Himanta praises Balochistan movement after Pahalgam terror strike
1
2
3
Guwahati: Assam chief minister
Himanta Biswa Sarma
on Sunday criticised Pakistan over Balochistan amid the ongoing India-Pakistan tensions following the
Pahalgam terror attack
. He lauded the
Balochistan movement
aimed against the Pakistan govt and described it as an indigenous people's continuous pursuit of dignity, rights and autonomy.
He noted that the 2006 killing of tribal leader Nawab Akbar Bugti, a pivotal figure in Baloch politics and staunch advocate for Balochistan's rights, was a painful chapter that intensified calls for self-governance and accountability.
"The Baloch people, despite inhabiting a province rich in natural resources, have long struggled with underdevelopment and allegations of systematic exploitation by the central govt (referring to Pakistan). The killing of respected tribal leader Nawab Akbar Bugti in 2006 marked a particularly painful chapter, reigniting demands for self-determination and justice. Today, the Balochistan movement stands as a symbol of an indigenous people's enduring aspiration for dignity, rights, and control over their own destiny — a struggle marked by immense sacrifice, resilience, and an unbroken spirit for freedom," Sarma wrote in his 'X' handle.
He highlighted that sentiments of political exclusion, economic marginalisation and cultural oppression have triggered multiple uprisings across decades, particularly in 1958, 1962, 1973, and the early 2000s. Referring to historical events, Sarma said, "The Balochistan freedom movement traces its roots to the tumultuous events of 1947–1948, when the princely state of Kalat, representing much of what is today Balochistan, sought to maintain its sovereignty after the end of British colonial rule. Despite initial negotiations for autonomy, the region was forcibly annexed by Pakistan in March 1948, sowing deep resentment among the Baloch people."
Recent years saw increased violence in Balochistan with separatist groups alleging Pakistan govt's exploitation of natural resources. Growing unease also exists regarding Balochistan's security situation, including concerns about potential secession from Pakistan.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fibre2Fashion
32 minutes ago
- Fibre2Fashion
UK's Scotland Office to fund SCC to launch new global trade initiative
The Scotland Office, responsible for Scottish affairs in the Briitish government, will fund the Scottish Chambers of Commerce (SCC) to launch a new international trade initiative, Scottish secretary Ian Murray recently announced. The collaboration will be supported by a grant of £100,000 ($135,650) to promote Scottish goods and services and bring foreign direct investment into Scotland, a British government release said. The UK Scotland Office will fund the Scottish Chambers of Commerce to launch a new global trade initiative, Scottish secretary Ian Murray said. The collaboration will be backed by a $135,650 grant to promote Scottish goods and services and bring FDI into Scotland. “Boosting Scottish exports and selling the best of Scotland overseas is a key lever in delivering economic growth at home,†he said. Murray has been working with business groups as part of his Brand Scotland programme. For the first time in more than two years, the Scottish Business Growth Group was convened in Edinburgh on June 13, bringing the UK and Scottish governments together with business leaders to discuss how they can deliver economic growth. The forum, jointly chaired by Murray and the Scottish government's minister for business Richard Lochhead, brought together officials from both of Scotland's governments alongside business representatives and the Scottish Trades Union Congress. 'With the UK Government committing to significant increases in defence spending, there are huge opportunities for Scottish workers and defence firms….On nuclear power, the announcement this week of UK Government investment for Sizewell in England is a reminder of the huge potential of nuclear power. Thousands of skilled jobs and billions of pounds of investment could come to Scotland, but only if both governments work in partnership with industry to unlock those opportunities,' Murray said. 'Boosting Scottish exports and selling the best of Scotland overseas is a key lever in delivering economic growth at home. Our Brand Scotland programme, boosted by £2.25 million in the Spending Review, will do just that,' he added. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
3 hours ago
- Business Standard
G7 leaders meet in Canada amid West Asia crisis, US tariff concerns
Leaders of some of the world's biggest economic powers will arrive in the Canadian Rockies on Sunday for a Group of Seven summit overshadowed by a widening war across the Middle East and US President Donald Trump's unresolved trade war with allies and rivals alike. Israel's strikes on Iran and Tehran's retaliation, which appeared to catch many world leaders unawares, is the latest sign of a more volatile world as Trump seeks to withdraw the US from its role as world policeman. Speaking on a flight to Canada to attend the summit, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he had discussed efforts to de-escalate the situation with Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as other world leaders. Britain is sending Royal Air Force jets and other military reinforcements to the Middle East. We do have longstanding concerns about the nuclear program Iran has. We do recognise Israel's right to self-defense, but I'm absolutely clear that this needs to de-escalate. There is a huge risk of escalation for the region and more widely," Starmer said, adding he expected intense discussions would continue at the summit. Trump is summit's wild card As summit host, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has decided to abandon the annual practice of issuing a joint statement, or communique, at the end of the meeting. With other leaders wanting to talk to Trump in an effort to talk him out of imposing tariffs, the summit risks being a series of bilateral conversations rather than a show of unity. Trump is the summit wild card. Looming over the meeting are Trump's inflammatory threats to make Canada the 51st state and take over Greenland. French President