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I am from Balochistan

Why have things changed so much? Can’t we return to the Balochistan where ethnicity was not an issue?

Rafeel Wasif March 09, 2012

Let me tell you a secret, I am from Balochistan - but very frankly, I am not the stereotypical Baloch that everybody has become associated with. I don't speak Balochi, nor am I a member of the Balochistan Liberation Army, nor do I hate the Federation.

I was born in Balochistan and have lived almost half of my life there, while my father lived most of his in the same place. Technically, that makes me a Baloch, or maybe it doesn't - depends on the definition one will like to put out. However, the basic point of this blog is not to define a Baloch, but to give a perspective on what is actually happening in Balochistan.

Every day one gets to hear stories of Baloch youths missing, of Punjabis being slaughtered based on their identity cards, of bombings, chaos and what not. The question that emerges at this time is : Are we going towards another Bangladesh? Or more acutely, why are things the way they are? Or perhaps they were always the same?

Going back to the old times, I can easily say that they were not.

There was a time when one could travel the whole length and breadth of Balochistan without a fear in the world - except that of the occasional robbers - and I say this with authority as I have actually travelled through the whole province, from areas like Sibi, Chaghi, Ziarat and Loralai to Zhob and Pasni.

My parents even lived in an area called Turbat, adjacent to Gwadar, before I was born. Yet, we travelled the whole province without any worry of repercussions, or of the fear of impending Balochs ready to slaughter us without mercy.

It is indeed weird now to be reminded of the hilly terrain of Balochistan and of the merciless mountains without a single tree to cover their nakedness, yet standing proud, as the Balochs have from the very beginning.

It seems unreal that there was once a time when there were no security bars to separate the Quetta cantonment from the city, and you didn't need extensive searching before entering the cantonment. That was the time when a person from any ethnic background - whether Baloch, Pahstun, Hazara, or Punjabi could live easily in Balochistan without any fear of ethnic cleansing, or even ethnic stereotyping.

There was also a time when the people of Balochistan actually loved the army. I still remember when an incident when a Balochi was dragged in the streets by the army for some petty crime, while other members of the tribe looked on. When someone asked them why weren't they planning revenge, their simple answer was that it was their own army which was taking their fellow tribesman, so why would they go against it? And I am not talking about very old times either - this was the1990s.

So why have things gotten so bad that Balochistan is being deemed as the next Bangladesh? There have been so many discussions on it that I will not put any more of my expert opinions on it, but will contrast the modern-day Balochistan with what it was before.

Recently, I heard the news about my relative’s gatekeeper being slaughtered by the Baloch Liberation Army with an inscription on his body that said 'they will be next' - the family immediately left Quetta for Karachi after this incident. I also got to know about the extreme security measures that have been taken to search every civilian before they can enter the Cantonment, and the indiscriminate slaughtering of passengers with Punjab ID cards by insurgents and the Baloch students - friends of my Baloch friends - who were abducted, their corpses found later.

Why have things changed so much? Can’t we return to the Balochistan where ethnicity was not an issue?

This province has so much to give, if only left in peace.

It's strange to think that many of my friends don't even know of the joys of Ziarat or have beheld the Hanna lake in all its all glory with that small island in the middle of nowhere. They have rarely tested the proper authenticated Baloch Sajji or eaten the chaat from the Chiltan Market and the pakoras from Pak forces Cinema while heading to Hanna Urak. They haven't traversed the boundless Baloch Mountains, nor have they experienced that famous Quetta cold.

It is sad to look at the Balochistan of today, and remember the things that have gone by.

However, as an optimist does, one can only hope that one day things will again return as they were, and Balochistan will see peace.

WRITTEN BY:
Rafeel Wasif A social worker and an educationist, Rafeel is working as a research associate with South Asian Forum for Education (SAFED). He completed his education from Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS).

The views expressed by the writer and the reader comments do not necassarily reflect the views and policies of the Express Tribune.

COMMENTS (77)

Colonel (retd) Nazir Ahmed | 12 years ago | Reply @Khan: I would suggest you read my comment again. I said that criticising Army "does not seem justified because the Army is not doing any internal security duties in Balochistan". About dismemberment of Pakistan, facts are different than perception. I was participant in those tragic events and know how it all happened. Just a hint; what happened to those characters, Bhutto, Mujib, Indra Gandhi and their families. Incidentally I am no one to send Army in any part of the country. As I have suggested contact your representatives in the Government to remove FC from their present duties if they are not doing their job well.

Khan | 12 years ago | Reply @Colonel (retd) Nazir Ahmed : I know the person they (F.C) abused after confirmation from him i relied on this information. you believe that Army and F.C is a sacred cow so nobody have the the right to criticize them only they are patriots all others are traitors. That was the mindset which dismembered Pakistan in 1971, and now again Army and F.C is involved in the same business in Balochistan.for God sake don't send troops from other areas who are not aware of the local culture other wise i fear not only Baloch but Pashtoon of Balochistan will fight against these stupid forces.

