Baloch leader claims Pakistan forces destroyed 40 mosques in Balochistan

Baloch Leader Claims Pakistani Forces Destroyed 40 Mosques in Balochistan.

Mir Yar Baloch, a prominent Baloch leader and human rights activist, has accused Pakistan of demolishing nearly 40 mosques in Balochistan, highlighting what he described as the state’s targeting of religious sites and minorities.

The remarks came in response to Pakistan’s criticism of India’s profiling of mosques, imams, and committees in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry had called such actions a violation of religious freedom.

Slamming Islamabad’s stance, Mir Baloch labelled Pakistan a “terrorist state,” alleging systematic harassment of Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, and other minorities. He added: “The Republic of Balochistan fully stands with Bharat’s principled position on PoJK. Pakistan can’t lecture India, Balochistan, Afghanistan, or others on minority rights while using religious and jihadist extremists to suppress its own citizens.”

Mir Baloch also provided details of mosque destruction in Balochistan, including bombings, Quran burnings, and abductions of mosque leaders. He cited the mosque of the Khan of Kalat as the first casualty, describing it as evidence of Pakistani military brutality.

Balochistan, Pakistan’s mineral-rich southwestern province bordering Iran, has long witnessed a nationalist insurgency demanding autonomy, resource control, and independence. In May 2025, Baloch leaders declared independence, though the region remains volatile, with ongoing attacks on Pakistani forces and projects, including those linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.