Bharat Global Time | May 23, 2025
New Delhi – As cries for independence grow louder in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, a pressing question continues to surface: Why is India, despite being a vocal critic of Pakistan’s internal repression, not openly supporting the Baloch cause?
On paper, India has every strategic reason to back Balochistan’s separatist movement. It could weaken Pakistan’s military grip, challenge China’s Belt and Road dominance in Gwadar, and reshape the regional map. But India stays silent. Why?
1. Strategic Caution, Not Indifference
India may sympathize with the Baloch struggle privately, but open support comes with high diplomatic costs. Unlike Pakistan, which has consistently supported insurgencies in Kashmir, India has chosen a rules-based image on the global stage.
“If India openly backs Baloch separatism, it gives China and Pakistan a reason to paint India as a regional destabilizer,” said foreign policy expert Dr. Reema Sharma.
Such a move could jeopardize India’s efforts at becoming a permanent UN Security Council member, or dilute its global image as a rising, responsible power.
2. Fear of Domestic Blowback
India is wary of setting a dangerous precedent. Openly supporting secessionist movements elsewhere could invite retaliation — particularly in sensitive regions like Kashmir or the Northeast.
“You can’t support breakaway states abroad and then ask for territorial integrity at home,” a retired diplomat told Bharat Global Time.
3. The China Factor
Balochistan is China’s key entry point into the Arabian Sea, with massive infrastructure investments in Gwadar under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Any Indian support for Baloch separatists risks open confrontation with Beijing, something New Delhi is keen to avoid—at least for now.
Behind the scenes, however, India is believed to be tracking Chinese military installations in Gwadar and keeping lines open with Baloch diaspora voices.
4. Covert Support vs. Public Denial?
While India denies any involvement in Balochistan, Pakistan routinely accuses RAW (India’s intelligence agency) of aiding Baloch rebels — a claim New Delhi denies.
“There may be sympathy, maybe even backchannel diplomacy. But no official support. That’s the Indian model — watch, wait, and only act when the time is right,” said security analyst Col. (Retd.) Sanjeev Khatri.
5. Focus Is Still on PoK (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir)
Strategically, India remains laser-focused on reclaiming Pakistan-occupied Kashmir — a nationally sensitive and constitutionally anchored objective. Supporting Balochistan might dilute this claim or complicate future negotiations.
6. Baloch Leadership Is Divided
The Baloch movement itself is fractured — with multiple groups, differing ideologies, and no single leader commanding global support. India would need a unified and credible partner before it can even think of providing direct diplomatic or political backing.