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Colonel (retd) Nazir Ahmed | 12 years ago | Reply @Khan: The attitude of FC men, if it has happened the way as narrated to you by your friend, is regrettable. But it would have been more appropriate if you had commented on something which you had experienced yourself. Second hand information may not be as correct as being told. FC is deployed in the cities and towns of the Province on the demand of the Provincial Government. If it is not required then it should be withdrawn by the Baluchistan Governmet. You should ask the representatives from your area who are Assembly members and Ministers in the Province. Condemnation of the Army alonwith FC does not seem justified as the Army is not doing any internal security duties during these times in Baluchistan.

Khan | 12 years ago | Reply @Colonel (retd) Nazir Ahmed : I am Pashtoon from Balochistan and with respect sir you are totally wrong and still in a state of denial after so long. What blunders Pak Army made in Bangal.Pak Army and F.C is repeating those blunders once again in Balochistan. less than a month ago one of my friend witnessed that near Zhob Balochistan (Pashtoon Part of Balochistan) few F.C Soldiers drove their pickup on a Jeep in which an old man with Family was travelling they missd a horrific accident by centimeters the side mirror of the family jeep has broke.Both stopped suddenly the F.C soldiers came out of their pickup and they were shouting and abusing this old man and they said "you don't know this is the forces pickup you should get out of the road" after exchange of the words one of the F.C Soldier who was Shia from Kurram pointed his AK47 on this old man they family and kids of the old man was screaming. The old man belongs from Zhob and is very respected in community. So if that is the attitude of F.C mans with the Pashtoons so what attitude they will have when they are involved in operations in Baloch part of the Balochistan.I have to condemn the role of FC and Army in Balochistan they have to be blamed for the current situation in Balochistan. Their job is to protect the Afghan Border from insurgency but they are roaming in cities and towns of Balochistan.

Nazir Ahmed | 12 years ago | Reply @Rex Minor: Your figures may be more authentic because you have got these from newpapers and books. My figures are different because I WAS THERE, part of about thirty two thousand officers and men of the Pakistan Army. Having traversed almost one fourth of the country, a good part on foot, my facts are different than what was propogated and continues to be believed and spread by people like you. The environment during counter insurgency operations does not allow such liesure to kill people in the numbers you have given nor organising orgies. Calculate the number of days available, the number of troops and the casualties you are mentioning. You will find the truth.

Rex Minor | 12 years ago | Reply Mr Ahmed, I do not normaly rely in wikepedia; its info is based on people's input and is subject to change. But in this case I did see the number under Indo=Pakistan war of 1971, and here are the numbers; 90, 000 to 93,000 Pakistani prisoners of war 2 million to 3 million civilians killed 400,000 women rapedy Pakistan armed forces 8_10 million fled to neighbouring India If you have better info from your GHQ, you could correct the info in Wikepedia. I get the impression that Pakistan military were involved in sex orgies, raping women; I thought Pakistan military was there to defend the majority Bengalis? Pakistan military must be nationalised immediately , no more the colonial structure which hides in the cantonments and cannot face the civilians as one of them:. Rex Minor

Nazir Ahmed | 12 years ago | Reply @Rex Minor: Thank you for advice but please get your facts right. The strength of Pakistan Army troops in East Pakistan who were taken as prisoners of war is about 32000 (thirty two thousands). If you want to confirm, get the details of the formations and units from the internet and calculate before you introduce a new figure of 75000 (seventy five thousands) to reinforce lies. I have the details taken from Wikiepedia. My mail address is given in my earlier comment.

Rex Minor | 12 years ago | Reply Mr Ahmad, Please try to understand others. You wre a mlitary bod, trained day in day out as a military officer and reached the position of a Battalion Commander. You then followed the orders of your commander and marched over to Bengal, the land of Bengalis. I recognise that it is not your fault but that of your superiors, who marched into a far awy country relying on the Yanks that they are going to restraint The Indian army. You along with your soldiers wre trapped and following the anglo saxon war tactics you just surrendered to save yours and your brave commrades And your bos had a cup of tea with the Indian opposite number and had a good time. Do you realy believe that Pakistan spent all that time and money on the 7500o troops to surrender against the stronger force. If I were you, at least I would now refrain from politics and democracy for which you and all your generals and the mlitary were neither educated nor trained. Democracy, comes from the people; it probably nevrr occured to you that Bengalis on average have a higher IQ, possess more intellect and do not have history of being the best in military or of great warriors! I am not a Pakistan but a European muslim, and believe in the dignity of the individual which must not be violated. Pakistan political leaders could take the course and make a union of independent states, based n a transfer union, so that all states progress simultaneously. People of Pakistan are the stregnth, not the mlitary, which incidently has in its history never won a war! Have a nice day. Rex Minor

Mohammad Usama | 12 years ago | Reply One of the best written thing about Balochistan. U have done a great service by enlightening the good times of Unity, Happiness in Balochistan that we all wish to come back! nothwithstanding the fact that we are Sindhi, Punjabi, Pakhtun, Muhajir but that we one nation, one country, Pakistan!

Yuri Kondratyuk | 12 years ago | Reply @Colonel (retd) Nazir Ahmed:

East Pakistan was not a popular Bengali uprising but an orchestrated terrorist subversive >plan by RAW and KGB!

If what you say is true Sir, how can you explain more than one million murders and 80,000 rapes (on females of ages between 8 to 80 years old) carried out by the Pak Army in East Pakistan? For a soldier, I wish that you were brave enough to face and accept truth.

