“Pakistani forces destroyed 40 mosques in Balochistan,” alleges Baloch leader

Baloch Leader Alleges Pakistani Forces Destroyed 40 Mosques in Balochistan.

Mir Yar Baloch, a leading Baloch nationalist and human rights activist, has accused Pakistan of destroying nearly 40 mosques in Balochistan, highlighting what he described as targeted attacks on religious sites and minority communities.

His statement 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.

Calling Pakistan a “terrorist state,” Mir Baloch said the country systematically harasses Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, and other minorities. “The Republic of Balochistan fully stands with India’s principled position on PoJK. Pakistan cannot lecture others on minority rights while using extremists to intimidate its own people,” he added.

He detailed the mosque destruction, citing bombings, Quran burnings, and abductions of mosque leaders, with the mosque of the Khan of Kalat among the first targeted.

Balochistan, Pakistan’s mineral-rich southwestern province bordering Iran, has a decades-long nationalist movement demanding autonomy and independence. Despite a 2025 declaration of independence by Baloch leaders, the region remains volatile, with ongoing attacks on Pakistani forces and infrastructure projects, including those under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.