Kurdish women from North and East Syria, also known as Rojava, have sent a message of solidarity to Baloch activists currently engaged in a determined struggle against what they call “systematic genocide” in Pakistan.
In a video message entitled ‘From Rojava to all the women and people of Balochistan’, released by the Internationalist Commune of Rojava on Tuesday, young women from North and East Syria expressed their unwavering support for the resilient women and people of Balochistan.
The message resonates with the ethos of the Rojava Revolution, a social and political transformation that led to the establishment of a Kurdish-led autonomous administration in northeastern Syria, and underscores the imperative of solidarity in the face of ongoing challenges.
Reaffirming a commitment to fight colonialism together, the Kurdish women said in their video message: “After all the violence and oppression that has happened to them, they are still standing on their feet and have never lost their strength.
The message assured the Baloch people that the Internationalist Commune of Rojava would stand unwaveringly with them until the end, stressing that the colonial attacks on Balochistan were also being waged against their homeland.
Expressing a common quest for freedom, the Kurdish women articulated the desire of the Baloch people to achieve their freedom. Drawing parallels with their own freedom struggle in northern Syria, they encouraged the Baloch activists and wished them victory, emphasising that the struggle against colonial attacks is a collective endeavour.
Balochistan, a region with a rich cultural and historical identity, is currently divided between three countries – Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan.
On the Pakistani side of the border, the Baloch people, who have lived there for centuries, have a history of resisting the Pakistani government, with insurgencies dating back to 1948 and resurfacing in various forms over the decades.
The Baloch have long felt deprived of development and political representation, which has fuelled resentment towards the ruling political powers. In response to the militant insurgency, Pakistan has waged a long and brutal counter-insurgency campaign. This has led to widespread human rights abuses, including enforced disappearances, torture and killings with impunity.
Baloch protesters in Pakistan, many of whom are women, have rallied in Islamabad to highlight alleged abuses against their community. Their long-term action continues, calling for an end to enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in Balochistan.
