GERMANY (ANI) — India is celebrating its 73^rd Independence Day on August 15. Speaking on this auspicious occasion Baloch Activist, Atta Baloch extended his wishes to Indian brothers and sisters.

“I wish a Happy Independence Day to all my Indian brothers and sisters, we appeal to India to please raise Balochistan issue in United Nations. The people of Balochistan are suffering genocide at the ends of Pakistani Military and Pakistan. India Balochistan is bleeding, please be the voice of Balochistan.” Meanwhile, “Indian is proud all around the world. We Baloch are thankful for their solidarity and their help we want them to raise their voice for free Balochistan we need their support.”

During the period of the British Raj from the fall of the Durrani Empire in 1823, four princely states were recognised and reinforced in Balochistan: Makran, Kharan, Las Bela and Kalat. In 1876, Robert Sandeman negotiated the Treaty of Kalat, which brought the Khan’s territories, including Kharan, Makran, and Las Bela, under British protection even though they remained independent princely states. After the Second Afghan War was ended by the Treaty of Gandamak in May 1879, the Afghan Emir ceded the districts of Quetta, Pishin, Harnai, Sibi and Thal Chotiali to British control. On 1 April 1883, the British took control of the Bolan Pass, south-east of Quetta, from the Khan of Kalat. In 1887, small additional areas of Balochistan were declared British territory.

In 1893, Sir Mortimer Durand negotiated an agreement with the Amir of Afghanistan, Abdur Rahman Khan, to fix the Durand Line running from Chitral to Balochistan as the boundary between the Emirate of Afghanistan and British-controlled areas.