Balochistan is burning
There are reports of young Baloch, mostly students from schools and colleges drawn to the idea of a grand historical Baloch dream, who are found missing by their family and friends — with some of them missing for years. More horrific are the scenes of tortured and mutilated bodies of young Baloch men dumped on the roadside, apparently to send a message to the community.
Baloch leaders are not alone in openly saying that the security forces are responsible for this state of affairs. Human rights organisations, the media and civil society activists have been saying this for a long time. The hearing in the Supreme Court is a welcome sign for the Baloch people and for those who believe in peaceful resolution of conflicts. But that is not enough and it does not offer a solution. The case of missing persons — an intervention that the SC made nearly six years ago — that provoked the generals to fire the chief justice, is yet to produce significant results.
What is the problem in Balochistan and how can we resolve it peacefully is a question that Pakistan’s ruling political parties and persons must have addressed from the day General (retd) Pervez Musharraf, the architect of three wars — Kargil, Fata and Balochistan — was shown the door. He actually started the war in Balochistan when he responded to the Baloch unrest by employing military means rather than addressing the causes of unrest and uprising. In one of his public speeches, he remarked “the Baloch wouldn’t know what hit them”. Anybody familiar with Baloch tradition and culture would know that the Baloch, priding in honour, would never take threats and humiliation lying down. Whatever the official, security-driven narrative is of the unrest in Balochistan, Baloch activists and leaders have hardly any respect for it or care about it. Period.
The Baloch estrangement and resistance has grown quite deep and listening to what has provoked some to take up arms and others to stay out of the political process will be the beginning of a dialogue. It is a good sign that some Baloch leaders are willing to talk. Sardar Akhtar Mengal, a former chief minister of the province, is the latest in presenting the Balochistan case. I have not heard such a concise and candid statement of the problem with an implicit interest in dialogue.
His six points can be the starting point of restoring trust of the Baloch in the federation. These are: ending of overt and covert military operations, recovery of missing persons, disbanding of proxy death squads, non-interference in the functioning of Baloch political parties, trial and prosecution of those responsible for the disappearances and murders of Baloch leaders and activists, and rehabilitation of displaced Baloch persons.
Denial of a problem in Balochistan and blaming outside agencies for the trouble, offers no hope. Rather, this mindset will keep the Baloch fighting and dying with deeper anger against the centre and security forces. Baloch, like any other alienated group anywhere in the world, will seek foreign support and find an abundance of it, given Pakistan’s absolutely irrational, wrong and unworkable foreign policy options within the region. The Balochistan issue has not reached a stage of no return yet, but will fast slip out of our hands. The Baloch are seeking justice, a fair deal, empowerment and autonomy. The first step to reach out to them will be to bring the kidnappers, torturers, murderers and usurpers of Baloch rights to justice.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 2nd, 2012.
COMMENTS (24)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
i fully agree with author, the military, the politician, the bureaucrat, should not be happy with their superiority against baloch people by pushing them into the wall time and again. be mindful its a realistic international system, it does not have mercy to any state though a atomic power .it could destroy the most powerful state of the time like japan, germany, italy and atomic power USSR, how it can be impossible to Pakistan if the leader continue their policy of saving chair not Pakistan 1971 history will repeat itself.
@cut: 1971 war was a mistake but what preceded that war was a far bigger mistake that culminated in the form of all out war for secession. I think the biggest mistake was not to allow Sheikh Mujibur Rehman to form the government in the center despite his getting clear majority. Mr. Bhutto could have become Deputy Prime Minister under Mujib but to no avail he was busy threatening his party MP-elects not to go to Dhaka for the assembly session and started misguiding General Yahya not to transfer power to the Bengali leader!!! In my opinion, Pakistan 's present rulers continue to do the same mistake because Balochistan constitutes only 4.8% of the total Pakistani population compared to my country, Bangladesh's (former East Pakistan's) 56% then. We were majority then and Baloch people are far smaller minority now.
Thank India for not internationalizing the issue of Balochistan. Can someone enlighten me;why Pakistani leaders are repeating the same mistake they did during Bangladesh war?.
Almost every article on ET highlight the problems faced by the country now. I haven't come across many suggestions on how to correct these problems. Some suggestions that I guess will help are 1. The constitutions should explicitly state that religion is the domain of an individual and all laws based on religion repelled. 2. Provinces should be made autonomous 3. The size of Army should be reduced to a quarter of what it is. 4. All religious seminaries should be made to teach same syllabus as other schools. 5. Freedom of speech should be enshrined in the constitution.
@Sexton Blake: That was very gracious on your part. Sometimes the basis of (mis)-understanding is not the content per se but the filter through which the content is received. We all have our filters based on nationality, gender, education, religion and ofcourse our own unique life experiences.
In a virtual world where access to body language or tone is not available, misunderstandings are easiest to occur and most difficult to correct.
No one can claim to be free of these filters, the best we can do is try to be aware of our filters and at least in real life situations where we have decision making authority take extra care that our prejudices do not cause injustice.
