Baloch National Movement (BNM) condemns U.S. EXIM Bank’s $1.25 billion support for Reko Diq mining project

The Baloch National Movement (BNM) has voiced its strong opposition to the recent decision by the U.S. EXIM Bank to provide $1.25 billion in financing for the Reko Diq mining project in Balochistan. The organization expressed its deep concern over the move, asserting that it would bolster Pakistan’s control over the region and exacerbate ongoing state repression against the Baloch people.

In a statement issued on Thursday, a BNM spokesperson criticized the partnership involving the U.S. EXIM Bank, U.S. authorities, and Pakistan, describing it as a violation of global norms and fundamental human conscience. The spokesperson emphasized that the organization holds serious reservations about the agreement and its implications for the Baloch nation.

The BNM spokesperson reiterated that any form of financial assistance or economic partnership with Pakistan directly contributes to the ongoing genocide of the Baloch people. They highlighted issues such as enforced disappearances and the systematic plunder of natural resources as consequences of such support, which they argue perpetuate the suffering of the Baloch nation.

According to the organization, the newly announced U.S. financing package purportedly aims at development in Balochistan but, in reality, it would lead to increased military actions, forced displacement of local populations, and a more aggressive takeover of Baloch resources. The Baloch movement views these projects as tools to suppress their struggle for autonomy and self-determination.

The spokesperson pointed out that the United States, having fought its own historic battles against colonial oppression, should be aware of the destructive consequences of suppressing national liberation movements. They argued that the partnership undermines the Baloch national movement and serves to reinforce the Pakistani state’s repressive tactics.

Furthermore, the BNM warned that U.S. financial support would facilitate the construction of additional military camps and checkpoints, expand surveillance infrastructure, and intensify the exploitation of Baloch natural resources. They accused these measures of being part of efforts to crush resistance and maintain occupation, effectively supporting ongoing human rights abuses.

Finally, the organization highlighted the humanitarian crisis faced by the Baloch people, including thousands of youth detained in secret Pakistan Army detention centers under inhumane conditions. The BNM emphasized that families of the disappeared live in perpetual grief, waiting endlessly for their loved ones. They concluded by urging the United States to reconsider its stance, stating that U.S. assistance in this context only deepens the wounds of the Baloch nation and calling for an end to enabling oppression in the name of investment.