'China may deploy troops': Baloch leader appeals to Jaishankar
What's the story
A Baloch leader, Mir Yar Baloch, has warned that China could deploy military forces in Pakistan's Balochistan region within the next few months. In an open letter to India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, he said this development would pose a "serious and imminent threat" to regional security and India. The letter was posted on social media platform X on New Year's Day.
Security concerns
Balochistan's defense forces overlooked, claims leader
In his letter, Baloch said if Balochistan's defense forces are not strengthened and taken seriously, it is possible that China could station its troops in the region within months. He called this an "unimaginable threat" to both Bharat and Balochistan. The leader also expressed worry over the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project of Chinese President Xi Jinping's Belt and Road Initiative running through Balochistan. "We warn that China...has advanced the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to its final phases."
Twitter Post
Read the letter here
Open letter to Honorable Foreign Minister of #Bharat Shri @DrSJaishankar ji
— Mir Yar Baloch (@miryar_baloch) January 1, 2026
From,
Baloch Representative,
Republic of Balochistan
State.
The Honorable Dr. S. Jaishankar,
Minister of External Affairs,
Government of Bharat,
South Block, Raisina Hill,
New Delhi – 110011
January… https://t.co/WdjaACsG2V pic.twitter.com/IOEusbUsOB
Historical context
Balochistan's long-standing repression under Pakistan
Baloch also highlighted the decades of oppression faced by Balochistan under Pakistan's rule, including state-sponsored violence and human rights abuses. He urged India to consider historical and cultural ties with Balochistan, citing sacred sites like Hinglaj Mata Temple as symbols of shared heritage. The letter also praised India's actions under Operation Sindoor against terrorism hubs in Pakistan after a terror attack in Pahalgam.
India
India has consistently opposed the CPEC
China and Pakistan have frequently disputed concerns of military expansion under the CPEC, claiming the initiative is primarily economic in nature. However, India has consistently opposed the CPEC, claiming that it passes through "parts of the Indian Union Territories of Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir under illegal occupation of Pakistan." Minister of State in External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh reiterated India's position last year, stating, "Any proposed participation of third countries or expansion of...CPEC projects to third countries is unacceptable."