Pakistan marks 79th Independence Day amid Baloch separatist protests

Pakistan marked its 79th Independence Day on Friday, August 14, a day commemorating the nation's sovereignty gained in 1947 after the partition of British India.

President Asif Ali Zardari called upon the public to honor the sacrifices of those who fought for independence and to pay tribute to the country's founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, addressing the nation, asserted that Pakistan continues on its path of development and prosperity despite facing numerous challenges. He pointed to the government's success in achieving economic stabilization over the past two and a half years, as reported by state-run Radio Pakistan.

Sharif also emphasized Pakistan's increasing regional significance, citing joint defense agreements recently signed with Saudi Arabia and Turkey in Mecca. He appealed to the nation's political parties to unite for the collective prosperity of the country.

However, the celebrations were met with dissent from Baloch separatist groups in Pakistan's westernmost province. These groups declared August 14 a "day of mourning," urging the global Baloch population to display black flags and wear black armbands to protest Pakistan's creation. A representative of a separatist group posted on X, calling for a boycott of Independence Day events and alleging that Pakistani forces had conducted airstrikes on settlements in Balochistan Province two days prior, resulting in civilian casualties.