani diaspora towards Baloch in the UK?
MJB: We have a very old and strong connection with Sindhis and Pashtuns. Sindhis and Pashtuns always support the Baloch cause. While there is no confrontation with Punjabis, however, whenever we do a protest, they come on my Facebook and X and start swearing. We don’t have a problem with Punjabis but they have a problem with Baloch. For Punjabis if you are against Pakistan you are a Kafir, Balochistan is a secular nation and that makes us their enemy. We are like Irish Republican Army and defending one’s nation is not a crime.
MK: Are your efforts being monitored or inhibited by Pakistani intelligence agencies in the UK?
MJB: It happens all the time, they have threatened me over calls and also in person. Pakistani Embassy personnel have intimidated me personally and taken my pictures, videos etc. I have given my complaint to Scotland Yard that if I get killed, Pakistan and its embassy people should be held responsible.
MK: Why do you think India said no to Nawab Brahumdagh Bugti’s asylum request in 2016? What is the status of his asylum now?
MJB: At the time we went to the Indian embassy in Geneva, I was there with Nawab Brahumdagh Bugti, India didn’t say no but the main issue was with the number of people. Nawab Brahumdagh Bugti wanted India to give asylum to all Baloch whose lives were in danger which were about 5000-6000 people. India was not comfortable with such a large number but was ready to give asylum to Nawab Brahumdagh Bugti and his main party members including myself. So, Nawab Brahumdagh Bugti chose not to accept this offer and continued to live in Switzerland on refugee status, which he continues to do today.
MK: What does BRP have to say on the arrest of Gulzar Imam and do you think Gulzar Imam meant his words when called Baloch youth to relinquish struggle?
MJB: Gulzar Imam was the President of the Baloch Republican Party and his role was extremely potent for the party, later he became a Samachar (defender of motherland) and joined several organizations like BRA, BRAS etc. I have no idea how he got arrested, it is said he was lured by Pakistani agents who portrayed Indians promising support and assistance but was arrested in Turkey. Pakistan has long lured Baloch youth with money, housing, luxury etc. to join their agenda and a lot of Baloch including Sarmachar have surrendered. Gulzar was doing a good job for the Baloch cause he motivated a lot of Baloch youth, prepared and motivated them to become Sarmachars so it seems unlikely that he asked the youth to quit their struggle, it seems more like the pressure from Pakistan rather than his own decision.
MK: Dr. Mahrag Baloch and Sammi Deen Baloch’s protest is being curbed and threatened by the Pakistani establishment. Why do you think Pakistan is doing such a thing to peaceful protesters?
MJB: Dr Mahrang Baloch and Sammi Deen Baloch are representatives of all mothers and sisters of Balochistan. Their peaceful protests are for the release of missing persons who have been extrajudicially abducted by the Pakistani Army and their stooges.
Pakistan instead of listening to their lawful demands, is acting against the women protestors and crushed their peaceful protests by blockading their venues, disrupting protests, baton charging them and framing illegal charges. I fully support Dr. Mahrang and Sammi Deen and all my mothers and sisters, they are doing a great job for the Baloch cause and the Baloch people. Look at Pakistan, they are not only disregarding the plight of Baloch women but playing with their dignity. Pakistan cannot provide human rights, thinking about water, electricity, food, schools, hospitals etc. is too far-fetched. This barbarity by Pakistan will lead to eventual goodness as more and more Baloch will join our movement and the world will look at the ugly face of Pakistan which will eventually lead us to independence.
MK: For a decade it has been stated that Nawab Brahumdagh Bugti is in talks with the Pakistani Establishment to reconcile their differences but is unable to get a good deal. What do you have to say about this?
MJB: This kind of rumour has been going on for the last few years. Then Chief Minister of Balochistan Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch met Nawab Brahumdagh Bugti in Switzerland and asked him to return to Dera Bugti, in return he would made tribal chief just like his grandfather including monetary support and other resources would be bestowed upon him. Nawab Brahumdagh Bugti stated he could contemplate this offer only on the condition that the Pakistan Army and its various security apparatus leave Balochistan. Pakistan didn’t agree as you are seeing. Nawab Brahumdagh Bugti can never make a deal with Pakistan.
