Balochistan plunged into a frightening crisis after the cold-blooded murder of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti. On August 26, 2006, the Pakistani flag was raised at the Bugti fort with the proclamation of a new dawn for Balochistan. Nonetheless, in 2012, six years later, Balochistan is deeply engulfed in dusk and darkness.
Let’s look at the situation in Dera Bugti, which is no longer a liveable place. The Bugti fort, the Baloch Nawab’s residence, which used to be a place of Baloch hospitality, has been turned into a Gulag where Baloch activists and government opponents are detained and tortured. The government’s proclaimed “Operation Freedom” brought new multilayer enslavement for the Bugtis. Along with a brutal security apparatus, countless criminals have popped up in the area. The resource-rich but terrifically impoverished district has been virtually divided into many sub-states controlled by government-backed criminals and armed groups.
This policy of criminalisation is extended to the entire province. Islamabad has failed to win the sympathy of the courageous Baloch masses against its ruthless policies as government agencies have extended their support to petty criminals and devastated the very social and harmonious fabric of Baloch society. Since the start of the military operation in 2002, around 10,000 people have been killed, a quarter million people have been displaced, 4,000 are missing and 600 have been killed extrajudicially. According to a recent official report of the interior ministry, at least 868 people have been killed, 619 kidnapped and 2,390 have gone missing from the province since 2010. Furthermore, 600 bodies of Baloch activists have been found in different parts of Balochistan.
Prior to full-fledged military offensives, Balochistan’s poverty incidence stood at 48 per cent in 2001-02, which was an exceptional 15 percentage points higher than the national average. By 2005-06 poverty incidence stood at 50.9 per cent, compared with a national average of 2.3 per cent. After Islamabad’s ‘development and civilisation’ mission in Balochistan, the poverty incidence now stands at 63 per cent, three times higher than the national average. After limited economic opportunities, severe floods and restrictions on international relief organisations, the caloric poverty in Balochistan was recorded around 74 per cent in 2011, compared with 49.7 per cent in 2001-02.
Impoverished Balochistan is also famous for establishment-backed filthy corrupt politicians. Given that the government fully relies on criminals, gangsters and religious elements, including morally shattered chieftains, corruption has been institutionalised in the last 10 years as an incentive for the followers of Islamabad’s dirty policies.
During the last six years, abduction has become a big business in the province. Gangsters choose individuals without any fear. Most of these criminals claim to have links with the government. According to the Balochistan government’s official figures, between June 2011 and February 2012, 170 people were abducted, out of which 142 were released after paying heavy ransoms. During the last four years, 50 Hindus were abducted in different parts of Balochistan. Ever since government agencies were preoccupied with abducting and intimidating the moderate political stratum of the Baloch society, criminals are having a luxurious time creating their desired level of chaos and lawlessness. Islamabad’s failure to address the mounting dissatisfaction in Balochistan and deal with political unrest through political means led to the killings of hundreds of innocent Baloch, Punjabis and Hazaras.
Sectarian killings have taken a new toll; many extremist groups are taking advantage of the political vacuum created after the ruthless operation. Over 700 Baloch Hazaras have been killed in cold blood. The last 10 years of defective re-engineering of the social, political and economic fabric of the Baloch society has proved destructive. Unfortunately, the establishment in Islamabad is ignorant of this fact and continues to pursue the unchanged policy of denial and negligence towards Balochistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 26th, 2012.
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Please inform me urgently.
Who publish this book?
After reading this, I am reminded of a book titled 'The Tigers of Balochistan', written by Sylvia Matheson (published 1967), that epitomizes the Baluchi chieftains' approach to life. Late Nawab Akbar Bugti (killed by Pakistani military in 2006), who was twenty-one when Matheson spoke to him. She was questioning him on his casual statement to her, reminding her that he had killed his first man at the age of twelve. "About this man you killed — er, why?" "Oh that!" he responded as he sipped his tea, "Well, the man annoyed me. I've forgotten what it was about now, but I shot him dead. I've rather a hasty temper you know, but under tribal law of course it wasn't a capital offense, and, in any case, as the eldest son of the Chieftain I was perfectly entitled to do as I pleased in our own territory. We enjoy absolute sovereignty over our people and they accept this as part of their tradition."
http://www.riazhaq.com/2008/08/tale-of-tribal-terror.html
@mehrab gichki, I think 'Baloch Hazara' could have meant for Hazara of Balochistan, because there is another ethnic minority with the same name 'Hazara' living in Hazara division of KP.