Tahir Qazi | 12 years ago | Reply @Munir Saami: Dear Saami Sahib: Thank you for being a true voice of reason; we all need it. It is extremely important to recognize the plight of Balochistan ... Illegal annexation, gross, continuous and ongoing human rights violations, exploitation of the resources, colonialist behavior the state of Pakistan towards Balochistan right from the get-go and artificial manipulation of demography in Balochistan not to mention armed-forces (military) becoming the richest land-lord in Balochistan, to name a few. I wonder how many Pakistanis are aware of the real reasons of discontent of our Baloch friends and how many are willing to speak out? There is no substitute for honesty ... Thanks for your honest comments and the courage to speak out. Kind regards, Tahir Qazi

Abid P. Khan | 12 years ago | Reply C O R R E C T I O N @Munir Saami: GK.Galbraith once said that Encyclopaedia Britannica lists three type of intelligence. Animal Intelligence Human Intelligence Military Intelligence And in that order.

Abid P. Khan | 12 years ago | Reply @Munir Saami: J.K. Galbraith once said that Encyclopaedia Britannica lists three types of intelligence. Animal Intelligence Human Intelligence Military Intelligence

Munir Saami | 12 years ago | Reply @ Nazir Ahmed, Janaab. It is better that we base our arguments on truths and multiple informed sources. I do not waste time with ex KGB informers who defected to Canada, the country where I live. There will always be Geo Political issues and considerations. But that does not mean that we occupy a people and then accuse them of treachery. Wali Khan of NAP was once a traitor, Faiz was once a traitor. And you can now see as to how history remembers them now as noble Pakistanis. Nobility comes when you stand with the truth against all odds. Once we recognize as to how the Baloch were made to accept Pakistan, then we will begin to clean the mess. Otherwise the bloodshed and occupation and misery will continue, and we will all keep lamenting the beauty of a rugged land.

Nazir Ahmed | 12 years ago | Reply Mr Yuri Bezmenov interview confirms sequence of events in which I was a participant. I was part of about thirty two thousand Pakistan Army troops deployed in penny packets all over East Pakistan for counter insurgency operations as the Indian invasion came from three directions reaching undefended Dacca in just ten days. I was a prisoner of war who spent over two years; twenty eight months to be exact in, Indian camps. It is there that my brainwashing took place; reflecting on what had happened, who were the characters involved and why the strength of prisoners was projected as 93000 (ninety three) thousands whereas actually it was less than half of that figure including some civilians. At present I can see a real danger of occupation of part of Baluchistan west of general line RCD highway linking Quetta with Karachi. The vast land is sparsely populated with a long coast ideal for the purpose of our so called ‘allies’ who are here to control energy resources of the region.

Munir Saami | 12 years ago | Reply @ Nazir Ahmed You have not responded to the real comments by Tahir Qazi et al and I. Did Baloch join us voluntarily. Was East Pakistan in the vision of Allama Iqbal's dreams. If Baloch did not join us voluntarily and were traded to Pakistan by the Khan of Qallat like the Kashmiris by their Maharaja, is it not then true then that the real Baloch are as just in their struggle as Kashmiiris are. I dare to add some other prickly point: Why should the settlers (aabaadkars) have any thing to say about the destiny of Baluchistan. Why did we not treat Bengalis as equal, and the truth is that we did not treat them as the majority that they were. Why did we impose Urdu on Bengalis, and why were we not letting them govern directly or in coalitions of their choices. We can not go on living on conspiracy theories, we have to wake up and accept the truths of history, that are always unpalatable. I am sorry that your were a PoW because of bad decisions of the ruling generals and juntas. But have you even been sorry for those Urdu speaking Pakistanis who were left to rot in BD and Pakistan denied then the very citizenship for which they suffered. You were fortunate that you were repatriated, what about those who were never allowed to come to Pakistan . I am a son of a worker for Pakistan movement and I am fed up with the games that the military has played and destroyed even a partial dream that we had. And we have no time for email exchanges to repeat the falsehoods that have caused us so much misery.

Colonel (retd) Nazir Ahmed | 12 years ago | Reply Had Pakistan been an isolated island we would not have been bothered, but our location makes us vulnerable to conspiracies and hence conspiracy theories. At present I can see a real danger of occupation of part of Baluchistan west of general line RCD highway linking Quetta with Karachi. The vast land is sparsely populated with a long coast ideal for the purpose of our so called ‘allies’ who are here to control energy resources of the region. Mr Yuri Bezmenov interview confirms sequence of events in which I was a participant. I was part of about thirty two thousand Pakistan Army troops deployed in penny packets all over East Pakistan for counter insurgency operations as the Indian invasion came from three directions reaching undefended Dacca in just ten days. I was a prisoner of war who spent over two years; twenty eight months to be exact in, Indian camps. It is there that my 'brainwashing' took place; reflecting on what had happened, who were the characters involved and why the strength of prisoners was projected as 93000 (ninety three) thousands whereas actually it was less than half of that figure including some civilians. This space does not allow writing the whole story but if anyone is interested I am available at n_ahmed42@hotmail.com to give unofficial version of the events.

