The Nobel Peace Prize 2025 has been announced. This year’s award has been given to Maria Corina Machado, known as the ‘Iron Lady’ of Venezuela, for her tireless efforts to promote the democratic rights of the people. For the past year, Maria Corina Machado has been forced to live in hiding. Despite not caring about her life, she remained steadfast in her work. Before this, the list of Nobel Peace Prize winners includes the names of people like jailed Iranian human rights activist Nargis Mohammadi (2023), Dalai Lama (1989) and Martin Luther King (1964). US President Donald Trump has not received the Nobel Peace Prize. This year, Zelensky, a group of journalists and Baloch activist Mehrang Baloch and other 10 big names were included in this list.

Among the main contenders this year was the Emergency Response Room (ERR), as ERR is a network of more than 700 community-based organizations in Sudan that provide services that are usually undertaken by the government. ERR volunteers provide medical aid and run community kitchens in a country devastated by a brutal two-year war between the army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

Volodymyr Zelensky

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has become a symbol of resistance to Russian aggression and was seen as a credible peace prize winner for 2022. Zelensky has managed to garner more support for his crisis-hit country after Trump-initiated peace talks between Kiev and Moscow stalled.

Reporters Without Borders

In 2021, the Nobel Committee honored Philippine journalist Maria Ressa, founder of investigative media outlet Rappler, and Dmitry Muratov, editor-in-chief of the independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta, for protecting the press. Given the risks of covering the ongoing wars in the Gaza Strip and threats to the free press globally, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said in September that at least 210 journalists had been killed in the Palestinian territory during Israeli military operations over the past two years. RSF was also in the race for this award.

Mehrang Baloch

Mehrang Baloch is one of Pakistan’s most famous human rights activists and has been condemning the kidnappings and killings of Baloch in Balochistan province for years. He has been kept in jail in Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan, since March. Authorities have charged him with terrorism, treason and murder.

The ICC, which is currently facing sanctions from Washington, was also expected to get symbolic support from the Nobel Committee. The US sanctions stem from arrest warrants issued against two Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for crimes against humanity and a court investigation into alleged war crimes by US forces in Afghanistan.

Yulia Navalnaya

Yulia Navalnya, the widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, has vowed to carry forward her husband’s mission. Her husband died under suspicious circumstances in February 2024 in a Russian penal colony in the Arctic Circle. In June he launched a new television channel called “Future of Russia” to counter Kremlin propaganda.

Lawyer and human rights activist Chow Hang-tung is one of the leading opponents of Chinese rule in Hong Kong. She was vice-chair of the Hong Kong Alliance group, which organized an annual ceremony commemorating the Tiananmen Square massacre of 1989. In 2021, the group announced its dissolution due to pressure from Beijing. Chau has been arrested several times since 2021. Under the new national security law, if he is found guilty of inciting subversion of state power, he could be jailed for up to 10 years.

Standing Together, an Israeli-Palestinian peace organization founded in 2015, has 5,300 members. It opposes settlement construction in the West Bank and campaigns for equality between Israelis and Palestinians. Since the Hamas-led terrorist attacks on October 7, 2023, its activists have taken a leading role in protesting the war in Gaza.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, who is currently the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar, played a key role in brokering a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel in January. Qatar has also helped in talks between America and Taliban. In recent years he has established himself as a leading mediator in various conflicts, including Lebanon, Sudan and Yemen.

The chances of NATO getting the Nobel were slim, because giving this award to NATO would have reinforced the perception that the Nobel Committee had a Western outlook. In recent years the Committee has taken this criticism seriously and has adopted a more open approach towards laureates from the Global South.

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Mahrang baloch: Balochistan, the largest province of Pakistan, has become the center of struggles these days. Here separatist forces are getting stronger and extremist groups like BLA are directly challenging the government. Mehrang Baloch, a prominent advocate of human rights and Baloch aspirations, has been detained in custody, which has further increased tension amidst tension with the Government of Baloch people.

The Baloch movement is a matter of concern for Pakistan. He is afraid that this will increase separatist feelings and will challenge his rights in the region. Mehrang has been given a place by Time magazine as one of the 100 next emerging leaders. The arrest of him and about 150 activists is being criticized internationally.

Mahrang Baloch is the prominent name among the vocal people against Pakistan
Mehrang Baloch led the demonstration of illegal arrest of relatives of those who have forcibly disappeared and protested against illegal police remand. Maharang and others have been made many serious allegations including terrorism. Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) leader and Dr. Meharang Baloch has been vocal about forcibly disappearance in Balochistan and alleged judicial killings.

Condemning his arrest, his sister Iqra Baloch wrote on social media that his journey in Hooda Jail reminds him of 18 years ago when he saw his father behind bars. He wrote, “Mehrang was with us at that time, he is not”.

Mehrang’s father was murdered
According to media reports, his father Abdul Ghaffar Langov was a nationalist leader. He was forcibly disappeared in 2009 and his body was found in Lasbela district after three years. Since then, he decided to forcibly disappear and fight against just killings. Mehrang has continued his fight, although he has faced challenges like death threats, travel restrictions, custody. In December 2023, he helped organize a big March in Islamabad, demanding action against forcible disappearance, which was strongly opposed by the police.

Huge storage of copper, gold, coal and natural gas in Balochistan
About 44% of Pakistan’s land area is from Balochistan. It also shares the international border with Afghanistan and Iran. There is only 5% arable land in this province. It is known for extremely dry desert climate but is considered rich in natural resources. Despite this, he is left behind in the race of development. This province has huge stores of copper, gold, coal and natural gas, which is an important part of Pakistan’s mineral wealth.

