A complete shutter-down strike was observed in parts of Balochistan on Tuesday in response to a strike called by the Baloch National Front (BNF) protesting the military operation in Kalat district.
A BNF spokesperson said that security forces had launched the operation against locals after suffering a defeat ‘at the hands of the BLA in Kalat and Naushki districts’. Business and trade activities in Kech, Gwadar, Kharan, Kalat, Panjgur, Awaran, Khuzdar and Naushki districts came to a standstill as all shops, markets and restaurants remained closed for the day.
BLA spokesperson Mirak Baloch said his armed men brought down a gunship helicopter in Kalat and killed several security forces personnel in response to the operation. “After facing tough resistance, the security forces carried out shelling on the local population and targeted innocent Baloch people,” Mirak said. He claimed that none of the BLA’s members were killed in the operation. A BRA spokesperson also issued a similar statement.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 9th, 2014.
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@Balochi Cynic: You don't even now the know the difference between Baloch and Balochi and yet you are posing as one #pathetic.
@Hari Om: India needs to free people of Kashmir first, before it can talk about any intervention in Balochistan. The Balochi people love Pakistan but the agents of RAW and CIA created BLA which sponsor terrorism in the province.
I'm starting to think ET is pro-Indian, it never publishes which talk about freedom for our Kashmiri brothers whom Indians have oppressed for years but publishes all the pro-Indian comments stating propaganda about Balochistan.
@ Hari G. Please spare us with all your false flag operations. We do not want to become the other Kashmir.
In reply, I pray Pakistan provides help to the ill forgotten Muslim population of India as they are being marginalized in every sphere whether it is education, govt jobs etc. With the thresholds of rightwing BJP up for grabs for power it seems Muslims of India are living in despicable state largely. Its prime responsibility to help them free themselves from a theocratic hindutva oligarch which if in power will end secular credentials of India.
@Hari Om: What about occupied Jammu and Kashmir and what is the Indian army doing there? Few RAW agents along with some local renegades can force a town to close - but can't decide the fate of a country. Where as enforced disappearances, extra judicial executions, torture, custodial rape, death squad - these are the nothing but only done by big baloch lords who are using the poor people as slaves and can't see anyone rising his head or voice in front of them. Insha Allaha it's a matter of time we will overcome these coward RAW agents and renegades
@Hari Om. The consulates are already providing help and its not just diplomatic help. But u won't succeed.
Excesses committed by Punjab dominated security forces targeting Baloch origin people such as enforced disappearances, extra judicial executions, torture, custodial rape, sponsoring death squad militia’s and the like will inevitably be resisted by the freedom yearning people of Balochistan. The 700,000 Punjabi dominated occupation forces will not succeed in dousing the fire of liberation in Balochistan as indeed was the case with the erstwhile East Pakistan which forms todays Bangladesh.
India must provide fullest diplomatic and moral support to the Baloch freedom struggle. Consulates in Iran and Afghanistan must provide all necessary help.