@IceSoul: Dear IceSoul, I have already apologized to gp65, and I apologize to you. Unfortunately, I can see that what I wrote can be taken two ways. The way it has been taken is not the way I feel about the tragic situation in Balochistan. I will write more carefully in the future.
And people in Pakistan are talking about the plight of Kashmiri Muslims! Let Pakistan treat its own state more honorably before talking of Kashmir.
@asim: "If army can bring peace in sawat, FATA and control it there -why not in baluchistan?"
Ah, the big if. Did army bring peace to FATA? Not sure many would agree with you on that.
The only reason for which I am commenting on this burning issue of Pakistan is that, once my country (Bangladesh) used to be a part of it! We were a majority, constituting around 56% of the entire population of Pakistan in 1971. Despite the fact, Pakistan military launched an assault on my people back then, ignoring the people's verdict. Today, Balochistan constitutes only 4.8% of the total population of Pakistan and it is scattered around the entire province. May be that's why the military can still holding on it, bluntly repressing the movement of secession. Well, I don't comment on the matter of separation, Baloch people better understand their needs than whar I understand about them, sitting thousands of miles apart from their land. But one thing that I want to the Pakistani people to understand is that, "history repeates itself if no lesson is learnt from it."
If army can bring peace in sawat, FATA and control it there -why not in baluchistan?
there can always solution to the problems .the things that are unjust should be resolved soon.what would be the condition of those people whose relatives are missing.please the concerned authorities work on it selflessly.make the decision.love humanity for strong pakistan.not to make party or group strong.may allah show u the right path.
@Sexton Blake: Duh! ET is a Pakistani newspaper and will report Pakistani news in greater detail.
While I agree with Mr Mengal that the people involved in kidnapping and killing young Baloch men ought to be brought to justice, I also can't ignore the fact that thousands of Punjabis were killed and many more were forced to leave their homes and migrate. Many families that had been settled in Quetta for generations were forced out just because of their ethnicity. We shall neither forget, nor forgive.
Agree 100% with the author
Good article. But who will start the dialogue ? Nawaz Sharif, Zardari ? who ? they dont even visit Balochistan let alone convincing and talking to masses. Only one leader can do so and everybody know he is Imran khan ! Bachao Balochistan ko, Vote do Imran ko !!!!
The problem is not in Balochistan, it is in Aabpara (if you know what I mean). If you want to see a united Pakistan, save it from the silent but powerful "custodians of ideological frontiers".
I agree with the author that the Baluchistan problem needs talks and a Political solution. If Baluchistan falls sooner or later the Sindhi's will want to go their own way and the Pashtuns will not be far behind in demanding a homeland either side of the Durand line. Parliament must develop the bls to challenge the narrative of the security Establishment if they wish to put a stop to the violence and mayhem. Pakistan must get the courage to behave like a Democracy as Parliament is not meant to be an impotent showpiece, but a voice for the oppressed people. Farsightedness and sagacity is the need of the hour !
@gp65: "Should Balochistan's secession be of greater concern to Pakistan". Dear gp65, We have to stop meeting like this. However, I have to say, that for the first time I am in full agreement with you. Hopefully, we can keep this up on a continuing basis. My apologies if I gave the wrong impression. As Winston Churchill once said, our problem is that we are separated by a common language. Best wishes
The only army of Pakistan isn's responsible for the current crisis in Balochistan, so called democratic goernments including the present governmnet is equally responsible. Both have failed to resolve the Balochishatn issue, I think external players will come to liberate the Baloch people and this opportunity is being provided by the Pakistani forces which is sad and so sad. It is so ironic that both the army and governmnet/s never been rational in their policies,when will they learn?. I am not Baloch but as human being and citizen of Pakistn I have great respect of Baloch and their traditions,we the people of Pakistan should support their genuine CAUSE.
@Sexton Blake: "What I find so interesting about these articles is that the Express Tribune prints them with all their dreadful connotations. Awful things, of a similair nature, are happening in other countries, but are reported more simply, if at all."
The concern in this case is that unless action is taken, Balochistan might secede frpm PAkistan. Should that not be of greater concern to Pakistan than if there are secession movements in other countries?
good article.
@Sexton Blake: I believe that average Pakistani is far more interested in events that damage Pakistan, and such events in other countries are far down the list of Pakistani concerns! As such, ET is doing its job in highlighting these Pakistani Issues!
Balochistan has been burning for over four decades. We have only noticed it now and started talking about it recently. It may be too little too late. If we do not start with Mengal's six points as the min there is no hope for Balochistan. I hope I am wrong.
What I find so interesting about these articles is that the Express Tribune prints them with all their dreadful connotations. Awful things, of a similair nature, are happening in other countries, but are reported more simply, if at all.
There is nothing more that I will agree with the author. It is time to use commonsense and resolve the issue through political dialogue. The federal government should try to reach the average Baluchi, listen and talk to them. Firepower can subdue but only in the short-run. Such issues need a political solutions. Try to understand the sociopolitical milieu of Baluchistan, and enter into some kind of alliance with tribal chiefs. If nothing else is important to you, just look at the contribution of Baluchistan to national exchequer.