Colonel (retd) Nazir Ahmed | 12 years ago | Reply @ Syed, bigsaf and Munir Saami Had Pakistan been an isolated island we would not have been bothered but our location makes us vulnerable to conspiracies and hence conspiracy theories. Mr Yuri Bezmenov's interview confirms sequence of events in which I was a participant. I was part of about thirty two thousand Pakistan Army troops deployed in penny packets all over East Pakistan for counter insurgency operations as the Indian invasion came from three directions reaching undefended Dacca in just ten days. I was a prisoner of war who spent over two years; twenty eight months to be exact, in Indian camps. It is there that my 'brainwashing' took place; reflecting on what actuallt happened, who were the characters involved and why the strength of prisoners was projected as 93000 (ninety three) thousands whereas actually it was less than half of that figure including some civilians. This space does not allow writing more details but if anyone is interested I am available at n_ahmed42@hotmail.com to give unofficial version of the events. At present I can see a real danger of foreigh occupation of part of Baluchistan; west of general line RCD highway linking Quetta with Karachi. The vast land is sparsely populated with a long coast ideal for the purpose of our so called ‘allies’ who are here to control energy resources of the region. Is our NRO imposed leadership doing something to avert the danger?

Saad Ullah | 12 years ago | Reply A very well written article! Feel sad on the conditions of Balochistan. I too have lived 10 years in Quetta, but had to run away to Karachi due to the conditions, like most of the punjaabis and mujahirs! But i really loved balochistan, and the era which u have mentioned in the article. feel really sad now upon what this lovely province has now turned into!

Raw is War | 12 years ago | Reply indipendence for Baluchistan... now.

Rex Minor | 12 years ago | Reply Mr Ahmad, you were in the military once; just forget about your title and your normal "military slogan" the discontent is from few Baluchis", there were few Bengalis and there were few Indians who fought the Brits and the majority remained occupied for two hundred years. The Baluchis are first Baluchis and then Pakistani citizens. It is the responsiblity for every Baluchi and individual tribesman to protect their family fist, then their home, the land and the country. Democracy emrges at the ground level and not something one imposes on it from the top and from foreign elements. Rex Minor

sehrish | 12 years ago | Reply I know how you feel. Me and my family lived there for 14 years had to move out of Quetta because of life threat. LBA is making it difficult for what they deem as 'The non-locals' to survive in Quetta/ Balochistan.

Ashi | 12 years ago | Reply I am a Indian Youth. Just want to share few things. Many a time i heard few fellow indians saying ant-pakistani languages and same way pakistani people saying ant-indian language. Whether its indians or pakistani, we all want peace and development and good life style. Till idepedence we used to live cooly with each other. Now why we cant do the same again. Whats happening in Baloch in pakistan, same is happening in Kashmir in India. I dont know how hindus are treated in pakistan, but in india i have very high number of muslim friends and we enjoy life together. We celebrate Id with them and they will celebrate holi and diwali with us. Why cant we apply same form of friendship between indians and pakistanis. We ppl dont hate each others, its the politics which made us hate each other.

maestro | 12 years ago | Reply @Baloch: I am sorry dear Baloch brother. Every country in the world has a separatist group. They are called TRAITORS and treason is a high crime. Yes injustice has been done to you by past gov'ts - Imran Khan has publicly apologized for this injustice and said clearly in front of millions of people in Karachi that Balochistan will be his first priority when IA he comes into power. Let the bygones be bygones - stop taking Indian money, propoganda and raising militias with it against the state. We are with you and will remain with you IA. Allah will bless us all. Ameen. Balochistan and Pakistan ZINDABAD! From a Punjabi.

Domlurian | 12 years ago | Reply Colonel (retd) Nazir Ahmed, so you admit that ISI is inferior to RAW.

Noble Tufail | 12 years ago | Reply what a nice read Rafeel .. you write so very well. and the stance on baluchistan is even more reasonable. I was in baluchistan in 90's and yes you are right it was the diverse baluchistan without ethnic and physical fences. Long live Pakistan.

Godfather | 12 years ago | Reply The real question is how we can solve this crisis so that innocent people are saved from being slaughtered; peace and glory prevail in whole of Balochistan. Pakistan should become a place of peace where nobody is killed because of their ethnicity, religion or their beliefs. Pakistan Zindabad.

Optimist | 12 years ago | Reply Baluchis love Pakistan and it is dictator Musharraf who spoiled things post 9/11 to facilitate the USA! / Thank God Baluchistan is mixed race and is annexed to Pakistan, unlike Bangladesh that was only one race and 1000 miles away!

