Balochistan at the crossroads BY Saleem Safi

[niazikhan2]

The Balochistan problem has been sidelined by issues of terrorism, the energy crisis, inflation and the tussle among state institutions. During a visit to Balochistan a few days ago, I found that the Baloch "nationalists" are equally to blame for Balochistan's underdevelopment. The difference between an ordinary Baloch and his sardar's lifestyle and riches is very obvious. An ordinary Baloch child is hardly able to enrol in a government school, but the children of almost every Baloch sardar are studying in prestigious foreign institutions.

The role of Baloch sardars in the deprivations of the Baloch people is no less than the negative roles of the establishment and the central government in Islamabad, the blunders and excesses of rulers of the largest province and the criminally selfish role of the intellectual community. The ordinary Baloch are now being supplied guns and bombs by the same sardars who are living in villas in London, Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi.

The army for the first time has undertaken some unique and laudable projects in the province. The coalition government is nowhere in sight. From rehabilitation of earthquake victims to Chamalang coalmines and related welfare projects, every development initiative is undertaken under the supervision of the army. When asked about the targeted killings in Quetta, an army representative stated that the army was not responsible for security in the Balochistan capital. The interest the political government is taking in ensuring security in the province may be judged from the fact that the post of Balochistan I G was vacant for many months.

The recently launched programme for Baloch youths' recruitment in the army is encouraging. Under the plan, more than 9,000 Baloch have been recruited in the army. The military leadership has relaxed the standards of height, chest width and education for Baloch recruits. Instead of training in Abbotabad, which is the home of the Baloch Regiment, these recruits are being trained in Sui and Quetta under the supervision of Baloch instructors. They have the choice to be posted for duty at any place in the country. Because of these incentives, more than 3,500 Baloch have been recruited in the army this year and are undergoing training in Quetta and Sui.

The Chamalang coalmines are another laudable project initiated under the supervision of the army. An almost century-old ownership dispute between the Pakhtun Loni and Baloch Marri tribes had prevented exploitation of these mines. After an agreement in 2006, thanks the army's arbitration, the mines are working and income from them is now shared among the two tribes and the provincial and federal governments. The project has changed the face of the area with the construction of dozens of residential colonies, hospitals and schools and provision of amenities like water and electricity. More than 70,000 workers, including people from Malakand, are employed in the project. Similarly, about 2,000 Baloch have been recruited in the Chamalang Levies and are getting handsome salaries. Until May, the mines had generated Rs5 billion in income.

The Chamalang Balochistan Education Project (CBEP), an endowment fund running with the help of a small part of the mines' income, is exclusively being spent on students from the province. Beside construction of a hostel in Quetta cantonment for students belonging to the Loni and Marri tribes, the fund finances studies and monthly stipends of hundreds of Baloch students currently enrolled in prestigious educational institutions in Gujranwala, Karachi, Peshawar, Bahawalpur, Gwadar and other places. In the vocational training centre being run through the Chamalang Beneficiaries Education Programme, army instructors are imparting training to students in fields including computers, dress designing, mechanics, welding, carpentry and driving. Thousands of students have been trained by the institution while others are waiting for their enrolment.

The Baloch youth are angry over the disappearance of hundreds of people, for which they blame the agencies. The army image-building measures are not enough to satisfy Baloch youths. The Baloch do not trust the political leadership either and therefore are not hopeful about implementation of the Balochistan Package. The corruption and incompetence of the political government in Quetta adds to the anger. The targeted killings of settlers who play a prominent role in the development of Balochistan cause reversal of development in the economic, educational and social spheres.

Another disturbing dimension of the problem is the increasing frustration and sense of deprivation among Pakhtuns due to their neglect by the government. Because of the boycott of the 2008 elections by the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party and the appointment of both governor and chief minister from the Baloch community, the Pakhtuns of the province feel alienated. They have the impression that they are being ignored and left out in every walk of life. Officers from the community are sidelined by the provincial government. Similarly, the Pakhtuns feel that Baloch, particularly some selected Baloch tribes of the province have been given preference in the Balochistan Package.

The policymakers appear to overlook the fact that Balochistan also belongs to Pukhtuns and the other nationalities living in the province. This apparent preferential attitude sends the wrong signal to the Pakhtuns of Balochistan, that the government rewards those who choose to wrest their rights through the power of guns. But we should be mindful of the fact that Pukhtuns populate the entire Afghanistan border and are well equipped with arms.

How ill-fated we are. Although rich in energy resources, we either bear with 16 hours of routine load-shedding or run power plants with expensive imported oil.



The writer works for Geo TV. Email: saleem. safi@janggroup.com.pk