The official pretence that all is well in Balochistan, aside from the actions of some outside agents, quite often runs into trouble. This has recently happened at Kohlu, where four members of the Frontier Corps (FC) were killed in a clash with Baloch militants. The Baloch Liberation Army, which has taken credit for the attack, says that the killings were revenge for the death of several women and children by the FC. The security forces have denied these allegations.
But all this is in many ways entirely irrelevant. The fact of the matter, detailed in reports by more than one human rights watch group, is that deep anger seethes in Balochistan. Many different kinds of battles are being fought there and, to make matters worse, the FC is a much hated force, its presence despised by many across the province. The prolonged oppression of the Baloch people, not only over the past decade but also in previous eras, only makes matters worse. The situation that we hear of from Kohlu is a reminder that something needs to be done urgently to tackle a situation that is worsening by the day. Skirmishes between security forces and local groups who, with increased fervour, express their desire for autonomy and their determination to obtain it, only make matters worse — each such event adding to the air of hatred that runs through the vast territory of a province, the grievances of which have been ignored for far too long.
It is time for authorities to open up its tightly-closed eyes and tackle the issue of Balochistan head on. If the problems are not addressed now, they will keep worsening and perhaps reach a point where nothing can be done. Armed action against the militants is useless and only adds to the tensions. It is no solution to the problem because such an approach ignores the symptoms which are causing the frustration and the resentment among the people of the Balochistan. What we need is a diplomatic settlement and a process of dialogue with all stake holders that can lead towards it. This must begin now. One — important — starting point could be the government ensuring that the abductions of teachers, students, intellectuals and in fact ordinary Baloch ends and that the issue of missing persons is resolved once and for all.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 18th, 2011.
COMMENTS (8)
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I quote,"This has recently happened at Kohlu, where four members of the Frontier Corps (FC) were killed in a clash with Baloch militants. The Baloch Liberation Army, which has taken credit for the attack". Why is the media such a big supporter of terrorists and does not expose the excesses of these terrorists. The FC should be let loose against them and should pay them in the same coin. Every one is fedup with these selfish foreign funded merceneries. They should be eliminated or else be prepared to be eliminated. Pakistan can ill afford such acts any more.
For a long time foreign agents have been operating in Baluchistan working hard playing with the sentiments of the impoverished and vunerable Baluchi population. As long as Pakistani goverment does not fix the vunerable situation in Baluchistan, the foreign enemy agents will thrive and continue to prey on the Baluchi population and the longer Pakistan waits the more complicated it will get. So, in reality, it the foreign enemy agent wanting to break Baluchistan with its ultimate goal to break Pakistan - which inshallah will never happen! Staying united is the answer and bringing rapid education and development is the ultimate answer. God guide and Bless Pakistan!
@arshad aftab: Dear brother think that WHY all this happening?As you say Baloch terrorist killing Punjabis but why? are they born terrorists? Think of it urself with cool mind.
I agree with the comment above, why is the media so sympathetic towards these murderous traitors, and is showing a blind eye when it comes to the ethnic cleansing that is happening in the province. One more question on my mind is, why are our Pashtun brothers from the province Silent while innocent civilians are being murdered. The pashtuns make up half the population of Balochistan, they should raise their voice and stand by the settlers who are mercilessly being killed. Does it not go against Pashtun hospitality to welcome and embrace outsiders in to your own region. What have these civilians done to deserve this, their ethnic and linguistic background is no ground for their lives and property being taken away from them.
How else do you suggest these militants who are killing innocent settler civilians be dealt with? How else do you propose the government of Pakistan deals with these sepratist mentality traitors, who are hell bent on conducting a blind ethnic cleansing of that province and breaking Pakistan up. I do not think diplomacy and dialogue will work with these traitors, as they want to talk off nothing less than independence. If Balochistan is such a marginalised province, why isnt the baloch stepping up and making private sector contributions to the province, they obviously do not want the province to develop, and their needlessly fueling hatered amongst the people against their own country. Every country has some regions over or under developed, this is not unique to Pakistan. Some one get them to stop mercilessly killing settler civilians then we should sit down and talk. Stop the ethnic cleansing.
My fellow countrymen; beware--- foreign forces and interests are the ones who want us to fight amongst ourselves!! The yanks, israelis and Indians want us to dissolve and they want to break the country so that they can pick up the remains one by one-- Remember the story of the old man who gathered his 7 sons together on his deathbed and taking 7 large sticks tried to break them on his knee-- but to no avail after many attempts. Then he broke one stick --one at a time with relative ease. Addressing his sons he said that if you are united --no one can break you-- but if you are together, your enemies and detratctors can never break you. That is the lesson that needs to be told to our, renegades in the smaller provinces who are running around and causing mayhem and havoc because they are being paid by these foreign interests??-- M<y brothers, understand this that if the pakistani state falters or becomes weak, you are doomed! and will be picked off like vermin. You think that Kabul or tehran has any love for the baluchis??-- or for that mettar the indian Govt will give special consideration to the deviant sindhis??- they will rape and pillage you. the only strength is out IMAAN and ofcouse or military and nuclear hardware that is in the hands of the capable army--despite all its shortcomings. There is no doubt that if tyhere was no pak army--pakistan would be a sadder version of afghanistan. If you have differences with the centre-- (many countries have the same issues)-- use the media,Internet, International forums to voice it-- not destry trucks and Gas pipelines??--you ARE DESTROYING THE FUTURE OF YOUR OWN CHILDREN!! M<ay allah guide you-- before it is too late.
why never any editorials for the punjabi civilians deliberately murdered in balochistan for their 'crime' of being punjabis? why never any talkshows or interviews of the families of the victims of balochi militants ?? why is our media so biased against punjabis? thousands of hours of hue and cry over akbar bugti and the missing persons but not a single second on the genocide of punjabis in balochistan,hundreds of teachers,doctors and traders have been ruthlessly killed by the baloch terrorist groups but our media deliberately chooses to remain dead silent over this ethnic cleansing while we have all the coverage of missing persons and akbar bugti. why no suo moto notice over the deliberate campaign of murder against the punjabi civilians?
A very sensible leader.