Balochistan has hit the news again and as usual, everyone is ‘talking’ about the ‘issue’ and not doing anything. Everyone says that we need to have ‘dialogue’ and grant the Baloch their ‘rights’ but not a single politician is prepared to actually initiate the dialogue or honestly grant them their rights. Every single government has talked about ‘solving’ the issue, but has only aggravated the situation. Why has this happened? One simple reason is that we keep lying to ourselves and the Baloch about simply everything. While the list is long, let me highlight just a few issues which need to be admitted in order to even initiate a solution to the problem.
First, the Baloch insurgency is not new and while it has friends abroad, is not foreign-led. The Baloch have risen in revolt in 1948, 1958, the 1960s, 1973-7, and now since 2005. Five revolts since the inception of Pakistan are a clear indication that this is something significant and local. Yes, it is true that several Baloch leaders have friends in India, but to believe that India has been supporting an insurgency for the last 60 years and has still not been able to dismember Pakistan is simply disingenuous. Official Pakistani versions of history blame India for the separation of East Pakistan, so if India does indeed know how to dismember Pakistan, I wonder why it is not using the same tactics to the same level of success in this case? Therefore, we need to stop passing the buck and accept that the Baloch insurgency is a local issue.
Secondly, distrust of Pakistan, let alone of the Punjabis, and the establishment runs deep in the Baloch psyche. Some opinions hold that the Baloch lands never really wanted to become a part of Pakistan and months of scheming by the latter and pressure on the Khan of Kalat, led to its accession. Also, the Baloch are not simply going to forget that they were the last people to get natural gas from their own lands, and that the royalty for that gas was almost half of what was given elsewhere. They are also not going to forget the thousands of people killed by the Pakistani state since 1948. Resistance against the Pakistani state has almost become part of the Baloch identity and is not easy to shake off. Therefore, Pakistan needs to come up with a new and creative way to deal with the issue. The Baloch might want to remain in Pakistan, but for that to happen, Pakistan needs to create a new dispensation. The current political and constitutional framework has not worked for them and trying to impose it again will not work. A new method needs to be devised, which gives the Baloch maximum autonomy and satisfies their will of self-rule. Pakistan simply needs to understand that keeping people in the federation against their will and without their agreement is not a viable option and will only lead to further internal disintegration and violence.
Thirdly, the government needs to seriously consider the six points elucidated by Akhtar Mengal. The fact that Mengal came to Pakistan from exile to present his case before the Supreme Court shows that he, and I hope other Baloch leaders, are willing to compromise. However, rather than immediately picking up on the six points and meeting Mengal, the government is yet to respond to the points, and the prime minister and the president have yet to meet Mengal. To even begin to solve the issue, the government needs to publicly, unequivocally and substantially, take action on these points.
Fourthly, the issue is at the moment a ‘Baloch’ issue. Due to historic and other reasons, the Pashtuns of Balochistan have not risen up in revolt against Pakistan. However, the current state of the province is affecting the Pashtuns badly and could translate into an armed revolt against Pakistan.
Akhtar Mengal has compared the Baloch situation to that of East Pakistan and has warned of a ‘divorce’ if his sensible plan goes unheeded. We have already suffered a dismemberment of Pakistan; do we really want to bury our heads in the sand, lie and ignore, while only talking about this issue too?
Published in The Express Tribune, October 2nd, 2012.
COMMENTS (21)
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In Balochistan Pashtoons are living on their own historical land and they are demanding the restoration of Chief Commissioner Province (British Balochistan) which was established in 1887 by English rulers. The founder of the nation also in his famous 14 point demanded the up gradation of Chief Commissioner Province as a Governor Province. The Pashtoon majority province existed till 1954 and during one unit it maintained itself as a separate administrative unit under Quetta division. In 1970 when the other provinces were restored , the historical Pashtoon majority province was merged with Baloch land and wrongly named as Balochistan. Since then the Pashtoons of Balochistan are struggling for parity in the province but all in vain. Now its time for all the democratic forces of the country to accept the rightful demand of Pashtoon and restore the Chief Commissioner Province. Pashtoon and Baloch never lived and cant live in one administrative unit any more.
@ Khurram Awan let me tell you one thing that Punjabis are the most hated community in India and until Punjab was divided into Pieces in India other Indians never felt at ease. Similarly the Punjabi hatred is almost in every community ..... to divide Punjab like India into Smaller Pieces as whatever............................... . Punjabi's in India were/are never hated.You will find Punjabi's in all the cities of India from Srinagar to down south Chennai.They are the most enterprising and hard working community. Indian Punjab was divided on linguistic basis.Haryana and Himachal Pradesh were carved out of Punjab because people of these region spoke Hindi/dialect of Hindi and were not Punjabi speaking population. In fact since then Indian Punjab is among the highest per capita income state of India,and Indian Punjabi's are prospering all over India.
