Separatists in Balochistan with foreign backing aim to destabilise Pakistan, said former president and All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) chief Pervez Musharraf.
The former dictator was speaking via video at a conference titled “Problems of Balochistan”, arranged by Pakistan First, a forum of retired servicemen at a local club on Sunday.
Musharraf alleged that certain politicians were supporting separatists for political benefits. “The chiefs of Bugti, Marri and Mengal (tribes) are involved in the prevailing condition of Balochistan. The Balochistan Liberation Army is a terrorist organisation which is targeting non-locals in the province. The present government has failed to tackle the province’s issues,” Musharraf said.
Shahzain Bugti, Talal Bugti and others have contacts with foreign elements. Not a single inch of the country would disintegrate in the presence of Pakistan Army,” he maintained.
He claimed that 60 per cent of Balochistan’s population had rejected the separatists. “He continued to downplay separatist elements in the province, saying: “The people do not know the real situation of Balochistan. Only four per cent of population of the country lives in Balochistan and 60 per cent of that population is in favour of Pakistan. Just three to four thousand people are involved in terrorism and those are supported by foreign elements,” he added.
The former president claimed that billions of rupees were spent on development projects in the province during his tenure.
Members of the Pakistan First forum, (conceived in January 2012), which has over 200 members affiliated with the Pakistan Ex-Servicemen Society, urged the government to implement the Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan package and the National Finance Commission Award.
Members highlighted how the province had been ignored and how its problems could be readdressed during their briefings. They stressed the significance of Gwadar Port which remains cut off from the railway system. They also expressed the geostrategic importance of the province as well as its abundance of unexploited natural resources.
General Farooq in his keynote address said: “The future of Balochistan is at stake and so is that of Pakistan,” while highlighting the province’s importance.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 16th, 2012.
COMMENTS (83)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
@S Khan: let me guess you belong to that school of thought which wants to dismiss any type of conspiracy theory put forward, no matter how thought worthy it is, if people want more proof on foreign interference in Balochistan, look up these articles i suggested, also google, BLA in Jerusalem, so called free Balochistan government inexile has its office in Jerusalem. It is not uncommon for Israel or the United States to support seperatist movements within Muslim countries, Israeli government recently admitted to supporting South Sudan rebels in waging war against the Arab Muslim North and they provided them with arms, money, technical support, both countries have admitted to that. Sure the government has neglected the province over the decades, sure but it does not mean you adopt the path of traitors and start havoc through out the provinces and kill innocent settler civilians. the Baloch nationalists have never denied they have killed thousands of civilians and proudly admit to the ethnic cleansing. Shamful and disgusting
@Deen Sheikh:
Good story. Did Zaid Hamid told you that story?
Musharaf had foreign backing throughout his tenure and he did some pretty undesirable stuff for his foreign backers. He can speak.
@Arif:
well said sir. i salute your honesty.
@Salma:
your insane and senile views are not needed on a forum of educated people. keep your political garbage to yourself auntie.
@harkol:
get your facts straight before making stupid accusations. president musharraf saved pakistan from sure destruction, promoted its economy, revived its standing in the world and fought terrorism and extremism. we all see the effects of his departure now.
@Rajendra Kalkhande:
by that logic india should be disintegrating very soon...praise the lord.
@YUSUFZAI:
im ashamed people like you call themselves pakistani. president musharraf zinabad!
I think we deserve to be treated like our so called leaders are treating us.. Thumbs up for our nation.
Musharraf is true,brave,patriotic and have tolerance guts leader.
i am 100% agree to mr,pervaiz musharaf
i 100% agree 2 former president mr,pervaiz mushraf
@Mirza: what was the one good thing akber bugtee did in his entire life.....
@YUSUFZAI: am so proud of him he our leader and army man..
@Rajendra Kalkhande: Don't spread misinformation, Recently in India 40-52 Percent Peoples (Hindu, Sikhs) want separation, If India had really democracy held referendum.
i agree with the former president and army chief to an extent that foreign elements are involved in destabilizing our beautiful province ( Baluchistan). It is not only one country rather four to five countries including some muslim countries who do not want to see baluchistan as a stable and hub of economic nerve centr due to unexplored minerals and upcoming state of the art gawadar port. Now the question is what next? separate baluchistan or unified baluchistan with Pakistan?. We as muslim first and than pakistani have to see what is the best thing in our interest?.....i request every individual of my country to please stop thinking about urself but instead get up and start working for the prosperity and stability of our country.....I am sure that not only 60% but even more than that %age of balochis are in favour of pakistan and God Willing will remain as part and parcel of Pakistan...Long Live Pakistan
first of all musarraf is not coming to pakistan
and if mussrraf says something logical ful everyone should hear.
there was fuel and you are the one who lit the fire. and now the fire is destroying everything.
