Discussing Balochistan

[faisalraza]

BSO(Baloch Students Organization), has blocked differnt national news channels and supply of national news papers in Queta and many other areas in a protest, for not publishing the news of recent operation by security forces in District Mashk. according to BBC news.


Can we discuss this issue?

Comments are welcome from respected members.

[Riaz Ahmed Alizai]

I think media should give coverage to all the events without any discrimination.

[aphrodite]

Yeah but my question is, as long as one only harbours anti-Pakistan feeling and doesnt scream it outloud- nobody says anything. There are thousands of Sindhis, Pukhtoons or urdu-speaking people who probably hate Pakistan even more- yet nobody takes an action against them.
My point is, there have gotta be certain groups in Balochistan who when instigated, commit venomous acts against the state, which are tantamount to challenging the state's writ. The army does and should conduct operations against such elements. But these elements over time, have been allowed to grow so strong, that they have penetrated the frail, illiterate minds of average Balochis and as a result, they too hate Pakistan.
However, the army should at the same time, have developed Balochistan's infrastructure and standard of education. Its all about idle minds. The same is the problem with FATA, where there is nothing for the tribals to do, the terrain is so rugged, there can be no trade conducted there, hence few jobs. The only trade they have known is warfare. They have been mercenaries for centuries and it was primarily the govrnments' job to keep them busy by creating opportunities in the area. I dont blame these tribals for whatever they do after these facts.
God-forbid, the day we loose Balochistan, we will also loose our much publicized geo-strategic edge on which we bank the future of pakistan. If we loose Balochistan, we will LOOSE GWADAR, alongwith the rich deposits of gas, oil, gold, copper that in future other countries will be dying to exploit. If we loose Gwadar, China wont even spit on us- forget our long-standing alliance. We will no longer be neighbors with Iran, and hence minimal chance of us ever building up on a much needed regional alliance (although we should have woken up to that potential earlier than India). That pretty much leaves Punjab and Sindh to continue their tilling until India also decides to shut up our water supply by first shutting off headworks and then by building dams like Kishan-Ganga. What would remain of Pakistan is of little envy.

It is the job of present bureaucracy, if not Politicians (because in the long run the bureaucracy stands stronger than politicians) to inculcate these dangers and find solutions. Anyone who passes his exam today also has a huge burden to do something for his/her country.

[faisalraza]

Very well said aphrodite.you have rightly described the implications of the worst case scenario.
But i would like to add a bit here.
There is no doubt that Army must take action against those who raise arms and challenge writ of the state.We all agree and apologize that Balochistan has been deprived of its rights.Sui gas belongs to Balochistan but most of its people are deprived of it.And almost all the sectors of developement are fragile and poor, as compared to the rest of the country.
This state discrimination over the decades forced Baloch people to raise their voices.When their pleas did not hear by the people in power they started raising arms.Even now we are not ready to understand the problem,but their armed struggle gave us the reason to start action against them.
The point is to solve this menace we must start with talks by politicions.Any military action must be our last option.´We can blame Politicions of every wrong in our country,but they are the only people who can solve this problem.Beucracy cant understand political problems, Gen mushraf did more harm to Balochistan than good. Akbar Bugti was nothing but he made him a hero.Then man who enslaved his own people became a symbol of freedom.Do we remember how bureaucracy solved the Dhaka problem?
Gen Mushraf shaked hand with Wajpai, why not with Akbar Bugti?

We must stop all kinds of operation in Balochistan, trust politicions and give a chance to talks.

[Riaz Ahmed Alizai]

http://www.cssforum.com.pk/general/d...or-baloch.html

[aphrodite]

Well as far as negotiating with Baloch leaders is concerned, the dilemma is that nearly all of them are corrupt and are being funded by external agencies in their insurgencies. Its easy to sit in our homes, or on this forum giving away opinions yet the ground realities can be very different the higher up one goes. Musharraf didnt like many other people and would have rather seen them die the same way. There were reasons for Akber Bugti's abrupt killing, and one of them was definitely RAW's involvement. When he was still alive, one could often see his tribesmen carry big arms like missile launchers- that obviously Bugti wasnt funding himself. However I do feel that the way the operation was carried out became too obvious, and instead, if you have to get rid of a traitor yet dont have proper channels to do so- do it in an appropriate manner sans suspicion. Mushy did make him a martyr.
The rest of these Balochi leaders, although not all of them, are also in exile and have been proven to meet CIA, Mossad and RAW operatives and are on their payrolls. At the same time, they live lavishly in UK and USA with palatial homes stocked with the best. When you ask them where they manage it all from, their replies are that they inherited it. Now thats too much to assume, since Balochistan is a dry, hostile land where nothing much can grow and as such no enterprise. So i think its meaningless to coax some leader into talks when they're already bought out by bigger guns. That is also our fault to begin with.

[faisalraza]

Has the killing of Akbar Bugti solved the problem? It is for sure that it has created a more worst situation.

The target killings of Punjabis in Balochistan started after this henious crime. There is no data on record but Punjabis living from decades in Balochistan are migrating to Punjab now. I would like to remind you the recent killing of 16 people going to Balochistan by bus, they were shot dead at the inquiry of their ID cards, they belong to punjab.I meet some people who migrated to punjab and asked for the reason,they replied that it all started after the killing of Akbar Bugti.

