Uyghur activists highlight parallel struggles of Uyghur, Baloch at international conference

At the 5th Balochistan International Conference organized by the Baloch National Movement (BNM), Uyghur human rights activist Rahima Mahmut highlighted the ongoing struggles of both the Baloch and Uyghur people.

he/she drew parallels between China’s genocide of Uyghurs and its exploitation of Balochistan through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

“There are striking parallels between the atrocities and tactics used by dictators and oppressors throughout history,” Mahmut said, opening a personal account. I left my country in 2000 after 1997 and have been in exile since then. Since 2017, I have been unable to return and have been banned from talking to my family. You can imagine how much pain and suffering I have endured along with my people.”

Focusing on CPEC – a project often praised by Pakistan and China for promoting economic growth – Mahmut warned of its harmful effects. he/she stressed that this initiative increases exploitation, displacement and environmental destruction in Balochistan, benefiting China at the expense of local communities.

“CPEC has primarily served China’s interests while pushing Pakistan into deep economic dependence,” he/she said, highlighting that regions like Balochistan remain poor despite their vast natural resources. Are.

Drawing inspiration from historical comparisons, Mahmut explains how China’s occupation of East Turkistan (referred to by China as Xinjiang) mirrors Pakistan’s colonization of Balochistan in the mid-20th century. Both regions are rich in resources, yet their local populations have benefited little, as their lands are exploited by their central governments.

The genocide of Uyghurs in East Turkistan, marked by massive internment camps in which more than one million Uyghurs have been imprisoned since 2014, is part of China’s bid to dominate the region through its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Part of a broader agenda, of which CPEC is a major component.

Mahmut condemned the Chinese Communist Party’s actions against Uyghur Muslims, saying, “The genocide is not just about Uyghurs asserting ownership of their land, but about China’s larger ambitions.” he/she also discussed the environmental and social costs to Balochistan as a result of CPEC, as well as the devastation seen in East Turkistan.

“Under the guise of development, local communities are losing their land and livelihoods to Chinese companies,” he/she said. Chinese exploitation.

In his/her call to action, Mahmut urged oppressed nations, including the Baluch, Uyghurs and Tibetans, to unite, insisting, “We are the common enemy.” They stressed the need for cooperation against repressive regimes that continue to exploit their lands and stressed that the international community should not ignore these interconnected conflicts.

In his/her concluding remarks, Mahmut called for accountability for China’s human rights abuses and Pakistan’s complicity in these violations. “Acting alone, our voices may be weak; However, I believe that if we unite, we can be much stronger,” he/she concluded, delivering a powerful message of solidarity and resistance to attendees.