@Deen Sheikh: Thanks for the information i did not know about it completely. By the way what ever is the dispute non violent ways must be employed by all sides to solve the problems. There is no point in killing our own people. collateral damage is too much, and for the families of people killed is terrible to bear. This not only applies to governments but also separatists and terrorists. I know governments all over the world do not take the matter seriously as long as the protests or grievances are peaceful, but still that is the only way to resolve the disputes. Let there be peace in the world. Let us all try to make history by having a prolonged peace in the world.
@reasonable: Sure i am on a big major legal court of justice where I to have present evidence, tangible evidence? lol do u think intelligence agencies leave traces behind, evidence living or non living is usually wiped out here is another thing many do not know about Balochistan the province has always had these anti state elements living in the vast open rugged terrains of Balochistan with direct links to the sardars, many news reports have been done on how dangerous and difficult Balochistan was to cross for independant travellers by road, especially at night. this is Pre Bugti assassination, since Bugti got assassinate, these rogue traitors of the state of Pakistan made their way to Urban Balochistan and started creating havoc, brainwashing the urban middle class, and started the massacre of Punjabi and Urdu speaking settlers, since 2006, almost 50,000 settlers have left the province. As far as Balochistan's forced accessio to Pakistan is concerned, few people know that under the Radcliffe boundary commission set up by Lord Mountbatten princely states linked by geography had to go to either India or Pakistan, the pashtun belt of Balochistan including Quetta, Chaman, Ziarat were alreadynunder direct British control. only the Khan of Kalat had to be convinced to join in he was being stubbornly resistant. The Makran coast, including Gwadar and Pasni were purchased from Oman in 1952, thse nationalists brag about how Port Gwader wold be their gateway to the future, it wasnt theirs to begin in, I say Government of Pakistan should partition Balochistan, so all the greedy peoplemhave their ambitions fulfilled, 3 provinces can be carved from Balochistan. Upper Balochistan, Quetta and remaining pashtun belt Central Balochistan, including Sui and Dera Bugti Makran Coast and Southern Balochistan, from Lasbela to Pasni.
@Deen Sheikh: Deen I can understand from were you are coming from but same will not hold water in any international forum, You will have to produce evidence. If not water tight case then at least corroborative and circumstantial evidence which can stand legal challenge is required. Simply quoting articles will not suffice.
@Rajendra Kalkhande: Sorry to correct you but over 90% of native Pakistanis - muslims from what is now Pakistan wanted to have their own country and independence from the British. Your comment may be true for Indian Muslims who are Indian but please do not make assumptions about Pakistanis. We want to live in peace with all of our neighbours but we don't want to be part of a country with any of them.Despite my dislike of Musharraf, he is correct to say a small group of anti Pakistan criminals are being funded and trained across the border with Afghanistan with support from India. The reason they are not successful is because most Baluch are pro Pakistani- talk to any Baluch in Karachi or Islamabad- they may complain about provincial development which is justified but they never speak of separation which they say is a foreign plot.
@reasonable: Google those artices which were published in the online editions of the Guardian newspaper (guardian.co.uk) and Aljazeera English (aljazeera.com), Indian government off the record has admitted to their involvement in Balochistan, look up documentary Pakistan's other war, some fighters in outback Balochistan have admitted to taking foreign backing which they see as essentialmto their cause.
Musharraf is a true leader who sincerely thinks about Pakistan, while other heavy weights think about themselves and their next generation.
Love you Musharraf.
Yes these Indians have this superiority complex. Mainly because Indian government have manged to control Indian media. All these Indians think that India is next USA. And Pakistan is next Afghanistan. All these sweet Indians here at ET; are ignorent. They will not say a single word about Kashmir. Thay will not say a single word about Indians involvement in Balochistan. Haha Indians should thank ET that ET let such anti-pak comments to be posted.
When every leader of the country is leaving no stone unturned for graft money, then why not the Balochi Sardars? Who ever pays them more, they are ought to follow those benefactors. Currently, RAW and CIA alliance has upper hand in finances.
Musharraf is trying to create chaos in Pakistan, in fact that foreign hand he talks about could be his own. Do not forget that the army is still with him. He wants some excuse for army to stage a coup and take over controls. This way he will be back as head of state again. Pakistanis beware of this India born Pakistani.
He was the one who made the problem worse by killing Nawab Anwar Bughti. Mush belongs in jail.