Balochistan's situation is on other hand but I really hate Media, before Bugti’s murder Media were showing that Balochistan is came-out from Govt’s hand, Pakistan’s forces can’t enter in Balochistan & stuff like this, but once Bugti killed same media is showing different things… showing Bugti was a right man we didn’t give respect & stuff like this… My question is… WHAT MEDIA WANTS…. Wants to create situation to break Pakistan again like Bangladesh….. ????
Very nice article depicting all real facts and figure, also Sana Baloch nicely exposed the barbarism and cruelty of the establishment by comparing the political , poverty, economical and administration situation before and after Nawab Sb, the writer nicely pointed out the negative role/conspiracy of the establishment by awarding power to the criminals, gangsters and religious elements, including morally shattered chieftains, who killed the several innocent people of Baluchistan, these all issue should be highlighted internationally as they are enough for creating awareness campaign for grabbing the attention of the world particular USA, as these highlighting of these issues are directly proportional to getting freedom because the freedom is not possible without intervene of the USA and the world and they can only help us if we will be united and highlighting these kind of atrocities of the state, I once again appreciate the writer for writing such great article...Keep it up..
The picture reflecting ruthless killings/genocide of over "700 [Balochistan's] Hazaras" in cold blood in the article depicts the total failure of the state in Balochistan. The writer apparently refers Baloch Hazara to Hazaras living in Balochistan avoiding the word Pakistan. Hazaras have their own ethnic identity, history and culture living for centuries peacefully with other ethnics in Balochistan. There is no need to stick Hazara's identity either to Baloch or Afghan. Ethnically, Hazaras are neither Baloch, and nor Afghan, the latter refers to Pakhtoons and even Tajiks and Uzbaks do not say themselves Afghan in Afghanistan.
No doubt, Balochistan has been handed over to criminal elements completely today. You find no legitimacy anywhere in the entire Balochistan but lawlessness and wandering government backed terrorists. And the government agencies manifest full support to culprits against Hazaras who have suffered heavily from the consequences of so called Freedom Operation since the last decade. And the silence from the Pashtun community is as painful as on going prejudice and the persecution of Hazaras.
Baloch do not deny Pashtoon their rights. All Baloch nationalist parties and Baloch freedom fighters like respected Brahamdagh Bugti are on record as saying that if Pashtoons want to go their separate way then Baloch will respect their choice. Baloch do not oppose separation of Pashtoon districts from Balochistan and merge these into Pakhtunkhwa or back to Afghanistan. Separation of Pashtoon areas of Balochistan is opposed by the Punjabi establishments in Rawalpindi, Lahore and Islamaba, not by Balochs.
Baloch want to live as neighbours and friends of Pashtoon nation and do not claim their lands. Only question of Quetta is vexing issue. But Pishin, Ziarat, Loralai, Zhob etc should be separated if this is what Pashtoons wants. Baloch have no problem with this.
very good article same philosophy is applied in FATA pakhtoons and afghanistan
Balochistan is Pashtoon Baloch province,both son of soil,there was Pashtoon province called BRITISH BALOCHISTAN created before 1947,remain intact till creation of one unit,when one unit was abolished and old provinces were re-installed Pashtoon province BRITISH BALOCHISTAN was merged with Kalat state and formed new province BALOCHISTAN without the consent of Pashtoons of BRITISH BALOCHISTAN.The one who argues that demographic changes has been done is actually hiding the bogus censuses done by Baloch rulers since creation of this province to get bigger share and rule province but the new system for census have exposed their crime,thus making hue and cry in advance.Pashtoons of present Pashtoon Baloch province do not want to feed on natural Balochistan gas,sea and natural resources but demanding revival of their old province BRITISH BALOCHISTAN with new name SOUTH PASHTOONKHWA,PPPP led govt shall announced revival of Pashtoon province as soon as possible@Anas Abbas:
@Anas Abbas: Its Baloch not Balochi, the latter is the language spoken by Balochs. Pashtuns are living on their ancestral land (eleven districts of present Balochistan) way before the demarcation of Durand line and the creation of chief commissioner province of British Balochistan. Quetta is the only district comprising a mix population of Pashtun, Brahvi and Baloch apart from the settlers. Still Quetta is a Pashtun majority city. Please stop labelling all Pashtuns as Talibans like Gen. Musharaf use to do. Pashtuns of Balochistan have nothing to do with the Talibans and the 'Quetta Shura' aka 'Assets'. blame the khakis who are hosting and looking after them not Pashtuns as we ourself are the victim of lawlessness, kidnappings and deliberate negligence.
@Mehrab Gichki: Mr Sanaullah is probably trying to avoid using the term 'Pakistani Hazaras'.
