A separate Balochistan is not practical: CM
An independent Balochistan is not a practical proposition and will lead to bloodbath in the province, Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani said on Thursday.
“We have to find a way out within the ambit of Pakistan and the 1940 Lahore resolution,” he said, while talking to a delegation of journalists at the CM Secretariat in Quetta.
Raisani added that the government is ready to hold talks with Baloch leaders, but they (nationalist leaders) continue to demand independence and refuse to budge. “But independence will come at the cost of bloodbath civil strife.”
He reiterated his earlier stand and said Baloch leaders should find a solution to the province’s problems within the framework of the 1940 resolution. “All rights of the people can be ascertained within the framework of one Pakistan,” he added.
“Political stability can not be achieved through war,” Raisani told journalists, adding that the state’s resources should be spent on economic welfare and not on wars.
In October, the prime minister had renewed his offer for talks with ‘angry baloch brothers.’ Following the prime minister’s proposal, a special parliamentary committee formed to address the violence in Karachi and Balochistan planned a visit to Quetta. “No more violence, it’s time to hold talks with our angry (Baloch) brothers,” the head of the committee Religious Affairs Minister Syed Khursheed Shah had said.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 4th, 2011.
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Baloch people need to get united and then educated. Most of them are ruled by Nawabs and Sardars that don't even bother for the betterment of their people. From Magsi to Rind to Kethran to Jatak, all live luxurious lives while their people suffer. If Balochistan is granted independence, then what? Who will rule and who will lead the newly born state? Would it be Attaullah Mengal of Yaar Mohammad Rind? Barhamdagh Bugti or Khair Baksh Marri? There is no one and independence will only lead to a lot of bloodshed! The grandson of Khan e Kalat, Dawood Khan is himself in self imposed exile in Britain and is seeking asylum.
Balochistan and Sindh should leave together as South Pakistan/Federal Republic of Sindh & Balochistan. They get along better than they do with either the Pashtuns or the Punjabis, just as those to get along better than they do with Sindhis or Baloch.
Certainly, Sindh and Balochistan would complement each other in terms of resources.
An independent Balochistan would undermine Pakistan's leverage on Afghanistan, India and the USA - it's mineral wealth and strategic location would make it relatively wealthy and a major player in the region. These facts alone make it impracticable for Pakistan to consider independence for Balochistan.
@Baloch Khan: Are you even aware of the fact that there are 39 tribes currently in Khuzdar region alone and if ever Baluchistan gets independent there would be a pure bloodbath on a imaginable scale. Balochistan has no water supple, very little fertile area and most of the land is not suitable for large scale development. We would go back 1500 years if we separate from Pakistan.Yes,Pakistani government in Islamabad has done injustices but we cannot blame the entire Pakistan for that, it would be really unfair. Their universities,government, armed forces etc all have to fill a certain quota for Balochis so please praise where it's due. Do you even know where do all the rich Balochis live? In posh areas of Lahore, karachi and Islamabad!! I have been there
@Baloch: Then just flee to India please!!!!!! You'll realize the providences you are enjoying here in Pakistan.
@Human: Salute to the cunningness of indians ...... whether its Bangladesh or Kashmir and/or indian held Rajhastan Khalastan. As far as India's amputation is concerned, my dear just go through the era after 1935 election....was there a single reason to stay agianst antagonising attacks of indian rule. Please compare it with more then 1000 year muslim rule in India. All races/religions were how much given freedom and ease. want to go further in the history? Start it with Muhammad Bin Qasim...why the have not masses were converting to the message from Arabia? Was the myths prevalent that time not enough to bind the lots? Please Live and Let live in equality.
The difference is that in Pakistan we recognize that our Baloch brothers have genuine greviances and we are open to resolving them together. The fact that the CM of Balochistan and the media can discuss these issues openly goes a long way to show our maturity.
When it comes to Kashmir, only a lunatic would try to draw parallels with Balochistan. If the Indian had any maturity they would treat the Kashmiris as human beings and not like caged animals just because they want independence. Having said that, they are equally savage to the freedom fighters in Asam, Nagaland and the Maoists in the rest of the 35% of India. With growing divide between the rich and poor in India (45% living below poverty line) it's only natural that India will have even more such insurgencies.
@Word Life, Looks like you are counting on readers not knowing history of Baluchistan. It is a disputed territory as well. All post-independence armed struggles and the number of Baluchis killed and disappeared are proof.
Just a question for knowledge nothing against any one? Once Punjab, Bengal and Kashmir are legally/illegally divided between Muslims and Hindus/Sikhs of that provinces then why the Sindh is not divided between Muslim Sindhi and Hindu Sindhi? Why the Hindu Sindhi people were forced to migrate to India leaving their original homeland. These poor Hindu Sindhi do not have any province/state/homeland which they can call their own unlike Punjabi, Balochis, Kashmiri, Bengali and other scores of states between both the country.
Friends, I am a Baloch studying at University of Cambridge on Pakistani government's assistance and rest assured if ever Pakistan fights a war with India, i would be the first one to fight for Pakistan as it has provided me everything i can hope. And those Balochis who think army is massacring Balochis, well, wait till you see the mansions of Sardars of Baloch. It's not Pakistani army that is doing injustice, it is the Baloch that are doing it upon themselves.
