‘Baloch separatists willing to talk peace’
A Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) senator in Balochistan has disclosed that Baloch insurgents are willing to negotiate with the government about the possibility of joining the federal framework.
While talking to the media here on Monday, Senator Haji Lashkari Raisani said that he was approached by a Baloch separatist leader – known to be involved in insurgency in the province – about entering the political mainstream.
“A separatist group, waging insurgency in Balochistan, contacted me and agreed to work out a peaceful struggle within the framework of Pakistan,” Lashkari told The Express Tribune, after speaking to the media.
Although the PPP Senator declined to name the Baloch leader, he said: “[It is] the leader who is in self-exile and is leading an insurgent group in Balochistan”. He also categorically stated that those who contacted him were not involved in targeted killings or the killing of innocent people.
“They did not impose any conditions or place any demand but expressed their willingness to continue their struggle within the framework of the Constitution,” said Raisani, who is also the former Balochistan PPP president.
The senator said that he sees the breakthrough as a major initiative that will help in normalising the situation in Balochistan. He added that he would hold a meeting with Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani soon to further discuss the matter.
“If this development is successful, other separatist leaders will also join the negotiations,” he predicted.
Balochistan is currently facing the fifth insurgency since Pakistan has come into being. Targeted killings and attacks on security forces and economic installations have intensified in the province after the killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti in 2006.
The government has repeatedly made claims of launching a reconciliation process in the province, but no such move has been substantially initiated.
Meanwhile, Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Raisani, in a statement, welcomed the development and said it bode well for the future of Balochistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 6th, 2011.
COMMENTS (30)
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Its a good sign and hopefully peace will follow
Does this CM KNOWS WHAT IS HAPPENING AROUND HIM AND RIGHT UNDER HIS NOSE?
'' .........a degree is a degree'' Sardar Nawab Aslam Raisani- Honorable CM of Balochistan, (Independence celebration August 15)
Baloch are proud people and good Pakistanis.
@Ashok: Ashok you mean The only solution for Kashmir is freedom from India. Perfect.
@Sana: I am a troubled soul too, because I feel for the Baloch people. There is a temple there of my favourite goddess which I would like to visit and worship at. Any problems with that!
is it too much to ask for simple freedom?
Finally sense prevailed. Our Govt better not miss this opportunity.
@Ashok
You really are one troubled soul. May God give you some solace :)
Our Govt should not miss this opportunity.
@ Ashok You know you can't do anything. Stop wasting your breadth here.
The only solution for Balochistan is freedom.
its very nice. thanks to them to talk peace .god bless them
@Ashok....are you a kid or behaving like a juvenile your self..by comparing Baluchistan with Kashmir you cant not hide or run away from your atrocities in Kashmir and denying the right of self determination to Kashmirs as per UN resolution..comments of Postman and Uh will help you to keep your mouth closed..
Well done and very mature of the Baloch leaders... now the people in Islamabad need to stop being so be-akil and ensure Baloch people have ALL their rights and needs met. They are equal Pakistanis and everyone in Pakistan should move two steps forward if the Baloch leaders move one step forward towards peace.
We are ONE nation and the Baloch people are an integral part of us. We need to ensure that all legitimate demands are met.
@ashok sai:
Does india have a territorial dispute with Pakistan over balochistan?
I think the answer to this question should also answer yours.
@ashok sai: A more appropriate analogy would be Miss Khar meeting with Maoist rebels. That of course did not happen. So Mr. Krishna is well advised to stay away from Balochistan :)
@Shahid Hussain: @Balochi shehzada:
You got agitated when I say a thing which is never going to happen, now tell me how can you justify foreign minister (Khar) of Pakistan meeting Kashmir separatists ?
Thats goods to know this - i m really happy that our precious and beloved province will be settled down. May ALLAH protect Pak and Balochistan from the eyes of our enemies
Long live Baluchistan ...soon to be the most prosperous province of Pakistan
There is no doubt that, if these negotiations are successful, we can expect peace in Baluchistan, which is the need of the hour.
@Beebarg -and all the dissapointed Indian Trolls, Pakistan will come out stronger and Balochis will never allow India to exploit or cause any proxy war on Balochi land that has caused so much damage over the years. Lessons learned the hard way . . . .better late than never. Balochistan will be the pride of Pakistan, Inshallah!
@Beebarg: Brother ordinary Pakistanis love each other. It is ruling elite which is looting the country. CJ must take suo moto action on the Balochistan situation. Get the AGHAZ-E-HUQOOQ-E-BALOCHISTAN implemented first of all. Make sure Balochistan gets its due royalties on all the resources being utilized by the country. Create a mechanism through which Baloch brothers are assured that they remain a majority in their own province. When each citizen of this country gets his rights there is no reason to fight. In Balochistan, Sindh and Southern Punjab the wadera culture must also be removed so that developments reaches grass root levels. InshAllah all problems of ordinary Pakistanis will be resolved.
What really should annoy the average Baluch is that even their own leaders never raise their voices for them. Its always about royalties and money. Your leaders do not care for you please understand that. The Baloch sghould throw away their own outdated feudals who have destroyed the province and its people
@ashok sai: You indians bettter stay away from our affairs. Balochi people support Kashmir and its struggle.
@ashok sai: What are you trying to insinuate by this comment of yours. Go and check your country where there are more insurgencies than Pakistan. Get your house in order first.
Real peace will come to Baluchistan and the rest of the country only when people of Pakistan throw away these putrefied remnants of their colonial past (our current breed of politicians) and start voting for people who have the will and the ability to solve their problems. If justice prevails then nobody will ever need to pick up a gun and become a farari. What annoys the average Baluch is that nobody in punjab, sind and KPK raises a voice for us.
I think it is a really good sign. So the movement can go into doldrums. But here we need to be a little cautious. Baloch leaders bowed down and agreed to work within the constitutional framework, however, lack of seriousness by Federation pushed them to look sideways. If a Baloch leader is initiating negotiations then he should be given amnesty by State of Pakistan.
But this should be emphasized that Baloch leaders have realized that if they really want their people not to become extinct due to hatred sowed by Taliban with support of certain elements of Agencies to topple down militancy and Resistance Movement then they must work and work hard to keep the communal harmony intact.
I think this is a great step and a very positive step. If Mr Rehman Malik is creating hurdles and not willing to talk to the Baloch separatists then Zardari should designate someone else to do so. And in democracy it is always "Give and Take"... Give Baloch their due rights and take integrated and Energy Sufficient Pakistan from them!!! No one should doubt it!
how about as a gesture ofmgood will, these seperatists stop killing settlers to show their serious formpeace.
SM Krishna should meet those Baloch separatists leaders.