@KSU: Are you justifying coercion? Yes! coercion happens in the early stages of state formation but never after. Looks like that you are Kansas State University, and I am sure you are aware of Arend Lijphart's theory of 'consociational' or 'power sharing' democracy. What you are bringing up is probably based on Charles Tilly's histroical analysis. Tilly does not suggest it but is only explaining the history of state-formation in Europe. Let us not repeat it in Pakistan. In my humble opinion, human dignity and rights come first, and there is always a way to handle the conflict. Thanks anyway for your critique.
Well,
Pashtoons/Afghans of both Pakistan and Afghanistan have always had a soft corner for Baloch cause. Pashtoons of Balochistan have been suffereing, and suffereing immensely, due to Baloch seperatists' un-called for kill and murder policy of innocent Pashtoons, Hazaras, Punjabis and Urdu-speaking citizens of Janoobi Pashtoonkhwa. It has always been a challenge for PMAP to appease the citizens of Janoobi Pashtoonkhwa in the face of an unprovoked Baloch assault on innocent people. PMAP, despite being pressurised by the people of Janoobi Pashtookhwa to react strongly against Baloch atrocities, has maintained a fine balance by, on the one hand condemning unnecessary and counterproductive killings of citizens of Janoobi Pashtoonkhwa, while, on the other hand, not sabotaging Baloch freedom movement against Punjabi Imperialism. Balochsiatn (Which is a two-nation Pashtoon and Baloch province) did not get politico-financial autonomy as per 18th Amendmenet and NFC Award because of Baloch seperatist struggle, but because of mighty Pashtoon nation's (comprising 50 million people) protracted struggle along with other democratic and progressive movements of Sindh and Saraikistan. Baloch must understand that they can never ever gain freedom or even more provincial autonomy without the help of other democratic and progressive forces of the country: especially not without Pashtoon's help who have had historic relations with Baloch and whose political future (where both nations enjoy complete political sovereignty) lies with that of Pashtoons. It is extremely unfortunate that Baloch, all Baloch - irrespective of their political affiliation - stand united against the national rights of Pashtoons of Balochsitan who have been living on their own historic soil for thousands of years. Baloch blame Punjab for denying them their due national rights but at the same time the same Baloch deny due national rights to Pashtoons of Janoobi Pashtoonkhwa. We Pashtoons are not neighbours to any one; we live on our soil. We are Afghans and Hazara millat belongs to Afghan Nation. Calling them Baloch Hazaras is as imperliastic as calling Baloch of Balochistan as Punjabis. Ghani Dotani, London
Baloch hazara? You won't be successful to fool Hazara and claiming Pashtoon land by engineering new terminology by calling Hazara BalochHazara, Hazara's are Afghan and living on Afghan land,they don't need certificates or re-engineering of their ethnic background to have a right to live peacefully in Quetta. Being Afghan,Hazara has more right to live in Quetta as compare to jobs following over migrated Baloch living in heart of southern Pashtoonkhwa.
what happened to Bugti was wrong. what Bugti did to the Kalpar clan (throwing thousands of them out of their ancestral lands) was also wrong. State should have focused on law and order and education rather than taking sides. Now its all one big mess. I'm not one for conspiracy theories, but its interesting to note that things went from bad to worse ever since Gwadar project came on board... perhaps Gwadar provoked a conflict of interest amongst many regional players.
@mani: Have you ever visited Balochistan. Balochs came to Quetta after 1970 when Quetta was made the capital of Balochistan. It is a PASHTUN'S CITY where punjabis, Hazaras and other settlers are much older than the Baloch settlers. Pashtuns does not support the view point of Baloch seperatists and cynics.
The greatest impediment to peace and security in balochistan are a small handful of sardars.
Obviously, Pakistan has learnt nothing from the separation of Bangladesh.
@Max History shows that all states are built on some form of coercion: Nationalities, religious minorities, classes, immigrants, aboriginals etc. have all at times been coerced. England coerced the Scots who later became some of the most loyal imperialist for Britain. The French state coerced Corsicans, Alsacians, Brittany etc. Germany united by war as was Italy and Spain still has it regional issues and political divisions from the time of the civil war. India and China are e.g in the process of coercing peripheral regions (Kashmir and TIbet) into accepting the state's hegemony. USA, Australia and South Africa are the embodiment of coercion which included slavery, the extermination of aboriginal groups, apartheid in their quest for statehood. States (and other forms of power also those based on tribalism) are by their very nature coercive. Pakistan or any other country are no different.