@Jaan Afghan you say that this insurgency has effected Pashtons comparatively more then Balochs, Pashton target killing has not yet exceeded the 4 figures yet, whereas the law enforecing agencies which are mostly led by pashtons and punjabis have killied thousands of Baloch children, women and men, thousands yet missing. You must read the history of war on Balochs since 1947.
Well, the author has tried to elaborate certain valid points that the Baloch issue is not issue, rather has stings into the annals of history. But he has missed certain points while relating it to India, he has rightly said that what India did to East Pakistan/Bengladesh but he sidelined pivotal point that East Pakistan was sorrounded by India from three sides that was the reason of her success there and failure here, the ground reality matters a lot. India was successful to subdue and capture Hyderabad, Junagadh etc because of the geographical location. Had Balochistan been surrounded by India, for sure it would had either been part of India or a separate entity apart from Pakistan.
As regards Mengals six points, they are quite valid and the politicians at the whelm of affairs should work out some plans to remove the grievances of Baloch leaders. The issue was moreorless related to the Baloch Sardars then the actual masses, but the sense of alienation is deep rooted and proactive approach is required by the political parties sitting at the government.
What ever we all may think~~~~a wake up call has been sounded. Who is to wake up ?
@ Khurram Awan - that actually makes for funny reading - while you have written a long para on your hypothesis on a wierdly worded "superiority complex of UP", there is ZERO substance in what your comments - sir, as a healthy criticism -> you very clearly have zero understanding of India, the admirable philosophy underlying the state that all of us Indians are very proud of - basically appears that you have formed your judgments based on what you have been taught in your school / hear on your TV shows. We welcome you to spend a few days across various cities & villages in India - I can assure you that all that today's Indian thinks about is education for themselves / kids, finding a decent job etc No doubt we have problems at home (illiteracy, housing, sanitation, fundamentalism etc), but rest assured, we're moving ahead very rapidly.
With warm regards
@Arijit Sharma: E.g. The break-up of Indian Punjab, the issue Khalistan, the killing of Indira G. and the storming of the Golden temple and the following killing of Sikh civilians are all angles on this issue.
@Arijit Sharma: Indian Establishment always thought of Punjabi Nationalism as a threat to Indian National Security and same is the case with Punjab Pakistan where Establishment thinks that Punjabi Nationalism should be vanished and must be replaced with the thinking of UP and with their language so that they will never remain a threat and ultimately their community will feel ashamed of their language and existence and Start worshiping others. The Superiority Complex of UP and other states in India let Punjab of India divided into smaller pieces and now Other states are happy and same is the case with Pakistan that Other Superiority Complex nations like Pukhtoons and Balochs and others have a problem with Punjab and just like Indian Punjab when Pakistani Punjabi Nationalism will be unwinded and Punjab will be divided then Other nations will stop crying foul as Getting Envious is the easiest thing they can do with Punjabis rather than Figuring out Problems in their own. So that is how Situation is absolutely Comparable.
You are right, having your thoughts and opinion pasted here. One thing that is missing here the Pashtun issue. Round about 1500 (700 Hazaras and 800 Urdu Speaking Punjabies, Hindus, Siraikis, Pashtuns and others) People killed by the Baloch militant organizations and sectarian groups currently motivated with a boost in Balochistan. Quetta the capital city of the province is having a major population of Pashtuns and is a historical Pashtun belt. Where Pashtun of the Pashtun Areas in Balochistan having Hazara Afghans (Living with Pashtun Afghans for hundreds of years as Afghans), Urdu speaking Siraikies, Punjabies (are accepted as Pashtun, they have their social, economical ties with Pashtuns of Balochistan because they share the cities and life with them), minorities such as Hindoes, Sikhs, Christians, Zartashth, Bhais are also included in Pashtun areas (Specially Quetta).
Here to get a rough data and analyse it I think Pashtun are badly affected in the current phase of insurgency by the Baloch Liberation Militant groups and the sectarian group Lashkar e Jangavi (that target the Shias most of them Hazara Afghans and some Pashtun Yousafzai, Bangash and other shias).
Most of the Pashtun drivers, laborers and others are killed in Baloch areas. Where the militants organization claim the target killing with a noisy voice.
All said and done but the establishment continues to live in the state of denial. There is nothing wrong in Baluchistan, that is what they have to say, so conveniently.
@Tahir Ali:
You Sir, seem to be much more knowledgable and better informed about the Baluchistan issue and the prevailing situation there as compared to other commentators, and possibly even the author. Would you be kind enough to enlighten me, and many others equally interested, about your suggested solution, and the process forward towards resolution of this long standing problem?
Some of the questions you ask are covered by today's excellent piece by Kamran Shafi.
Start the ball rolling by getting the Army / FC out of Baluchistan and spend the money saved by beefing up the Police force. Follow this up with sincere talks and the situation will start improving fast.
@Yoda: India has been striving to have dialogue with all kashmiri separtists. Their leaders have by and large been free to travel within India and also outside India. They have been given access to Pakistan leaders. I do not think Indian state has actively tried to Kashmir separtists leadership. I know India has a lot of answer on the Kashmir human rights, but the Baloch situation is probably worse than what you find in Kashmir.
good article.