Emmanuel Macron is making a highly symbolic stop in Greenland on his way to Canada, meeting the Arctic territory's leader and Denmark's prime minister aboard a Danish helicopter carrier. Macron, who is one of the very few leaders to have known Trump during his first term, was the first European leader to visit the White House after Trump took office, emerging unscathed from the Oval Office encounter. But despite the two leaders' sporadic bromance, Macron's approach to Trump has failed to bear major results, with France caught up in the president's planned tariffs on the European Union. Nor did it bring any US security guarantees for Ukraine despite Macron's efforts, together with Starmer, to build a coalition of nations that could deploy forces after any ceasefire with Russia, with the hope it would convince the Trump administration to provide backup. Trump is scheduled to arrive late Sunday in Kananaskis, Alberta. Bilateral meetings between other leaders are possible Sunday, but the summit program does not get underway until Monday. Peter Boehm, Canada's sherpa of the 2018 G7 summit in Quebec and veteran of six G7 summits, expects the heads of state to pivot discussion to devote more time to the war. Leaders can accommodate a discussion, perhaps even a statement, Boehm said. The foreign policy agenda has become much larger with this. He tends to be a bully Leaders who are not part of the G7 but have been invited to the summit by Carney include the heads of state of India, Ukraine, Brazil, South Africa, South Korea, Australia, Mexico and the UAE. Avoiding tariffs will continue to be top of mind. Leaders, and there are some new ones coming, will want to meet Donald Trump, Boehm said. Trump doesn't like the big round table as much he likes the one-on-one. Bilateral meetings with the American president can be fraught as Trump has used them to try to intimidate the leaders of Ukraine and South Africa. Former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrtien told a panel this week that if Trump does act out, leaders should ignore him and remain calm like Carney did in his recent Oval Office meeting. He tends to be a bully, Chrtien said. If Trump has decided to make a show to be in the news, he will do something crazy. Let him do it and keep talking normally. Starmer had a warm Oval Office meeting with the president in February, wooing Trump with an invitation for a state visit from King Charles III. Trump has praised the British prime minister, despite their political differences. Zelenskyy expected to meet Trump Last month Britain and the US announced they had struck a trade deal that will slash American tariffs on UK autos, steel and aluminum. It has yet to take effect, however, though British officials say they are not concerned the Trump administration might go back on its word. Starmer's attempts to woo Trump have left him in an awkward position with Canada, the UK's former colony, close ally and fellow Commonwealth member. Starmer has also drawn criticism especially from Canadians for failing to address Trump's stated desire to make Canada the 51st state. Asked if he has told Trump to stop the 51st state threats, Starmer told The Associated Press: I'm not going to get into the precise conversations I've had, but let me be absolutely clear: Canada is an independent, sovereign country and a much-valued member of the Commonwealth. The war in Ukraine will be on the agenda. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is due to attend the summit and is expected to meet with Trump, a reunion coming just months after their bruising Oval Office encounter which laid bare the risks of having a meeting with the U.S. president. Starmer met with Carney in Ottawa before the summit for talks focused on security and trade, in the first visit to Canada by a British prime minister for eight years. German officials were keen to counter the suggestion that the summit would be a six against one event, noting that the G7 countries have plenty of differences of emphasis among themselves on various issues. The only the problem you cannot forecast is what the president of the United States will do depending on the mood, the need to be in the news," said Chretien.
NDTV
3 hours ago
- NDTV
White House Denies Inviting Pak Army Chief Asim Munir To US Military Parade
New York: The White House has denied that Pakistan's military chief, Asim Munir, was invited to the Washington Military Parade on Saturday. "This is false. No foreign military leaders were invited," a White House official said of the reports about the invitation to Munir. The parade on Saturday is billed as one of the largest military shows in the US, an attempt to showcase its defence capabilities and boost US President Donald Trump's image. The parade commemorates the formal founding of the US Army on June 14, 1775, to fight the British colonialists, a year before the US attained Independence. The date coincides with the 79th birthday of Trump, who will take the salute. Thousands of troops, dozens of tanks and other military hardware, in addition to helicopters and parachutists, are scheduled to participate in the parade on Saturday afternoon, which will also feature flyovers. This will be a unique spectacle because the US does not have a tradition of military parades like India's Republic Day or France's Bastille Day parades. The last time Washington witnessed a military show was in 1991 when the National Victory Celebration was held after the US defeated Iraq in the First Gulf War to liberate Kuwait, which was also known as Operation Desert Storm. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, among others, claimed it was a huge setback for Indian diplomacy. The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena-UBT in an editorial in its newspaper 'Saamana' asserted India suffered diplomatically and it was a "deliberate attempt to weaken India's fight". It accused the BJP of being blind supporters of Trump and not sufficiently outraged at the claimed invitation to Asim Munir. The exposure of the fake news was also a blow to Pakistan, which tried to make it seem a one-upmanship on India after its delegation, led by former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari failed to meet any senior US officials above the rank of an UnderSecretary.