Balanced piece.. Indeed the baloch youth has been radicalized due to Islamabad's plain ole stupid and near-sighted policies. But it is also a fact that the baloch leadership has also miserably failed to protect the weak segments of the baloch ppl at large. The plight of baloch ppl is caused by Islamabad and so called sardars alike. Lets assess the situation honestly and truthfully.
sana, please tell me, what you mean by '' Baloch Hazaras '' (last pera, 3rd line)
Being a patriotic Baloch is dangerous for your life : Nauroz Khan fought for "the peoples of Pakistan" (against Ayyub Khan's One Unit scheme which centralized the powers in Punjab) but he was deemed as "unpatriotic", and when he stepped own from the mountains to negotiate with the fighting Pak Army who sweared on the Qur'an that they'll not harm him, not only they put the +90 years old man in a jail, but hanged his sons and nephews... in front of him.
Sardar Ataullah Mengal, "you can't get more patriotic than him" (as Major-General Naseerullah Khan Babar described him), was also handsomely paid for his patriotism : his eldest, non political son, Asadullah Mengal, was tortured and killed (with the body yet to be found), victim of the "democratic" Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto's greed (he didn't digest loosing power in Balochistan and KPK, so, through a conspiracy, tried to attack the democratically elected representatives there.)
Lastly, Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti. How did Pakistan greet the man who convinced other sardars, in the famous June 1948 "shahi jirga" (grand assembly), to join Pakistan ? By killing his son in the 90s, and himself few years ago.
All these three men are now symbols of the freedom struggle, and I hope they achieve it ; a patriotic Baloch is a dead Baloch, while the separatist enjoy Genevas, Londons or Kabuls.
I don't know who is to blame for Balochistan situation. On one hand, Bugti & Mari tribes claim to be the leaders of Baloch people but, on the other hand, they have amassed massive wealth from royalties. These tribal chiefs are highly educated so, agencies let these sardars get education but do not allow them to open a school in their areas. How much of the royalties was spent or distributed in ordinary Baloch people? Blaming "Punjabi" military establishment is easy but what have these tribal chiefs done for their people? What about the Punjabi settlers' genocide in Balochistan? Can we get any media attention for that? How many have been killed so far? Sometimes, I see people from the Bugti Area (Mir Ahmadaan Bugti) talking about the anti-development and feudal attitude of late Nawab Akbar Bugti.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtuRJKrO5gg
I recently read an article of a professor visiting Balochistan which shows the tribal attitude against education.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/402519/travels-through-dera-ghazi-khan/
make quetta the captial and give baluchistan 'national' status. something that spain has done with catalonia, and iraq with kurdistan. its very doable only if we dont have dumb pieces of garbage in the parliament
The horrendous fall out of Nawab Akbar Bugti's assassination is too serious to contemplate. The province is teetering on the edge of anarchy, inhuman bloodletting is a rule rather than exception, chronic sectarian violence has vitiated the religious and tribal harmony, widespread militancy has ruined the traditional tribal understanding, audacious abductions with impunity has brought about a dreadful and frightening atmosphere. Administrative chaos and resultant vacuum is being filled by warlords making mockery of the writ of state as myriad states within the state are rearing their ugly heads unashamedly. And above all merciless plundering of scarce financial resources of the hapless people of the province by a corrupt and inept provincial government has completely and squarely aliened the people. This state of affairs is unquestionably detrimental to the prosperity of the province and integrity of the country. What is inevitably needed is to bring the genuine political leadership to negotiating sooner rather than later. Sanaullah is not off the mark and deserves to be listen to.
Classic description of today's Balochistan -
There has been another issue apart from many others highlited by the author in this article. This is actually the emergence and shifting of taliban (quetta shura) that has been consolidating its stronghold there since 9/11. This and the influx of pakhtun afghans (thanks to the jihad that pakistan fought against the russians) has eventually dispruted the ethnic balance and baluchis are now in minority in thier own province. offcourse pakistani state and army are aware of this but they are accomodating taliban on the expense of their own baluch citizens.
Baluchis too should also be united if they are serious in achieving autonomy and independence. They should welcome every help from America and this can be used as a pressure tactic to push pakistan more towards terminating terrorists safe heavens.
but Pakistanis are more concerned with the supposed killings of people in Burma.
So true ! pashtuns of quetta r also going thru same miseries!
You cannot establish the legitimacy of the state through coercion. It was wrong to kill Nawab Bugti and it is wrong what is being done to people in Dera Bugti. Raising flag for few day does not mean that you have won the hearts and minds of the people. The fact is that you antagonized by doing so. Political integration is a long and tedious process, and can only be achieved through accomodative measures.