The Indian Prime Minister (PM), Narendra Modi, made references to “the people of Baluchistan, the people of Gilgit, the people of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir,” in his Independence Day speech on August 15. All these regions are under the control of Pakistan. It is interesting to note that in the speech, the word Pakistan was deployed only with reference to Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK). Given the ongoing insurgency in Baluchistan and the recent protests in POK, PM Modi’s speech was interpreted as an expression of solidarity with the people of these regions in their fight against the Pakistani state. The reference to Baluchistan was also construed as the initiation of retaliatory actions against Pakistan for its support to the militant groups in the Kashmir valley in India.