General Musharaf's statement has some element of credibility, there have been reports in the recent years on Britain's guardian newspaper that secret off the record Indian government spokesperson admitted to the British government that there was Indian involvement in the Baloch treason and insurgency, this was their way of a payback for our meddling in Indian Kashmir on the other side of the LoC, The latter being common knowledge in Pakistan that we have supported the so called Kashmiri freedom fighters against the Indian army. There was even a similar report recently on Aljazeera English. The root of the problem are however the greedy feudal sardars, the ordinary people of the province suffers due to them and their made to beleive the government of Pakistan is responsible, these traitors the so called nationalists are killing innocent civilians, tens of thousands of settlers, mostly Punjabi have been massacred in Balochistan. No one talks about their plight their suffering at the hands of their balochi neighbours with whom they have lived for decades. At the same time our FC is also using excessive force on ordinary people in a bid to capture every possible traitor to Pakistan, too much collateral damange on both sides, civilian bloodshed needs to end. To the Indian people reading this, you guys should stick to your Times of India.
Confused!: U should stop meeting the same he/she Baloch again and again, that should end your confusion.
@Confused!: go to liaqat baloch of jamateislami
@malatesh: yes ask me if you want to i am of the afridi tribe
@alicia: please read the article carefully. No where is stated that 40% want separation. It says 60% are clearly against separation. Just because the other 40% (due to fear of the few thousand paid-agents) have not OPENLY expressed their support for Pakistan, DOES NOT (repeat NOT) imply that they supporting separation. Kindly note the opponents of Pakistan account for less than 1% (NOT 40%). Once again, like always very well said duly-elected former president Musharaf (I salute you for your courage). Also the the paid-agents (like their masters) putting "bounty" on Musharaf's head should be put behind bars.
To all indians here... you are all backing these sepratist, by knowing just 40% people supoort separtist... what about KASHMIR... there are 100% people, who want freedom from INDIA.... So, why are you not supporting them.......because they are muslims... and dont wont to live with INDIA...???? If you really care for the people so much , then treat all issues equal.
@Rajendra Kalkhande: Which 70% you are talking about my friend? More than 90% muslims wanted to be part of Pakistan; your masters the Brits through Lord Mountbatton charted the map such a way and "AWARD" India with the chunks of territory which had clearly voted to be part of Pakistan. And now (over the past several years), India is itching to avenge the Kashmir independence movement through creating Baluchistan issue (through its paid agents, who were never loyal to Pakistan in the first place).
He himself is living and roaming around free with foreign backing...
@Faizan Ayyub: @Omer
I'm sure the world's been waiting with bated breath for this proof!!
As always, WELL SAID former president Musharaf. I 100 percent endorse your views on the issue. It is a fact that president Musharaf stood up to the feudal sardars, and refused to pay ghunda tax to them, and directly provided billions of ruppees as development funds for the benefit of ordinary Baluchi masses. . The foreign sardars (claiming that their forefathers migrated to Baluchistan from Syria!! are welcome to return to the land of their origin). PAKISTAN-FIRST (including Baluchistan as INTEGRAL part of Pakistan), always and always. Pakistan and Pak Army ZINDA-BAAD
Mr Musharaf should be brought home and tried for suspending the constitution and for waging war on the country. Hw should be extradited and court martialled.
@Maula Jatt:
Thanks for your information. After reading your post we have taken very very serious note.
What a coincidence, whenever I meet a Baloch, he/she is from the 40%, where are those 60% Baloch :P
this murderer does not know what 40% means here. In any case don't understand why media of all the people consider him to be an expert on Balochistan, by interviewing him on the issue now and gain. A man who has the bloods of Baloch on his hand. It is Ridiculous - don't do do more harm than good; Pakistani Media and please don't confuse people by bringing in these a) stupid views and b) biased views of a dictator. Am sure there are better ways to give space to Balochistan and better analysts around.
Hmmm... I always wonder what have been done for Baloch people by Bugtis despite having lavish palaces and lifestyle... have they ever established a single school, a hospital, a college or university with their huge wealth... they never did a single thing for Balochis welfare.
@YUSUFZAI: All done by Nawaz Sharif. Had Nawaz Sharif not superceded Gen Ali Kuli Khan for being a Pashtun, course of democratic history would have been different.
"absolutely right , from total 160 tribes only 3 are against Pakistan , and they are backed by Raw, Mosad & CIA , they not only use them against pakistan but also against Iran ,"
he is still justifying his rein of terror in balochistan.
Obviously at least 40% want to opt out. How can pakistan hold onto such an disernchanted population. Give the Balochs their due. set them free. worlld will rtespect pakistan for that.
I notice alota comments here are by indians..we know indians are involved.
If 40% want independence then that is a very large number. Secondly I don't trust Musharraf at all. If billions of rupees were spent on development work there during his tenure then why do Balochi's still not have electricity, roads, courts, rule of law in their province?
Musharraf gave mpney for development of Karachi. After filling many pockets it overflowed and showed up in the form of better roads and civic amenities. When he gave money to Balochistan, it just disappeared. So who was given the money, the feudals of course. Feudals have deep pockets and Swiss account.
