Baloch activists begin protest outside Chinese Embassy

London, Sept 26: Baloch activists have launched a week-long sit-in in front of the Chinese Embassy here to protest against "China-Pakistan nexus" in resource-rich Balochistan.

During the week-long protest two Free Balochistan Movement (FBM) members will sit in front of Chinese Embassy every day and night for six days and end with a big demonstration on October 1, which is China s National Day.

FBM described the protest as a peaceful campaign against the "China-Pakistan nexus" in Balochistan.

"China has now become the 21st century East India Company in Balochistan. Their expansionist designs are well known in the region. Its neighbouring country Vietnam is the prime example of Chinese diabolical nature which endured 17 Chinese military invasions. Today we can see that it doesn't respect the international laws over the South China Sea," the FBM said in a statement.

It further says that Pakistan is in conflict with Balochistan because the "morally bankrupted state, dominated by Punjab, has occupied Balochistan in March 1948 in blatant violation of international norms and law just in the name of Islam".

"China has intensified its efforts to consolidate its permanent grip over Balochistan's Gwadar coast and other areas where in 2001 it sought to anchor its military outpost in the name of Gwadar deep-sea port project," the statement adds.

Activists began their protests with placards which read: "CPEC [China Pakistan Economic Border] is the corridor of death and destruction for Baloch" and "China: Hands off Balochistan".

FBM has called on all pro-freedom Baloch and other human rights activists in the UK and Europe to take part in this protest campaign.

PTI