The partition of the Subcontinent was wrong and ill conceived, hastily drawn to facilitate the interest of colonialists. It had ignored ethnicity, family bond, language and cultural affinity.Urdu was selected as the language of Pakistan when it was spoken by a minority. Pakistan became hotbed of communalism. Baluchistan and NWFP were forced to join Pakistan, thanks to Pundit Nehru's secularism. Sind should have been a part of India with much bondage with India. Baluchistan and NWFP should have been asked to where to join as other princely states were asked at the time of partition. Mr. Jinnah should have been chosen to lead India as he was a secular leader. Pundit Nehru was impatient and unrealistic. He mishandled Kashmir and was manipulated to go to the UNO by Lord Mountbatten. Kashmir is officially now a part of India as per the Instrument act of accession and it has democratically elected governments. Pakistan must stop using Muslims of India to foment unrest and mayhem in India to seize Kashmir. This is a double game again by Pakistan while denying independence to Baluchistan and NWFP.
Kashmir is an integral part of India and every one of the 1.3 billion citizens are willing to sacrifice everything to ensure that it stays that way.
@Kashif Nadeem So you think East Pakistan was never suppose to stay. Bengali's were not part of Pakistan.. thei blodd went in vain ? Was it India's amputation or mindless army generals who don't mind sniffing around in Kargil with nuclear bomb in their pockets?
Well the Bangladeshi's once thought the same until West Pakistan lost its head...Military domination & stubborn attitude with its strategic assets will ensure 71 repeat.
India must extend diplomatic and moral support to balochistan....
@ Taveer: The Balochistan is announced its independence on 15 August 1947 and it was subsequently annexed by military operation by the pakistan army on 27 March 1948.
Here is the proof of it: http://www.thebaluch.com/documents/Appendix/InsideBaluchistanAppendices14.pdf
@ Kashif Nadeem: the level of brutality your army of 1000 can do in Balochistan, can not be equal to 700,000 indian soldiers in Kashimir cant. What your army of 100,000 did in Bangladesh, million killed and raped. if you are a muslim as you have a muslim name, the Prophet S.W.S was also along some salt pinched people and what he did, that is evident.
And friends Balochistan is 100 fold bigger disputed area then Kashmir.
The CM has made a statement out of context. He should have told people why Baloch Nationalists have taken to the guns...and why they are not entering a dialogue. We all know the Baloch a number of times have asked for stopping military Operation and stop extra judicial killing before any kind of dialogue but he didn't even talk about it. This statement by the CM is a whitewash he has a Baloch should stand up for the atrocities of the Army in Balochistan instead of getting into a philosophical debate..This is such a shame!
@Kashif Nadeem: Your comparing of Kashmir and Balochistan is very helpful to understand the Baloch question. Pakistanis say Kashmir is a disputed area and if Kashmir and Balochistan issues are comparable then we can reasonably conclude that Balochistan is also a disputed area. Those who support the Baloch cause will ever be grateful to you.
is it too much to ask for freedom?
Partition is the real beginning of all these issues of southasia whether it is in India, Pakistan, Srilanka. The Muslim League of undivided India adopted " Direct Acton " to get separation. The culture of violent politics for separation with an aim to form a separate nation-state has since then become a political culture of southasia. We have learned through experience that this method is very effective. I find the Baloch question exactly same as the muslim question of undivided India. As it happened with the Indian muslims, those Baloch who want to stay with Pakistan should stay but those who want a seperate state should be given their free Balochistan. Atleast a true Pakistani who believe in the idea of Pakistan as different from India should find this conclusion very legitimate and principled.
Kashmir is as much part of India as Baluchistan part of Pakistan. Pakistanis have no idea how correct history is written and taught. History has been totally murdered in Pakistan. If Pakistan creates problem in Kashmir, India will ensure the same in Pakistan. "Sheeshe ke gharon me rahne wale doosre ke gharon me pathar nahi fenkte". This game is going to cost Pakistan much more. Its up to Pakistan how far she wants to go. If whole Paakistan is united in her resolve to get Kashmir, so is entire India not to let that happen. Its 180 million against 1.20 billion. Simple..
Pakistan not using 700,000 armymen brutily in Balochistan as being used in Kashmir. Kashmir struggle is run by kashmiries themselves giving blood and thousands of lives. In Balochistan, these are a salt pinch of people henpecked under EXTERNAL influences to amputate Pakistan all the rest very loyal and loving to their beloved country. Pakistan was created to last and will so.
it may not be practical, but its a necessity...in hope of perpetual peace, not just in south east asia, but world over too..holistically...
An independent Balochistan is not a practical proposition
Mr.CM, you didn't say its not a possible proposition !!!
Balochistan is a disputed territory between Balochis, Pakistanis and Pashtuns of this side of the illegal Durand Line. Free Balochistan and Pastunistan.
@Word Life: What makes you believe Balochistan, Sindh and FATA are not? They are equally in dispute, if not more.
@Yuri, @ Rohit.... Balochistan became part of Pakistan at indpendence time... Just like Andhra Pradesh becmae part of india at time of independence...
India has occupied Kashmir based on its military and that place does not belong to India - you need to understand this... It is right of Kashmiris to demand a poll on what they want to do in future.. just beccause of military, India has no such right over kashmiris.
Between, Why is Pakistan's internal matters of so interest to you? Because, you people have always been keen on knowing where Pakistan is weak and can break... you have tried this in 1971 and if you try again, you will get roasted.
kashmir is a disputed territory between india and pakistan.Both india and pakistan and UN agree with that but balochistan is an integral part of pakistan.khalistan has not been granted to sikhs even they demand their own country.
@ Yuri @ Rohit
Kashmir is a disputed territory and unfinished agenda of partition
Btw, this article is about CM Balochistan
There is no need for all this. The agencies have to make a commitment to root out terrorism wholeheartedly. You can't eliminate terrorism in one place and let it fester in another.
Great! Now would Pakistan apply the same logic to Kashmir?
Is it the right of people of Balochistan to demand independence? These matters are so grey!