Brahamdagh Bugti set to seek asylum in India

Separatist leader currently resides in Switzerland

Self-exiled Baloch separatist leader Brahamdagh Bugti said on Monday that he would seek political asylum in India.

“We have decided that we will formally file asylum papers. We will start work on it right away. Will go to Indian embassy and follow the legal process,” Bugti said adding that he would call the Indian embassy for an appointment.



Bugti, who currently resides in Switzerland, also said Baloch leaders had decided to register criminal cases against the Pakistan Army and China at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). “Will take China to ICJ with the help of Bangladesh, Afghanistan and India,” he said, The Indian Express reports.

The chief of the outlawed Baloch Republican Party (BRP) said the party had decided to approach the International Criminal Court against Pakistan Army generals. Further, Bugti will not be seeking asylum for himself alone. Instead, he said, several other Baloch leaders may also seek asylum in India. “We will see who all will need asylum (in India),” he added.



Last month, Bugti hailed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for mentioning Balochistan in his Independence Day speech. Earlier there were reports that India, which had granted political asylum to the Dalai Lama in 1959, was considering doing the same for Baloch activists living in exile. According to reports, a decision to this effect was taken at a high-level BRP meeting in Geneva on Sunday.



The Government of Pakistan accelerated the process of obtaining Interpol’s red warrants against Bugti this month. Balochistan Police contacted the interior ministry for acquiring the required identification documents of Bugti to complete the red notice application requirements for Interpol. After the completion of the required paperwork, Pakistan will formally contact Interpol for issuing a red notice against him for his extradition to Pakistan.

This article originally appeared on The Indian Express