Mr Mushraf has recently meet some top guns of Israel. Does it mean that he is a traitor and we must kill him. Remind you he is also living a lavish life in London, and usually give 100 pound tips to waitor. Benazir lived a self imposed exile and so did Mian Nawaz Sharif?

Its better to slove the causes of a problem rather treating the symptopms.

[aphrodite]

See you yourself have suggested that Akber Bugti was a nobody. People of his own constituency were at odds with him as early as one can remember, as is apparent from the book "Waiting for Allah" by Christina Lamb. The reason for people's hatred towards him was because they saw little difference between him and the Establishment. None cared about their rights. Both embezzled funds meant for their lot.
The core problem wasnt Akber Bugti. It just became a final blow. Benazir was also killed by someone, so was Z.A Bhutto- but Sindhis didnt react the same way because they were given something to live on at least. Traitors should ideally be tried in courts and brought to justice. But in a land where there are enough helping hands and protectors for such people, a trial hardly works. At best, it can linger on for years, and more often than not end up in a NRO. This is also an answer to your query regarding Musharraf.. See, the trial still hasnt happened and the prospects are bleak. And specially when somebody poses an immediate threat to the country's security, a trial isnt even recommended. Not all things are done by the book. Further, Musharraf is also a traitor of a kind, but of a different kind. His plans definitely did not involve a 'trimmed Pakistan'. The territorial integrity comes first in value to a nation.
However, Musharraf's fault lies in the fact that much before eliminating a weak link, he should have initiated an extensive developmental program for Balochistan, apart from Gwadar.

[faisalraza]

@aphrodite, We discuss matters like Balochistan to explore different openions and possible solution and our purpose is not to impose our ideas on eachother.
thanks aphrodite.

I would like to invite other respected members to comment on the issue.

[Riaz Ahmed Alizai]

well!
If we are asked about national integrity,it is nothing but the will of the people to live together.The will,which emanates from common culture,ideas,traditions,values and recognized standards which require their conformity from the human behavior.It can be cemented by giving even handed share to the stakeholders in their locally generated resources and making them a part of decision making in socio-economic and political matters.
The recent wave of turmoil in Baluchistan reminds us the 6 points of Mujeeb-ul-Rehman,and there is no denying the fact,that the perpetual chaos are playing their role in drifting the matter towards the brink of no return.Being a BALOCH,and resident of Baluchistan,i will try to encompass the entire problem together with its possible solutions.So far,it has been an understood fact,that baloch nation can not be subjugated under the shadows of guns or threats.Balochistan being the largest province,comprising almost 45 percent of entire country has been characterized by military operations rather than characterized by its rich resources.Stalling promises,trust deficit and lackadaisical interest of overdeveloped federal,has aggravated the situation.
Issue of Baluchistan has always been seen in security perspective by ignoring the sufferings and despondencies.No serious efforts have ever been taken in order to mitigate the grievances and calm the burning bosoms.Longevity of deprivation and continuous denial from their rights have made the Bloch alienated from the main stream.
Let me dissect the matter in different aspects.
1. Current Position.
At present the situation in Baluchistan is not satisfied, albeit it is saddening and sliding into burnout.Local people are being squeezed by the chronic and deadliest attacks.People are migrating from the region.No investment is getting rooted.People are feeling irrelevant of development projects.Absence of real representatives on the other hand worsen the situation.The travail has grown further by the fact that economic activities are being ceased.People are scared of any investment.Institutions are no longer busy in what is expected of them.Political activities are equal to none. Administration and writ of the government is limited to some areas.In these grave circumstances one can never expect any change.Political activists are being abducted and extra judicial killings are at hight.Lynch law is the order of the day and draconian treatments are the most utilized tactics.A recent report published by human rights commission reports that 88% of the population lives below the poverty line.78% of the population is dejected and deprived of basic facilities,including 79% of those,who do not have the gas.Out of 96 billion royalty in terms of gas, Baluchistan only receives 6 billion.
2. Administrative Problems.
Baluchistan has been wrongly administered by the rulers.Despite getting them relevant to the indigenous matters,the populace has always been sidelined and had never been allowed to decide their own fate.The problem is totally administrative,but the matter has always been viewed in security perspective.Role of military and fc must be discarded. Missing persons should be put on trial and the extra judicial killings be stopped.Security forces have increased their check posts by 100%.Culprits of NAWAB BUGTI'S murder must brought in the court of justice.Confidence building measures should be initiated in order to make the BALOCH believe that the federal is concerned about their matters.Government should make them realize that they are an integral part of the country.Resources should be given under local control and the civil and military bureaucrats be given a minimum task.
3. Political Problems.
There is no denying the fact,that the current setup does not have real representatives of the suffering segments.Popular leadership is exiled.Nationalists boycotted the elections which has increased the perplexity of the matter.Home-coming of the exiled leadership can make a difference.Confidence should be reposed in them and their sufferings should be mitigated with effectual and long lasting measures.

A WAY OUT

1.The focus must be shifted to political and social facets.
2.Leadership should not be perceived as traitors.
3.Government will have to restore the confidence of people in its authority by undertaking CBM's.
4.To resettle the IDP's.
5.Bringing back the leadership.
6.More autonomy
7.Meaningful development
8.National integration.
9.Local control of natural resources.
10.Creating more job opportunities.
11.Building more educational institutions.