Munir Saami | 12 years ago | Reply @ Nazir Ahmad, You wrote, "Pakistan was dismembered due to a massive conspiricy by India, Russia and US where terrorist gangs used for subversion were used to stage a rebellion. " Would you agree that Allam Iqbal's Pakistan or Rahmat Ali's coined name Pakistan did not have Bengal or Bengali in it. Shall we then assume that Adding East Bengal to Pakistan was a grand conspiracy of British Empire, Pundit Nehru, etc, and that M A Jinnah succumbed to that conspiracy. Could you please find me some quotation from Allama Iqbal suggesting that Pakistan included Bengal. Cheers

Abid P. Khan | 12 years ago | Reply @Haya: "It’s just that there’s a moral degradation in our society. And it is widespread from lower to elite upper class." The malaise has been always there but it certainly is experiencing a viral growth. Despite the overall brutalisation of the society, as long as the unwashed are kept away from knowledge or preoccupied with the aftermath of ethnic, religious or political divisions, though suffering from it, they will not notice the ever expanding gulf, between the haves and have nots. Thus the so overused term revolution won't take place in the nearest few decades. To contain revolution the right choice of leaders was made, Gandhi and Nehru in India while in Pak they were ZAB/BB and IK. In India the fall out was land reforms and in Pak further strengthening of Feudal Class who became Industrialists and Industrialists have bought land. JI has been replaced by JIiJ (Jamaat Islami in Jeans of IK) apparently more pliable and definitely not as demanding for the sponsors.

Tahir Qazi | 12 years ago | Reply Balochistan has been burning for a long time. It calls for a dispassionate analysis of the situation as Munir Saami has wisely suggested. Rhetoric, nostalgic stories and utopia does not bring about positive social changes in the history of nations and states because issues are not personal; its systemic issue and begs for an understanding of the current system. The issue of Balochistan needs an analysis of the history of relationship between the Sate of Pakistan and Baloch, the nation. In the context every Pakistani has to realize that: • Balochistan was annexed to the newly born State of Pakistan WITHOUT valid consent of the Baloch nation. • Pakistan has since treated Balochistan as a colony. • Pakistan has been committing human right violations in Balochistan ever since. • Pakistan has been using the same tactics as the colonial master of per-partition India i.e. divide and rule … Pakistan did exactly the same to the Baloch. • Compensation for the resources being extracted from Balochistan by the State of Pakistan is 1/5 of that for the areas outside of Balochistan. • Poverty rate, education rate and virtually every human development index is lower for Balochistan than the rest of Pakistan. • And, the list goes on …. Now, Baloch have genuine grievances … The conspiracy theories mentioned by Colonel (retd) Nazir Ahmed in this discussion do not provide an answer for any of the problems listed above. Even if conspiracy theories are true (I personally do not subscribe to any of them), to paraphrase Mao Zedong; they are the external cause that can work only on internal causes … given right temperature you can make chicken from an egg but you cannot make chicken from a stone. This discussion is important and yet very disappointing. It has to be more realistic for any meaningful conclusion. Ps: To the author who lived in Balochistan and failed to learn …. Balochi is the language of Baloch (the people) and plural for Baloch is also Baloch; Regards and kindly listen to the following TV discussion on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNmgePhlSUs

bigsaf | 12 years ago | Reply Baluchistan could get better if the army and intelligence services didn't make it their personal fiefdom fueling the anti-Punjabi resentment of their supposed discriminatory hegemony. Like as if the Baloch backward feudalism wasn't bad enough, but at least they didn't nuke their own land! But the truth is the civilian parliament, both federal and local, has failed too, with virtually little to no development outside pet projects like Gwadar, be it in education, law and order, women's rights, etc. Autonomy and independence struggle has been an issue since Jinnah, who may very well be considered a villain to many Balochs. Also getting rid of Jundullah, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Taliban Shura, Baloch Liberation Army, etc would all be nice starts as well.

bigsaf | 12 years ago | Reply @Colonel (retd) Nazir Ahmed: Same old prideful and in denial 'army army' thinking. Nothing ever changes. No honest self introspection. Nothing ever learned. Same old blame foreigners conspiracy self-delusion, it's never our own fault for any munafiq or zulm action that allowed the exploitation in the first place. No shame. Are you advising the Syrian regime by any chance?

Syed | 12 years ago | Reply @Colonel: So if they are brainwashed by the left, let us use that argument to brainwash all our nation to the extreme right? Like Fox News?

Pakistani First | 12 years ago | Reply @Kanishka: Yes technically that makes you an American. If you spend 5-7 years in the US or Canada you are entitled to get their citizenship and passport. So you my friend are an American but might still feel like a DESI from your heart.. Cheers.. :)

Musthaq Ahmed | 12 years ago | Reply @Haya: You have a philosophical streak unlike the rest. And thus you perceive gravity unknown to them . You may go ahead and question : why this moral degradation ? What material degradation lies at the bottom of it ? Will not the old rules of politics hold any longer ?

Syed | 12 years ago | Reply I lived in Balochistan for a part of my life and never experienced any trouble in cities or on the roads. We used to travel in the evenings and overnight to reach Karachi, and the currently notorious roads were safer like anywhere else in Pakistan. Whenever our car broke down there was help available from fellow travellers. And they were always hospitable. Are those days a history now?! @ Retired Colonel: Sir, you people have to learn to look at matters from public's eye sometimes. And when you report to your generals and they want you to put a report implicating Balochis you cannot say NO even if you disagree with the superiors. So don't come here lecturing about conspiracies against Pakistan....We all know what happens to officers who stand up for the right thing.

Abid P. Khan | 12 years ago | Reply @Colonel (retd) Nazir Ahmed: "Pakistan army did NOT lose to a popular uprising." Yes, how could they? The alcoholic army chief with the collusion of his drinking buddy, the infamous W. Paki politician bombarded EP populace with roses.