@Yoda: With due respect sir, Indian Kashmir issue has little comparison to our Baloch issue. Both areas have unique history and the process of how they got where they are today. Baloch nationalist don't have majority by numbers while other historic races are there who actually are historically part of Balochistan but are from neighboring areas all around it. There is no religion or protection of nationality issue like Indian Kashmir, instead it's basically mining-of-minerals and gas-wealth issue added with prospective sheikdom issues. That's what bothering the top few ambitious families. Still, we thank and consider the advice of experienced older brother.
@Khurram Awan: " ... Well the author rightly said that Distrust of Punjabis runs deep in Baloch Psyche. Well I am a Punjabi and let me tell you one thing that Punjabis are the most hated community in India and until Punjab was divided into Pieces in India other Indians never felt at ease. ... "
I am having difficulty in understanding how the Indian Punjabi fits into your Baluchistan conundrum.
I think suggesting that India has nothing to do with the Baloch insurgency, because if it did it could engineer another Bangladesh is naive. The 1971 victory wasn't India's, it was the Bengalis', Balochistan simply cannot triumph militarily because the situation will always be strategically slanted against them. 10% of the population simply cannot have the same clout that 60% can. That said, India may be furtively supporting the Balochi rebels but that's only part of the game--aren't we doing the same in Kashmir? The fault lies within ourselves, it's only natural that in this perpetual Pakistan-India cold war, each side will take whatever advantage it can get. We are, in fact, making the same mistakes India is making with Kashmir, albeit on a smaller scale. By ignoring the issue and pointing the finger at an external threat, we're only sidestepping it. This has only made the issue worse, the military can roll in to dampen any flames of violence and stabilise the situation for a while, which allows us to sink back into our false sense of security but that's not addressing the core issues. In fact, this only makes it worse in the long run. In my opinion, greater autonomy to all provinces--while a gamble (it might only strengthen the resolve of Balochi separatists)--could be a step in the right direction. But the very least we can do is nurture dialogue.
"Stop lying about Baloch issue", why stop now? When have we talked openly and honestly about any problem of Pakistan including the E. Pakistan, hosting OBL or likes? We have been lying, hiding and refuting facts like hardened criminals, why start telling the truth now?
No doubt, the people of Balochistan have not been given their due and we must act now to remove their misgivings. Certain developments, however, continue to bug my mind;- - Thousands of people of ethnicity other than Baloch have been killed. Who is doing this and to achieve what? - Practically ethnic cleansing of Hazaras is going on in Balochistan. Who is doing it and to achieve what? - Over a million people of ethnicity other than Baloch have been forced to migrate out of the province despite the fact that the number of Balochis living in different parts of pakistan is more than the Balichs living in Balochistan. - Why judiciary and media is mum over above atrocities? It is surprising that not a single Baloch leader who speaks for Pakistan is invited on the talk shows e.g ask any Masuri Bugti or Kalpar Bugti, he will tell you what they went through under Akbar Bugti. - While it is absolutely clear that Bugti was killed in a cave when it collapsed due to explosion set inside, either by Bugti himself or a mine was laid. Five SSG officers also died along with Bugti within the cave. We all know what happened yet our media kept mum to let the separatists exploit Bugti's death. - Already, USA and the West have planned an International Strategic Corridor for trade with Central Asian countries and maintaining their bases in Afghanistan. Why we are shy to talk about it. - My considered opinion is that whatever we do now for the Balochs, few of their leaders would continue to wage their struggle because the incentives are too many. Unfortunately, it would be a mistake as, like Afghanistan, it would also become a safe haven for Taliban like entities.
Well the author rightly said that Distrust of Punjabis runs deep in Baloch Psyche. Well I am a Punjabi and let me tell you one thing that Punjabis are the most hated community in India and until Punjab was divided into Pieces in India other Indians never felt at ease. Similarly the Punjabi hatred is almost in every community in Pakistan and I know one of the Solution is to avenge the thirst of all ethnicities to divide Punjab like India into Smaller Pieces as whatever Punjabis will do other ethnicties will always hate them and that is my experience and Also It is my request to Other Ethnicities that Stop Portraying us a Devil everytime and neither we were in Power in 1948 and neither Bhutto or General Niazi and even Hamid Gul is a Punjabi. I am proud of My heritage and I am proud to be a Punjabi and keep on hating us but don't portray that we are looting anyone. We are Hard Working people and that is how we achieve and rather than getting envious match us in Skills and leave us Alone as well.
The disgruntled Baloch are another issue. Look how the Army, holed up in the caccon that is Quetta Cantonment is treating people of all backgrounds within the city. The local community has been gated out of their own city, treated like a threat and deemed undesirable. The short-sighted by egoistic Generals, overzealous bureaucrats and self-serving politicians have detached the people from their country. They are treating their fellow citizens with the same contempt we accuse the Indians treating Kashmiris or Israel in the occupied territories.