It is time we give proof to the world about India backing terrorists in Pakistan!
He is bad or good, but he is saying the truth...every one can make mistakes, .......... foreign elements are 100 hundred percent involved and that foreign country is INDIA, he did not mention the name by mistake. You can see all the above comments from indian nationals, becuse they can not accept the truth. Please close all your consulates in AFGHNISTAN , wchih are opened only for this purpose, to provide money and arms to these poor people of Baluchistan, to stand against the GOVT.
@Limestone: Can you possibly blame others for your own failures more?
Musharraf was a true leader and patriot!
to some extent he is right
@Maula Jatt:
the jutt sirname you are using is unquestionably hindu in origin.
if you can't have rational thinking, atleast respect the faith of your ancestors.
and don't malign it with these baseless allegations
@Analyzer
With the agitators living in Switzerland and Israel, and their websites having Israeli IP addresses
Websites such as????
100% agree with Musharraf.
Uh oh, It's this guy again!
All the people saying all kind of slander against musharraf enjoy what zardari andnawaz shareef are doing to you. You deserve it.
So atleast 40% want independence now? That's very disturbing to hear, given that you may have exaggerated about 60% too.
Feudalism is the major problem Pakistan is facing right now. Feudals receive billions of rupess in the name royalty but they don't spend a single penny for the development of the province and the people.
Hindu terrorists are behind this Tewrror in balochistan. They did the same back during 1979-1989. Hindu India can never be trusted. This Hindu terrorism must be brought to the highlight. India is the Terrorist nation. Hundreds of Hindu Terrorists are in pakistani Jails caught in or after the acts of Terrorim. Pakistan must take serious notice of this Hindu terror.
What nonsense. Close to 100% of Balochis want independence from Pakistan. And Balochis are friends with the world, unlike you General! - Shakib
Statement is continuation of Musharaf's ignorance and misinformation. The Servicemen group must provide same level of opportunity to articulate Baloch leaders to present their view point. If 4% population is asking separation from Pakistan than why Pakistani authorities using brute force they have to let them to go their way, conduct an internationally observed referendum about future of Balochistan.
This man does not have the guts to face the courts in Pakistan. He is telling all kinds of lies to create unrest in Pakistan.
A Punjabi feel safe visiting India even Afghanistan instead of Baluchistan - say no to these Feudal Lords who are the main cause of destabilization and backwardness of Baluchistan as well as causing pain to all Pakistanis.
Musharraf is correct! the problem of Baluchistan is nothing but the Sardars. They have the feudal mentality and do not support any type of development or education. They want to retain their throne by going to any extent, even supporting the foreign elements to cause damage to Baluchistan and Pakistan.
Baloch separatists have foreign backing
And Musharraf is the most credible person on this planet, so it must be true
There are many reasons for the grievances of Baloch people main reason is the prevailing Sardari system. The children of sardars studied in the most expensive universities of the world while the poor balochis remain illiterate and poor.
With the agitators living in Switzerland and Israel, and their websites having Israeli IP addresses, Musharraf is right for once. These individuals and organizations should be declared terrorists, with significant reward money on their heads.
Without any doubt these are facts and we should make these facts public and try to question foriegn government which are involved in these activities in the same way as they ask. us.
Heh!
This ultra-terrorist points fingers at someone else? I don't know the nature of Balochistan struggle, but what is non-disputable is the nature of Mr. Musharaff. He is a crook, who undermined all that is good within Pakistan, and promoted most of that is bad. He committed treason, was in bed with various 'non state actors' for his narrow definition of National Interest. He broke the constitution of Pakistan and imprisoned Judiciary!
He has the temerity to speak of someone else as terrorist? huh!
That Baloch have foreign backing is debatable but Musharraf has and had foreign backing is crystal clear and unquestionable.
Look who is back. I thought he had disappeared from the political landscape altogether.
Gen Mush is the least credible man in Pakistan. He is a fugitive from law and it is ironic that all the supporters of Mansoor Ijaz are quiet on Mush being a fugitive from law. According to him 60% of Bloch are in favor of Pakistan. If that is true then that means a large minority is against Pakistan and it is nothing to sneeze at. The bombing death of Akbar Bugti was the beginning of the end for Gen Mush.
Musharraf... the ultimate statesman..!!
60%?? did you conduct any poll?
More than 70 % Muslims never wanted division of India, but it happened. Most Muslims are peaceful, but still they constitute the core of terrorism in world. How can Mr Musharraf and his alike save Pakistan sitting in far away places? Intolerant societies are bound to disintegrate and even God can not save them.
Said the man who annihilated Pakistan with his American backing.
Only 60% and supposedly it's a good enough number by Pak standards?!
i am ashamed that this guy was the chief of our BRAVE army