Aamir | 12 years ago | Reply We all are son of Adam (A.S) and followers of Muhammad Peace Be Upon Him. If we start diving us to the limit, we will cut our throats by our own hands. We are being ruled by greed and justifying our crimes in the name of freedom fight. How long one can live to be proud of killing innocents for liberation??? The day of judgement will settle all matters... but by then... there will be no apology...no mercy...no patch work. Think about it, we were ruled by Britishers like this for decades and they are back with a friendly face. After saying all this, I must also say that things need to be addressed by all concerns in rapid manner to win hearts and minds before its too late.

Elhaan Khan | 12 years ago | Reply People of smaller provinces have no issue with common Punjabis and we respect your culture. Waris Shah is as favorite of me as Rehman baba but we do have big problem with Punjabi Generals defined National Security State which has bled us dry. These generals created this monster of taliban and jihadis and have been using our Pakhtun land for strategic games in Afghanistan. Punjab has modern way of life but your generals want us to bear Taliban for their political games and dollars flow from Washington. Our resources are being used to make this scared cow strong which has hardly won any war but occupied its own country four times. Your generals has made this country a garrison state like North Korea . Name me a one country that has progressed where military and its agencies behaving state within state? If they were so smart, then how come they couldn't tackle RAW and KGB moves in former East Pakistan? How many foreign agents they have arrested in Balochistan so far? How come they didn't trace down OBL hidding under their nose in Abbotabad? Despite endless list of failures , they still want to eat our tinny resources which results in tension among different ethnic groups here. If want to stay united and progress as modern democratic country, we have to make peace with all neighbors and go for social welfare state like Japan. By keep going with GHQ national security state, which has made Army with the country, soon this Army will become an Army without country.

sars | 12 years ago | Reply My family had settled there for many decades and as a frequent visitor , quetta was my second home. We could do anything there as kids we couldnt have dreamed about doing in karachi. If you stopped by someones house to do anything ( ask a house address, drop off someone or something,) you were always politely invited with "khana tayyar hai". In karachi if someone opened their door for someone they didnt know it was surprising. I always used to think it was the nicest place with the nicest people. I m saddened that a small group of politicallty and financially motivated people has taken the whole province hostage. I would love to see balochistan back where its biggest problem was a sustainable water supply. I hope the baloch society in general get their due rights , because without that things will never get better. Good luck!

tayyab..... | 12 years ago | Reply i love balochistan .. from many years i want to visit balochistan to see its beauti.. i had also many balochi friends who visit balochistan every month..but they dont take me with them because im punjabi and they are so much concern about security..every time they said if you want to go than go on your risk we are not taking any type of resposibility

Anoop | 12 years ago | Reply As you seem to be pro-Pakistani, there are many in Indian side of Kashmir who are pro-India. Why not hold a plebiscite and be done with it?

Zeta | 12 years ago | Reply we certainly know three countries are fueling the fire in Balochistan by arming, financing the militants. Army must find the local culprits and give them lesson of their lives.

M. Bilal Karim | 12 years ago | Reply Well, Pakistan and the pakistanies are very innocent and kept ignorant by the polititions of Pak. People around the world laugh on us due to our startegies. Balochistan's problem is also one of them and taking lightly. who will take care of interest, we all will take care of ourself, don't put your monkey on others shoulder. why we accepedt these illitrate leaders and took them to parliments who just save their skins and ruines the future of us. So go for change from inner of heart and go for good leader who really can unite Pkaistan again and grace us like developed countries. Stay Unite Amin

leader | 12 years ago | Reply army needs to learn...

Colonel (retd) Nazir Ahmed | 12 years ago | Reply Interview of Mr Yuri Bezmenov: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NY4al5PyeNE&feature=youtu.be

Sajida | 12 years ago | Reply Balochistan is too fuedal to have a good destiny. First the people need to ovethrow the fuedalism. What struck me about Balochistan is how they still shed blood based on intertribal fueds.

Colonel (retd) Nazir Ahmed | 12 years ago | Reply Rafeel Wasif, the author takes me to the times when living in Baluchistan was a joy. I spent about eight years at different intervals between the years 1967 to 1990 traversing length and breadth of the Province. The present trouble is continuation of dicontent by a few individuals who do not represent the whole of Baluch people. The Western support to these stooges is for more sinister purpose. Some one has mentioned Bagladesh. I would suggest that he, rather all frinds should see an interview of Mr Yuri Bezmenov available on U Tube. This former KGB agent who orchestrated break up of East Pakistan and created Mukti Bahini gangs spills the beans here. East Pakistan was not a popular Bengali uprising but an orchestrated terrorist subversive plan by RAW and KGB!. Also, he says that the traitors who sided with the KGB and RAW were to be killed in the end once their usefulness was over! Pakistan army did NOT lose to a popular uprising. Pakistan was dismembered due to a massive conspiricy by India, Russia and US where terrorist gangs used for subversion were used to stage a rebellion. Now you know why Mujeeb was killed by his own army 4 years later. All those who are working for RAW and other agencies should know their fate!

Cynical Baloch | 12 years ago | Reply Agree with the above post.

