BLA claim killing security personnel

By Saleem Shahid

 

This undated picture shows Pakistani Balach Marri, identified by Pakistani authorities as the leader of the Balochistan Liberation Army, holding a gun in Kholo. (file photo) Marri was killed in a military operation in Baluchistan late 20 Nov 2007. QUETTA: Defunct Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed killing several security personnel in an armed clash in Mashkey and Mand areas. A spokesman of BLA, Beebargh Baloch, calling from unknown place through satellite phone, told newsmen that security forces had launched a search operation in Mand and Mashkey area and had arrested many Baloch youths on Saturday. He claimed that in an armed clash militants killed eight security personnel and injured many others in the Mashkey area. He further claimed that in another encounter that occurred on Sunday about a dozen security men were killed while their two vehicles were destroyed in the attack.  ‘BLA was behind these armed attacks against security forces,’ he claimed

More for the Baloch
Dawn Editorial 

While the debate over which should come first in Balochistan, development or peace, is a never-ending one, no progress can be made on either unless a well-thought-out strategy is put into action. Considering that this has not happened over several decades of simmering Baloch discontent, President Zardari’s pledge to restore peace in the troubled province and make it secure for exploring energy resources seems too good to be true. Similar promises have been made time and again but military action, human rights abuses and the utter failure to improve socio-economic conditions have rendered them worthless. Today Baloch militants may have decided to suspend anti-state activities (although the Dera Bugti bomb blast last Sunday gives a different impression), but it will be difficult to sustain the peace unless sweeping measures are taken to deliver on promises made to the Baloch by different governments. Balochistan is a mineral-rich province and its gas fields are crucial to sustaining Pakistan’s energy requirements. Conversely, it is the poorest in terms of human development; no surprise here as the province has a small share even in its own earnings with the centre delaying the payment of billions of rupees in gas royalties. President Zardari’s words must be matched with actions if it is really the intent of this government to transform the province, and the first goal in this regard must be to win over the people’s trust. At present, the government’s policies and the military’s excesses that have caused so many to ‘disappear’, to be killed, to be rendered homeless, have alienated thousands of Baloch civilians. Moreover, a large number of them believe that development projects such as the Gwadar Port aim to bring in outside labour that would not only deprive the local people of employment opportunities but also change the demographic composition of the area. In these circumstances it is all too natural for separatist emotions to arise from the ashes of slain leaders and broken promises. To nip these in the bud — although in numerous cases such feelings have already assumed full-blown proportions — a greater measure of provincial autonomy and equitable resource-sharing must be given top priority. The marginalised Baloch must be brought into the national mainstream and made to feel their worth in society and given their rightful due in monetary and political terms. The government has enough on its hands with the Taliban menace. It cannot afford further violence that threatens the state’s integrity.

http://www.dawn.net/wps/wcm/connect/Dawn%20Content%20Library/dawn/news/pakistan/balochistan/more-for-the-baloch-qs Copyright © 2008 - Dawn Media Group

For Baloch prosperity

Dawn Editorial

 

A survivor of an earthquake carries a floor bag during a distribution of relief goods near Ziarat, November 4, 2008. — Reuters There is no doubt that incidents of militancy have subsided to a great degree in Balochistan after nationalist groups previously engaged in anti-state activities declared a ceasefire in September. Targeted attacks — aimed more at former allies turned pro-government than the military — are no doubt still carried out, and last Sunday’s bomb blast in Dera Bugti is one example. But by and large some semblance of peace has returned to the province after years of strife, and the strategy now should be to take advantage of this period of calm by pursuing political reforms and undertaking extensive development work. The neglect of Baloch rights and conflict between government troops and insurgents in the province had previously combined to make this an unachievable dream. Now, the government has taken some measures to amend matters. Several Frontier Corps check-posts have been dismantled in certain areas, cases perceived as politically motivated have been withdrawn against many Baloch leaders and a reconciliation committee, formed in April, has been recently activated to look into provincial grievances. True, even these initial steps have not been without flaws; for instance there is a need to have broader representation in the reconciliation process so that input from all major tribes is included. But a start has been made and greater strides in the right direction could lead to a complete cessation of hostilities and persuade the militants to give up their goal of independence from the Pakistani state. Of course, this sense of optimism should not be allowed to obscure the fact that injustices still prevail with feelings of alienation running high in the province. Provincial autonomy, a fair share in national revenues, the payment of long overdue royalties and socio-economic development remain elusive and subject to political indecision, while vast stretches of cantonments continue to be a reminder of the military’s sway and feelings of distrust that have yet to be overcome. The construction of Gwadar Port has elicited fears of employment opportunities being given to non-Baloch and the subsequent change in the demographic composition of the area. Meanwhile, the rehabilitation of those who fled the military operation and the tracing of hundreds of ‘disappeared’ people are pending. Unless these concerns are addressed the Baloch will continue to feel marginalised. The enormity of the task, compounded by the recent earthquake in Ziarat that made thousands homeless, is nothing short of intimidating. But its completion through the government’s three-pronged strategy of reconciliation, reconstruction of institutions and reallocation of resources is necessary to bury differences between the state and the people and to carve out a new path of hope and prosperity for the Baloch