Due to the geopolitical importance of Balochistan, a large part of China’s ambitious project China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is in this province. CPEC Chinese President Xi Jinping’s ‘Belt and Road’ is part of the initiative and the port of Gwadar is considered very important for this project.

The people of Balochistan have been alleging that the provincial and central governments have been earning huge profits by exploiting the natural resources here, but development has been completely ignored in the area. Baloch nationalists in the province revolted for independence in 1948–50, 1958–60, 1962–63 and 1973–1977.

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Balochistan Leader Mahrang Baloch Arrested: In Pakistan’s Balochistan province, a large -scale demonstrations against the Pakistani Army and the government have started. During the protest, Baloch Human Rights activist and Balochistan’s lead leader Maharang Baloch was arrested by the Quetta police on Saturday (March 22, 2025).

Thousands of people took to the streets to protest against the atrocities against the Baloch community in Balochistan. In these ongoing demonstrations under the leadership of Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), the police conducted lathicharge, tear gas and firing, killing three youths and injured dozens.

Police took away the dead bodies of those killed
Byc claimed in its social media post, “The police not only arrested Mahrang Baloch and his associates, but also snatched the bodies of youths killed by protesters.” Other senior BYC leaders Bebigar Baluch, Dr. Hamal, Dr. Ilyas and Saeed Baloch have also faced ‘arrests like kidnapping’.

Why protest in Balochistan raging?
Balochistan has long been struggling with issues of autonomy and human rights violations. The main demands of the protesters are:

Ban on torture and forcibly disappearance
Baloch community right over natural resources
Autonomy and political freedom
Soldier suppression stops

Last message of Mahanrang Baloch
Prior to the arrest, Meharang Baloch released a video message on Friday night (March 21, 2025), in which he announced a shutdown and chakka jam across Balochistan. He said, “The Baloch Solidarity Committee announces a shutdown in the entire Balochistan against this harassment and terrorism of the state of Pakistan.”

Government of Pakistan’s response and increasing military repression
The Government of Pakistan and the army have adopted an aggressive policy to suppress the Baloch nationalist movements. Many Baloch workers and leaders were forcibly disappeared. Many protesters were injured in the attack on the picket site. The deployment of the army in Quetta and other areas has been increased. Women and children were also targeted. Byc has termed these actions as “state sponsored terrorism” and condemned the oppressive attitude of the Government of Pakistan.

Are there a civil war situation in Balochistan?
Explain that the conflict between the Pakistani Army and Baloch nationalists in Balochistan may intensify. Increasing repression of the Pakistani army can lead to more agitation. The political situation in Balochistan is also indicating that it is unstable.

Baloch Activist Mahrang Baloch: Balochistan’s leading activist Mehanrang Baloch has seriously accused Pakistani security forces of firing bullets on peaceful protesters in Quetta. Many people were injured in this incident and a protestor died. Mehrang Baloch strongly condemned the incident, saying, “In Quetta, the police opened indiscriminate bullets at peaceful protesters, injuring many people and one died. The state in Balochistan reacts to peaceful protests similarly.”

The issue was also raised in the 58th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) held in Geneva regarding the situation of human rights abuses in Balochistan. Niaz Baloch, coordinator of Baloch National Movement (BNM) Foreign Movement (BNM) and member of the Central Committee, expressed serious concern over the ongoing repression and atrocities in Balochistan.

آج ریاست پاکستان کی سیزیورٹی فورزی فورسز کوئٹہ میں میز پرامن مزاہرین پر بر بر براہ راست فائرنگ بلوچ بلوچ بلوچ یزتیought بلوزستان کو بند کرنے کا اعلان کرتی ہے۔ کل پورے بلوزستان میں شٹر ڈاؤن اور پہیز جام ہڑتال ہوگی۔

ہم بلوزستان کے عوام سے اپیل کرتے ہے ہے ریاستی تشددد کے خلاف اس تحریک کی… https://t.co/1cla3wyzs4

– Mahrang Baloch (@Mahrangbaloch_) March 21, 2025

Forcible disappearance in Balochistan is a cause of concern
Niaz Baloch mentioned Baloch political organizations such as Baloch student organization-Azad (BSO-A) and Daman on BNM, in which members of the organization are arbitrarily detained, harassed and pressed their voice. He said, “Forcible disappearance has become a systematic means of oppression in Balochistan.” He gave an example of the incidents of forced disappearance of many people including Burg Jehri and his brother Hammal Jehri, a member of the Central Committee of BSO Azad.

Accused of forcible disappearance murders
Niaz Baloch alleged that forcibly disappearance and judicial killings are increasing the crisis in Balochistan. He said that these incidents are being carried out by the state -backed groups, due to which the Baloch families are facing collective punishment. He gave the example of the cruel murder of Shah Jahan Baloch, brother of the missing president of BSO Azad, Zahid Baloch, which he described as a symbol of mass punishment on Baloch families.

Niaz Baloch also said that human rights activist Saeeda Baloch and his sister were also allegedly arrested. Apart from this, the forced disappearance of more than a dozen members of the Kambarni family of Balochistan also highlights the seriousness of the crisis.

Baloch workers and political organizations suppress
In Balochistan, activists of political organizations like Baloch National Movement (BNM) and Baloch Student Organization-Azad (BSO-A) are being targeted by Pakistani security forces. Efforts are being made to silence these organizations using strategies like forcibly disappearance, targeted murders, and threats.

Baloch activists alleged that Baloch political activists and human rights guards are being used by the state sponsored groups. The people of Balochistan have been falling prey to these oppressive policies for a long time and the situation has been deteriorating day by day.