Baloch American Congress President Tara Chand has urged international investors to avoid resource-exploitation agreements with Pakistan over Balochistan without local consent, warning that projects lacking community approval could trigger resistance and undermine investments while calling for human rights and self-determination.
The risks associated with investing in Balochistan’s natural resources through Pakistani authorities have been highlighted by Baloch American Congress President Tara Chand, who has urged international investors to refrain from entering into agreements without obtaining the meaningful consent of the local population.
In a letter addressed to the United Nations and the wider international community, Chand raised concerns over the disparity between Balochistan’s considerable natural wealth and the difficult living conditions faced by its people. He pointed out that despite possessing valuable mineral resources, including gold and copper, along with a strategically important coastline, the region continues to experience poverty, unemployment and inadequate access to essential public services.
Highlighting the situation, Chand stated that many people in Balochistan still lack access to clean drinking water, quality education and proper healthcare facilities. He argued that the region’s natural resources have not translated into widespread economic prosperity or improved living standards for its population.
The Baloch leader also cited the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as an example of the potential risks associated with large-scale investment projects undertaken without meaningful local participation and consent.
According to Chand, projects pursued without the approval of the Baloch people have contributed to public resistance and serious setbacks, raising concerns about the long-term sustainability of investments in the region. He warned that international investors could face similar challenges if they enter into resource-development agreements without addressing the concerns and aspirations of local communities.
Chand specifically appealed to investors from the United States, Canada, Saudi Arabia, China, Europe and other parts of the world not to enter into agreements with Pakistani authorities for exploiting Balochistan’s natural resources without the meaningful consent of its people.
Emphasising that the appeal was not against foreign investment itself, he maintained that the Baloch people seek fair and responsible economic development rather than the exploitation of their homeland. He argued that investment should contribute to employment generation, improved infrastructure, education, healthcare and overall economic prosperity.
The Baloch American Congress president further called upon the United Nations and governments worldwide to support the human rights, freedom and peaceful self-determination of the people of Balochistan, including their aspirations for independence.
Chand said that international investment could play a constructive role in developing the region if the people were given the opportunity to determine their own political and economic future. He expressed the view that a Balochistan governed according to the aspirations of its people could become a valuable economic partner for the international community.
| Also Read: Democrats Question Legality of Nvidia H200 Chip Exports to China |
Concluding his appeal, Chand stressed that meaningful consent, justice and freedom must remain central to any development initiative in the region. He reiterated that Balochistan’s natural resources belong to its people and that decisions concerning their utilisation and the territory’s future should reflect the wishes of the local population.
His statement has brought renewed attention to questions surrounding resource ownership, international investment, local consent and the political future of Balochistan.