 By Gloria Caleb

“We’ve moved from the insurgency phase to the reconciliation phase, but all’s not well. If foreign elements continue to infiltrate Balochistan, they could stir trouble and undermine our efforts to restore peace,” says Lt-Gen Khalid Shamim Wyne, the corps commander, indicating that in spite of the militants’ ceasefire, external forces have a role to play in destabilising the province.

For years, with only intermittent phases of peace in the province, the Pakistani establishment has been on its toes tackling insurgent elements in Balochistan. While the government believes that the trouble has been fomented by foreign elements with the aim of acquiring control over Balochistan’s plentiful natural resources, some independent analysts say that the insurgency is entirely the work of internal elements. Says former senator Sanaullah Baloch: “The unrest in Balochistan is the outcome of home-grown frustration.”

Yet others like Baloch nationalist leader Hasil Bizenjo indicate that it is a mix of both — outside influence and internal issues. While dwelling on the lack of basic facilities that have fuelled Baloch discontent, he adds: “The vested interests of many powers have focussed attention on Balochistan, the energy hub of the area. The establishment should tread carefully.”

With plans for an Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline passing through the province, the development of the Gwadar Port, and its proximity to Iran, it is obvious that Balochistan has attracted the attention of regional and world powers alike.

But political and economic rivalry between the major global powers has also kept interest alive in Balochistan. China’s close economic cooperation with the Pakistan government and its many projects in Balochistan has not gone down well in the US.

“The US believes that China’s involvement in Balochistan will give it greater access to the Gulf and Iran,” says defence analyst, Lt-Gen (retd) Talat Masood. Which is why there is a body of opinion that the US is using Baloch territory in Pakistan to fuel trouble in the Iranian Sistan-Balochistan province by supporting the Jundullah, a militant group fighting for Baloch rights in Iran.

“The US is playing a double game,” says a Baloch analyst, requesting anonymity. “On the one hand it provides the Pakistan army with weaponry to target the people of Balochistan to protect its oil investments. On the other it supports the Jundullah to tackle Iran.”

Although confronted with Iranian fears regarding the development of the Gwadar Port and the competition this would present to Tehran’s facilities, Pakistani officials refute theories that Iran may have a hand in the unrest in Balochistan.“There might be movement of insurgents across the border but it is definitely not government [Iran]-instigated,” says Lt-Gen Wyne. But he is not willing to rule out Indian and Afghan involvement in Baloch militancy.

“There is extensive involvement on the part of India and Afghanistan,” says Maj-Gen Saleem Nawaz, inspector-general, Frontier Corps, Balochistan, although he says that at this point there is “no insurgency” in Balochistan.

He accuses Indian and Afghan elements of propagating the theory of insurgency in Balochistan, adding, “perhaps India and Afghanistan plan to turn it into one”. He confirms the presence of militant training camps in Kandahar and Nimruz in Afghanistan.

His military colleague Lt-Gen Wyne asserts that a transfer of weapons takes place through the extremely porous border area with Afghanistan.

“Since there are more Pakhtuns in this area than Baloch, the former smuggle weapons to Quetta or other parts of Balochistan. These are then transferred to the Baloch [militants].”

Lt-Gen Wyne further questions the presence of Indian consulates in Kandahar.

“Consulates are meant to facilitate trade and travel. The consulates in Kandahar are doing neither. What is their purpose?”

Talat Masood, agrees that India could have a hand in brewing trouble in Balochistan.

“The Indians could be trying to reciprocate Pakistan’s actions in Kashmir.” However, the real problem, he says, lies within.

His views are at variance with those of Lt-Gen Wyne. “All this is highly exaggerated. Consulates have been there (Kandahar) for years. What can they do? You do not need consulates to stir trouble in a vulnerable region.” He nevertheless admits that the focus of rivalry between India and Pakistan has shifted from Kashmir to Afghanistan.

Citing the views of a pro-independence Baloch leader on the run, Hasil Bizenjo says that any help to fight the enemy — in this case the Pakistani establishment — is welcome to the separatists. “States do not break, they are broken down,” he says.

“The problem is the colonial thinking of the government — that the people will try to break the country if they are given their rights.

