The launch of the Balochistan Studies Project (BSP) by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) has raised concerns about its true intentions. While presented as an academic initiative focusing on Balochistan’s rich natural resources, the project’s origins and framing suggest a deeper, more sinister agenda linked to Israeli geopolitical strategy.
MEMRI, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank with a well-documented pro-Israel bias and ties to Israeli intelligence (the institution’s founder Colonel Yigal Carmon served in the Israeli intelligence), frames the BSP as crucial for countering Iran’s influence in the region. The This narrative conveniently overlooks the historical context of Western exploitation of Balochistan’s resources and the ongoing insurgencies in the province.
The project’s leadership further fuels suspicion. The appointment of Mir Yar Baloch, a relatively unknown figure whose claims of representing Baloch sentiment have been disputed by prominent Baloch activists, as a “special advisor” raises questions about authenticity. Many believe Mir Yar Baloch to be a fabricated persona, created to lend credibility to the project and further Israeli interests. His strong pro-India and pro-Israel stances, coupled with his almost exclusive promotion through Indian media, point towards a coordinated effort to leverage the Baloch struggle for external geopolitical gains.
The BSP’s framing of Balochistan as a “natural ally of the West” ignores the historical and ongoing exploitation of the region’s resources by Western corporations. This selective narrative conveniently aligns with Israel’s strategic goals of containing Iran and undermining regional stability. The project’s apparent aim is to co-opt the Baloch national struggle, framing it within a narrative beneficial to Israeli interests, thereby potentially undermining genuine solidarity efforts between the Baloch and other marginalized groups in the region, such as Palestinians and Kashmiris as argued by one analyst in Al Jazeera.
The collaboration between MEMRI and figures like Mir Yar Baloch highlights the potential for external actors to exploit internal conflicts for their own geopolitical agendas. The BSP’s launch serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of allowing national liberation movements to be hijacked by those with ulterior motives, potentially undermining genuine efforts towards self-determination and justice. The lack of transparency and the questionable credentials of key figures involved cast a long shadow of doubt over the BSP’s purported academic goals. Instead, it appears to be a carefully crafted instrument of Israeli influence in a strategically important region.
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in the writing are the author’s own and do not represent the policy of Khabar Kada.
