In Geneva, posters of Baloch terror group draw ire of Pakistani envoy

Says use of Swiss soil by secessionists for nefarious designs against Pakistan is unacceptable

Posters placed by Baloch separatists in Geneva, Switzerland have drawn the ire of Pakistan’s top diplomat at the UN.

Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva Farukh Amil has written to Swiss Permanent Representative Valentin Zellweger to draw his attention to the ‘Free Baluchistan’ posters placed along Rue de Ferney in the Grand Sacconex area. The letter – a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune – says that since Monday, Pakistani diplomats identified at least eight posters which list ‘Baluchistan House’ as its sponsor, along with one digital poster. They also identified a car with local plates that appeared to be guarding the posters.

Ambassador Amil opines that the local authorities should be aware of who placed them as it would have to collect fees for the posters. While protesting the attack on Pakistan’s sovereignty that is constituted by the posters, the ambassador explains to his opposite number that ‘Baluchistan House’ is an affiliate of the Baluchistan Liberation Army (BLA), which is recognised as a terrorist group by Pakistan, the United Kingdom, and other countries.

The letter also notes that BH and BLA’s overlapping leadership have committed crimes ranging from assassination to mass murder and kidnappings against soldiers, government officials, and civilians, along with religiously motivated attacks against minorities.

The Pakistani envoy moves on to urge the Swiss to address the issue. “The use of Swiss soil by terrorists and violent secessionists for nefarious designs against Pakistan…is totally unacceptable. The fact that terrorists [operate openly] in Geneva...is a matter of grave concern.”

He moves on to request that Ambassador Zellweger alert Swiss authorities about the presence of BLA or its affiliates in Geneva. He also calls for appropriate action against the ad agency that made the posters, and for “due attention” to the security of the Pakistani mission and its staff.