Usman | 12 years ago | Reply Allow me to point out the core issue = the greed for power! Just neutralize these two Sardars and their whole families i.e. Marris & Mengals... (People like Balaach Marri and Akhter Mengal) and you'll see immediate change in Balochistan. Mainly these two are misleading innocent and simple Balochis, for their own interests. Unfortunately, the incompetent federal AND provincial governments are too busy in corruption & struggle to complete their 5 years, and Balochistan issue is being neglected.

Jahanzeb | 12 years ago | Reply Lovely place to live I have almost 85 percent places travelling By road , u miss it too, let's all not be aliens to it

Kanishka | 12 years ago | Reply I lived in the USA from 1980 to 2000.. Does that make me an American? No....I am still a Desi.... SO my dear author... First tell me where is your origin? Are you Punjabi or Baloch by descent?

HighAnxiety | 12 years ago | Reply "Loralai" this was the high point of this blog for me.

Munir Saami | 12 years ago | Reply @ Raja Saeed. Propaganda against Punjabi or not, can we deny that the Baluchis did not join Pakistan of their own free will. Were they given a chance to participate in a Pre Pakistan Referendum. It is suggested that even Khan of Qalat was cajoled in joining Pakistan. Even if he was not persuaded , what right an individual had to move his entire people without any consultation. Did he own these people like goats and sheep. I am amazed. In a op-ed at this esteemed paper, Rasul Bakhsh Rais has penned, Reconciling history, http://tribune.com.pk/story/347784/reconciling-history/ It equally applies here as to the subject he wrote. I would suggest that we read it dispassionately .

Abdul Moeed Shahid | 12 years ago | Reply @baloch this is not kashmir. this is balochistan and is a integral part of pakistan so chance of going to un. we will not accept it

ProudPakistani | 12 years ago | Reply May peace come back to my Balochistan...That article made me sad by reminding me of those good old days....Long Live peaceful Balochistan with Pakistan..!!

Awais Ch | 12 years ago | Reply Good yaar!!!

sarmad | 12 years ago | Reply Glad to know something positive came on the platform of ET.

Haya | 12 years ago | Reply I'm a punjabi who has spent a good part of childhood in baluchistan. Growing up there was as peaceful as it could get - at a time when karachi was being flooded with violent activities. . Since I moved back to lahore, I've been wondering are things really that bad back there? I remember baluchies to be the nicest, friendliest of people. I have lived in Turbat and mandh, and also visited Gawadar (at a time when it was not 'developed'), Pasni and Jiuni. Some of the curly thick haired kids were a queer lot - like they loved eating rose-petals more than smelling it. But they were always, always welcoming and full of love. . Yet the news tells us otherwise. . I would say generally violent activities have risen everywhere in pakistan. Punjab is no better. But there's a trend of blaming all this on a specific group like a sect or a geographical location. That's not the real reason. It's just that there's a moral degradation in our society. And it is widespread from lower to elite upper class. We are not lagging in progress and development, what we are really lagging is in humane ways. . There's no 'group' to be blamed. It's just us. We have stopped behaving like a civilized nation. . And yes, I hope inshaAllah things to turn around in future. Though it may be a slow progress, but we have to start changing now. It's about time.

lutfullah | 12 years ago | Reply non baloch can never understand baloch nature through out the world

Grace | 12 years ago | Reply @Umair: The majority of Baluch are still pro Pakistani which is why so many Baluch are signing up to join the Pakistani army in record numbers. A small number of anti state criminals on the Indian payroll will not change anything but the key is to close the border with Afghanistan from where they are sent. One thing I don't get though- why wouldn't you learn to speak Baluchi too if you lived in Baluchistan so long? I have learned to speak Punjabi in addition to Pashtu because of my in laws. If people don't learn to respect Baluchi language in Baluchistan, they will wind up making Baluchistan like Sind where Sindi people feel left out in their own province.

What | 12 years ago | Reply Thank you Pervez Mush for setting the beautiful Balochistan on fire. Your favours to the country that gave you refuge is long. What should we thank you for? Kargil? Backstabbing India? Bugti murder? Killing of BB? Selling Aafia? Air bases? Hiding Osama? Suicide bombers? Lal Masjid? Subverting constitution? May 12 massacre? ...

abbas | 12 years ago | Reply Western propaganda to divide and rule us , Balochi's our are brothers .I hope the previous mistakes from the uncapable governments is forgotten and the rights of the balochis are fulfilled. Balochistan is an asset to us dividing it would for sure benefit the us scheme to get to iran and china i hope the policy makers can understand this .PS LOVE YOU PAKISTAN (BALUCHISTAN ,PUNJAB ,KPK ,SINDH ) AND KASHMIR

