Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest and resource-rich province, has long been a focus of separatist movements fueled by internal grievances and external interference. Over the years, evidence has emerged of foreign states and entities providing financial, logistical, and political support to Baloch separatist leaders and militant groups living in exile. This support, allegedly aimed at destabilizing Pakistan, has hindered development efforts in Balochistan and exacerbated violence in the region. The involvement of countries such as India, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland, among others, has been documented through intelligence reports, confessions, and international investigations.
One of the most notable instances of foreign involvement was revealed in the confession of Kulbhushan Jadhav, an Indian Navy officer and operative of India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), arrested by Pakistani authorities in March 2016. According to Jadhav’s statements, recorded on video and presented to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), RAW actively supported Baloch separatist groups, including the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and the Baloch Republican Army (BRA). Jadhav disclosed that RAW provided funding, weapons, and training to these groups to sabotage development projects like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and destabilize the region. The confession detailed the use of covert financial networks and safe houses to facilitate insurgent activities, making it a cornerstone of Pakistan’s allegations of Indian interference. ( ICJ Case File, Kulbhushan Jadhav vs. Pakistan, 2019)
Separatist leaders such as Harbiyar Marri, residing in the United Kingdom, have been accused of orchestrating militant activities in Balochistan while receiving tacit support from foreign governments. Marri, widely recognized as the leader of the BLA, has used his residence in London to direct propaganda campaigns and secure funding for insurgent operations. Pakistan has submitted multiple extradition requests to the United Kingdom, providing evidence linking Marri to acts of terrorism, including attacks on infrastructure and security forces. Despite the European Union (EU) and United States designating the BLA as a terrorist organization, Marri continues to operate from London without significant legal consequences. This inaction has raised concerns about double standards in addressing terrorism. (UK Home Office Counterterrorism Briefing, 2020)
Similarly, Brahamdagh Bugti, leader of the Baloch Republican Party (BRP) and grandson of the late Akbar Bugti, has resided in Switzerland since 2006. Bugti has been accused of inciting violence in Balochistan through his party’s links to the BRA, a group responsible for numerous attacks in Pakistan. Pakistan has repeatedly requested Bugti’s extradition, providing dossiers of evidence to Swiss authorities that link him to terrorist financing and militant activities. Despite these efforts, Bugti’s asylum status in Switzerland has enabled him to use international platforms to propagate anti-Pakistan narratives. In 2017, Pakistan formally lodged a complaint with the Swiss government after pro-Balochistan independence posters appeared in Geneva, allegedly funded by Bugti’s network. (Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Press Release, September 2017)
Beyond direct political support, international financial networks have been implicated in sustaining Baloch separatist groups. A 2018 report by the Financial Monitoring Unit (FMU) of Pakistan highlighted the use of informal money transfer systems, such as hawala, to channel funds from the Middle East and Europe to insurgent groups in Balochistan. These funds have been used to procure arms, finance propaganda campaigns, and support militant operations. The report also noted the role of Baloch expatriate communities in fundraising under the guise of human rights advocacy, with limited scrutiny of how these funds were utilized. (FMU Pakistan Report, 2018)
India’s role in providing direct support to Baloch separatists has been widely documented. Former Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval publicly stated in a 2014 interview that India could exploit internal weaknesses in Balochistan as a counter to Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir. This admission and evidence presented by Pakistan at international forums underscores the geopolitical motivations behind India’s involvement. In 2020, Pakistan presented a dossier to the United Nations detailing the transfer of over $23 million from Indian operatives to Baloch insurgent groups over a five-year period. The dossier included financial records, intercepted communications, and testimony from detained militants, providing a comprehensive picture of foreign interference. (Pakistan’s Dossier to the UN, November 2020)
Other countries, such as Afghanistan, have also been implicated in providing logistical support to Baloch insurgents. With a porous border between Balochistan and Afghanistan, militant groups have used Afghan territory as a haven for training camps and operational bases. Reports by the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP) indicate that insurgent leaders often move between Afghanistan and Iran, exploiting the region’s complex security dynamics to evade capture. (SATP Report on Balochistan Insurgency, 2021)
The motivations behind such foreign support are multifaceted. Geopolitical competition, particularly regarding Pakistan’s growing partnership with China through CPEC, has made Balochistan a target for those seeking to destabilize the region. By fostering unrest in Balochistan, external actors aim to disrupt Pakistan’s economic progress and weaken its strategic position in South Asia. These efforts not only undermine Pakistan’s sovereignty but also prolong the suffering of Balochistan’s population, who bear the brunt of insurgent violence and underdevelopment.
In conclusion, the financial, logistical, and political support provided to Baloch separatist leaders and groups by foreign entities has had far-reaching consequences for Pakistan and the region. From direct funding by RAW to permissive environments in Western countries, these actions have perpetuated violence and instability in Balochistan. The evidence, including intelligence reports, public confessions, and international dossiers, highlights the need for coordinated global action to address this interference. Stabilizing Balochistan requires not only counterinsurgency efforts but also a commitment from the international community to hold those supporting separatist activities accountable.
