QUETTA:
Defining the scope of the military’s engagement in Balochistan, Army Chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani on Monday said the army cannot directly hold talks and negotiations with “angry Baloch nationalists” since it is the job of the democratic government.
Gen Kayani also defended the much criticised role of intelligence agencies and the Pakistan Army in Balochistan and said that the armed forces were not involved in killings and dumping of mutilated bodies in the province.
The army chief was speaking to journalists at the inauguration of the Garrison Sports Academy and Institute of Medical Sciences in Quetta on Monday.
“The army has nothing to do with mutilated bodies being recovered in Balochistan and no military operation is being carried out in any part of the province. It is the responsibility of the provincial government to maintain law and order in the province and the army is there to assist them,” he told reporters.
Baloch nationalists, as well as family members of the ‘missing persons’, usually blame security forces and spy agencies for whisking away political opponents whose bodies are later found in desolated parts of the province.
Besides nationalists, human rights group have also criticised the role of security forces in Balochistan. In a report published in June this year, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan blamed Frontier Corps for the abductions and killings in the province and said the provincial government seemed non-existent.
New York-based rights group Human Rights Watch, in a report this week, also reported that security agencies are involved in abductions, torture and extrajudicial killings in the province.
(Read: “We Can Torture, Kill, or Keep You for Years”)
Gen Kayani said the people of Balochistan are patriotic and the army will leave no stone unturned to develop the province. “Strengthening Balochistan is linked to a strong Pakistan and all efforts are being made to protect the rights of the Baloch people,” he added.
The army chief said the sports complex and institute of medical sciences is a gift for the people of Balochistan, adding that 80% of the students admitted to the institute will be Baloch.
Kayani’s was the second statement from the Pakistan Army in two weeks in response to the allegations of target killings. Earlier, Quetta Corps Commander Lt Gen Jawed Zia also defended the military and said the army and intelligence agencies were not responsible for the killings and dumping of bodies of Baloch missing persons.
However, the judicial commission on missing persons in its report said: “In order to put an end to the issue of enforced disappearances/missing persons, the intelligence agencies should be restrained from arbitrarily arresting and detaining anyone without due process of law.”
Responding to Kayani’s statement, Information Secretary of Balochistan National Party (BNP) Agha Hassan said: “The denial of the security forces’ involvement is regrettable.”
“The army is taking a defensive position to deter Baloch nationalists from taking these war crimes to the international courts,” Hassan told The Express Tribune.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 2nd, 2011.
COMMENTS (17)
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With the ongoing ISI (helped by the FC) kill & dump operations under glaring international spotlight thanks to the efforts of HRCP and HRW, all Kayani can do is deny it by engaging in khaki double speak. How can any powerless 'government' representative enter negotiations when Balochistan is being run by Rawalpindi wallahs?
What a paradox!!!! A medical institute and sports complex in Quetta Cantt and 80% quota for Balochs. First milestone for the Balochistanis in general and Balochs in particular will be to get enter in to the Cantonment. As far as the denial mantra of Army is concerned here are some questions: 1- Does the army accepts that they manipulated the governments and imposed martial laws for the lust and megalomania of power? 2- Does army agrees that it was because of them that the eastern wing of the country seceded? 3- Does the army accepts the finding of the Hamood ur Rehman Commission? 4- Does the army accepts that they hanged the most popular prime minister of the country? 5- Does the army accepts that the current quandary of Afghanistan and the region is the victim of their insane policies? 6- Does the army agrees that the contemporary menace of terrorism is their laboratory fiasco? 7- Does the army accepts that they intrude in to the politics of Pakistan? 8- Do they admit that they created IJI and other ilks to manipulate the Democratic process? 9- Do they admit that they failed miserably in all their military expeditions against India? 10-Does the army admits the guilt of killing Akbar Bugti ?
Love u Pakistan Army, Allah has been so kind to Pakistan who blessed us with such a loyal, sincere, patriotic and professional soldiers. Govt needs to take some share and don't put everything on the shoulders of Army.
I'm hundred percent certain that USA has used this issue to get Pakistan to act. US will say that they would back India on Kashmir and Balochis on Balochistan issue, if Pakistan doesn't act against Haqqani network.
Not that USA is a friend of India or Balochis, but they know how to play politics.
This is the duty of Baloch people to keep their home at peace. They should be loyal to their country and if army has set up a new science college for them, they should take admission in it and prove them the loyal citizen of Pakistan. How army can be the enemy of Balochistan or Balochi people as we all know that in present scenario unity gives the sense of security rather than disintegration of the state. Pakistan has a lot of enemy in the world, some of them because of her on wrong policies and some of them we inherited. So I don't think army will create problem for herself.
Go to the international courts!
Trust and Credibility are very delicate fabric !!!
Keep trying to restore the same but words and actions shall sychronize.
Balochistan is not a simple victim of nationlism - There is a lot of neglect and exploitation of Balochistan at the hands of Pakistan. Need to address that and make Balochistanis "Stake Holder" in Pakistan !!!
Unfortunately, Pakistan as a whole has become pretty much a security state rather than the envisaged "Welfare State".
Whats the use? Civilians will run back to the Army to get things approved, same thing which is happening with India with regards to Kashmir.
Kayani is right. It is the civil govt of Balochistan and Pakistan that should maintain law and order, investigate the murders and book the culprits. But Kayani missed the point. Inspite of his denials of army's involvement, no one including BNP believes him. Past deeds of the army are haunting them, It will take more honesty, clarity and transparency on the part of the army in addition to obedience to the elected govt will only make anyone believe the army and the secret agencies. When will that be.? Let us start with Saleem Shahzaad's murder. Why cant the govt and the army together solve this case at the earliest if they want the army to be believed.
How about all the Punjabi settlers that are being slaughtered in Baluchistan?
*strong text lets all love Pakistan.
@Mirza
. Pakistani's love China because they think that China and the USA are enemies and that growing closer to China is going to offend/punish the USA. Of course that belief is dead wrong and its apparent to everyone outside of Pakistan that the USA/China have friendly relations and any Pakistani who travels to China or the USA should be able to provide first hand testimony to support my statement.
fc is there its a pashtun mojority unit
@M.Akthar: Why don't you write about it, who stopped you? The ET just published your comments to prove you wrong. Our all weather friend China can kill as many Muslims as they want. It is not the US who is always the target of hate even for trial of any Muslim. China does not believe in open and fair trials, they simply kill them. And we Pakistanis love Chinese as our trusted friend and ally!
Why does ET only reports ethnic cleansing of Baloch when ethic cleansing uigher muslims is not posted! Muslims are being massacred in uigher by chinese army & we care nothing. Its time for our army to take up the cause.
China should remember that pakistan provides lots of jobs to chinese including business opportunities through sui gas!
Baloch should be recruited into the FC and army