Raja Saeed | 12 years ago | Reply It is absolutely a wrong propaganda that Punjabies are discriminately being killed in Balochistan. Still there are thousands of Punjabi and Urdu speaking people who are not only living in the provincial capital but also in Baloch dominated districts. Killing innocent people be it Punjabi or Balochi speaking is condemnable. But it is the fact that the brutal paramilitary forces known as FC is whisking away innocent unarmed Baloch youth and handing them over to intelligence agencies who brutally torture them before being shot them in the head. Believe it or not 410 decomposed bodies of Baloch youth, including lawyers, doctor, professors, writers have been found dumped in desolated areas of Balochistan. The FC is killing innocent youth because it has morally and practically failed to fight resistance fighters in mountains. Thank to US congressman Mr. Dana who raised the issue of Balochistan that compelled Pakistani media to start crying on Balochistan. More than 8000 youths have been missing. There is no home left which is not affected of state terrorism. I totally agree that Sardars are the main hurdles in the way of development of Balochistan. Except three sardars, including Sardar Khair Bakhsh Marri, Nawab Bramdagh Bugti and Sardar Attaullah Mengal, all other 70 Sardars are brainchild of establishment which has given them a freehand to do what they want to do so that they Baloch independent movement could be sabotaged. The real Sardars in Baloch society consider themselves servant of people and rulers. I request Baloch resistance fighters to avoid targeting innocent Punjabi speaking people because they are not guilty to Baloch nation but their upper and middle class.

Warda | 12 years ago | Reply No doubt those were the good old days but to be honest i recently met students from Baluchistan who came to Lahore to attend youth conference and i was so glad to meet them they were complete opposite from what we get to learn about baloch people through media,they were full of live,optimism, passion, loyalty,friendly i didnt find an ounce of discrimination on the basis of ethnicity and i felt so happy to meet them to meet that part of my country which for me now a days is impossible to travel to.I pray with you that time comes when we all punjabi, pakhtoons or people from hazara can travel to Baluchistan without any fear of getting killed and receive the same hospitality which we use to get back in 1990's

Jawad | 12 years ago | Reply You are suggesting to just look the other way, go back to the times when we only had PTV and radio pakistan.. times when people living in urban areas (quetta the only urban area) had no idea what was happening in balochistan.. The situation of quetta city does not represent entire balochistan. And i doubt there have ever been majority of ethnic baloch people in quetta... I guess you are not a baloch by ethnicity and have only lived in quetta where majority of people aren't really baloch...

Baloch | 12 years ago | Reply Putting it simply, Problem :Balochs Want to be the masters of their own destiny Solution: We should be given the right of self-determination Under UN Whether We want to remain with pakistan or not. Problem solved.

Rehan | 12 years ago | Reply Very impressive blog and I pray that one day I can traveled the whole Baluchistan without any fear.....

Munir Saami | 12 years ago | Reply Interesting point of view. But the Writers does not elaborate as to why and what is the problem in Baluchistan. The article does not comment on forcible (as some say), amalgamation of Baluchistan into Pakistan. Unless we are willing to address all the fundamental issue, the beauty of Baluchistan will perpetually be marred.

Farhan Khan | 12 years ago | Reply Had a chance to Visit Quetta, Ziarat and Muslim Bagh... Balochistan's Natural Beauty and Silent roads have no match. May peace be restored in this wing of our nation.

Amir | 12 years ago | Reply Dear, i really like your blog. All the things are happening just because of MR BUGTI who is living abroad and want to sale Balochistan to United State of America thats why we want Separation of Balochistan from Pakistan. Hence, no one in Balochistan want's separation expect those who are uneducated and party members.

naveed pervez | 12 years ago | Reply It's time the media covered the genocide of punjabi civilians in balochistan.for far too long,hundreds of civilians have been deliberately killed because of their ethnicity but no blog or talkshow has been done about it.

Nadir | 12 years ago | Reply Can’t we return to the Balochistan where ethnicity was not an issue? - When was that? Pre-partition? Even the British discriminated based on ethnicity.

abdul moiz | 12 years ago | Reply Finally,a voice has been given to those people in balochistan who are not invited to any talkshows or aren't given column space because they aren't controversial enough.all we see on our media are people who abuse pakistan,but it's nice to see ET giving space to someone who states what he feels. It's good to see for once someone acknowledging that ethnic cleansing of non-baloch settlers has been going on for many years because no one in the media dares to talk about it.The popular narrative is one of the evil state oppressing its citizens,but no one talks about the non-balochs being taken off buses after their ID cards are checked and on being found to be from other provinces are shot dead. The govt. needs to reach out to the baloch civilians directly,not through the sardars because the sardars take all the funds without doing anything for the baloch civilians.It's time the development funds were spent to help the baloch civilians themselves.

MM | 12 years ago | Reply @Author I lived in Quetta from 1989 - 1994. Our house was in the city (near the railway station) whilst my school was in cantonment (Army Public School - Seven Streams). I still remember that 15-20 minute drive from my house to the school and vice versa and I don't remember a single barrier which separated cantonment from the rest of Quetta. For a first time visitor, the only way you could tell that you had entered cantt is by the road-signs and identical, army-style houses/buildings. Those were indeed the good old days. Even though I was really young but I hardly remember any form violence (sectarian or otherwise) during that time. Infact, this was the time when Karachi/Hyderabad were suffering from the worst form of ethnic-urban violence and some of our close family members had actually come to Quetta to live with us till things calmed down. Reading this piece, I am reminded of my childhood spent in that city and am severely saddened by what's happening now.

Umair | 12 years ago | Reply Baluchis love Pakistan. Long Live Pakistan!

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