On May 9, 2025, Mir Yar Baloch, who identifies as a Baloch separatist spokesperson, writer, journalist, and human rights advocate, made a post on X asserting that Balochistan, the largest province in Pakistan, is in the process of separating from the nation to establish itself as an independent state. He urged the United Nations, India, and other nations to acknowledge Balochistan’s independence, asserting that the existing Pakistani government in the area would fall and be succeeded by a new government representing independent Balochistan. Nevertheless, there has been no formal acknowledgment from either India or the United Nations regarding Balochistan’s status as an independent nation.
In light of these events, a video (accessible here and here) is circulating widely, depicting a significant rally that includes a marching band and individuals clad in traditional Muslim clothing, waving Indian flags, displaying images of Prime Minister Modi, and performing the Indian national anthem. It is alleged that this video captures celebrations occurring in Balochistan. Let us investigate the veracity of this claim.
Claim: The viral video depicts Baloch individuals in Balochistan raising the Indian national flag and performing the Indian national anthem.
Fact: In reality, the video captures scenes from the Tiranga Yatra that took place in Surat, Gujarat, on 14 May 2025, which was organized to show support for Indian soldiers after the successful completion of ‘Operation Sindoor’ against Pakistan. This event is unrelated to Balochistan in Pakistan. Therefore, the assertion is FALSE.
To ascertain the accuracy, we meticulously analyzed the video and observed that the name boards of adjacent shops were inscribed in Gujarati. Furthermore, the drums utilized by the band displayed the inscription “SAIFEE SCOUT SURAT,” suggesting that the video is probably from Gujarat.
To determine the source of the video, we conducted a reverse image search utilizing keyframes extracted from the footage. This investigation directed us to a YouTube video (archived link) uploaded by a user named BhaveshSays2.0 on 17 May 2025, which displays the identical visuals. The description of the video indicates that it depicts Bohra Muslims taking part in a Tiranga Yatra in Surat, Gujarat. Additionally, several social media users (here, here, and here) have also circulated the same video, recognizing it as footage from a Tiranga Yatra that took place in Surat.