“This is wrong. If a Baloch gets his rights within the framework of Pakistan he will never demand independence.”

http://www.dawn.com/2008/11/10/top17.htm

 BLA attacks Kalat Scouts convoy

FC says one militant killed, three arrested in clash that followed ambush by BLA

By Malik Siraj Akbar

QUETTA: The Frontier Corps (FC) said on Sunday that it killed one ‘terrorist’ and injured three in Awaran district after they opened fire on a convoy of the visiting commandant of the Kalat Scouts. The banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for the attempted ambush, and a former chairman of the Baloch Students’ Organization (BSO) has been named in a case registered by police.

The convoy of Colonel Khalilur Rehman of Kalat Scouts was visiting Mashky area – where an FC team was ambushed on November 14 – and was returning to Khuzdar when it came under attack around 9am in Jabri area, 40 kilometres north-west of Mashky thesil.

“The attack was carried out from a white van with the licence number plate QAF-257,” FC spokesman Shahid Mahmmod Khan said, adding that troops retaliated by firing in the direction of the van, killing Noor Mohammad and injuring three others, who are now in FC custody. “The condition of one of the arrested men is critical,” said the spokesman. Those arrested have been identified by local sources as Khalid, Zaid Hussain and Shamim. The FC official said forces had also seized hand grenades and other weapons.

The BLA, a banned organisation fighting for an ‘independent Balochistan’, accepted responsibility for the attack. Bibarg Baloch – a spokesman of the BLA – told Daily Times that the Pakistan Army had launched a new search operation in Mand and Mashky areas of Balochistan, which had resulted in the arrest of several ‘innocent people’. He said the attack on the FC had been launched in ‘self-defence’ against the operation.

“We have killed seven army personnel in a fight,” claimed the BLA spokesman, and said that two other troops were killed after a rocket was fired on their convoy.

Meanwhile, police in Mashky area have registered a case against Dr Allah Nazar Baloch, a former chairman of the BSO, and his accomplices Akhtar Nadeem and Abdul Ghafoor on an FC request.http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=20081117story_17-11-2008_pg7_6

A Voice of a Baloch

By Aziz Baloch

The honorable and prominent Baloch leader, Nawab Khair Baksh Marri in his recent interview said; “Baloch is one body which has been cut and divided to Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan.” 

Such a powerful and inspiring vision should convince every son of Balochistan from all areas of its vast land. Balochistan’s leaders, intellectual’s, writers, students, activists,  Men and Women  should not abandon Balochistan with their self-centered and compartmentalized mind to keep themselves polarized and divided because that is what the enemies of Balochistan strive for.

Unfortunately, this is the biggest irony amongst the Baloch people due to a lack of inspiration and “vision,” this deficiency has left their national struggle for self-determination at a stall. Baloch national struggle has been facing many set backs throughout its political history.

There is lack of commitment amongst many Baloch leaders and intellectuals to the Baloch cause. That has perpetuated throughout the Baloch political struggle, this not a cause of Baloch tribalism which is said to be an obstacle that prevents the Baloch achieving the self- determination it has for so longed been searching for. Many Baloch leaders are striving for self-comfort in their life and collecting more wealth, because of that many Baloch leaders knowing their weaknesses, yet they are continue to misguide their people and some intellectuals knowingly support them this is deliberate “intellectual dishonesty.”

After Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti Shaheed –e- Watan, Mir Balach Marri Shaheed, Dr. Khalid Shaheed and many others that have sacrificed their precious life for the Baloch cause. They have changed the political landscape of Balochistan; I believe the elephant is coming out from the room.

As Waja Towghi makes strong comments” Why are you using this Balochi-Culture site for the Mujahidin-e-Khalq cum Saudi cum Pahlavi cum ISI-Sunni Mullah propaganda?”  

It seems some unseen and hidden forces are playing the religious card against the Baloch national struggle and trying to overshadow the historical grievances of Baloch under the Persian regime, shia regimes of Iran, otherwise persecutions of Sunni Baloch people in Iran is nothing new. The Iranian regime for many decades has been targeting and assassinating Baloch Sunni religious leaders and Baloch Mullah’s. It is well known that the Sunni religious leaders and Mullah’s belong to Baloch people whether they are good or bad. When they are being executed, killed and facing persecutions Baloch should expose the radical regimes of Iran “heinous crimes” against all Baloch.  

As long as you are sincere, honest and have good faith, and only care for your people. Then I believe that there is nothing wrong with using  Balochi-Culture, posting any sources which are going to expose the injustices against Baloch people in all aspects of their life in their own land.

As an English poet from the 18^th century Erasmus Darwin said “He who allows oppression shares the crimes.”  

Although Baloch secular nations always welcomed other minorities in their homeland such as Hindus and Christians, the same can not be said of their oppressive counterparts Pakistan and Iran. They do not believe in the equality, justice and democracy. Eastern Balochistan for the last 60 years has never seen democracy nor the Western Balochistan is expecting it any time soon.

Further he writes; “Why your sources of news like this (Iran VAN) are always silent about the real tragedies of Eastern Baloch lands?”  

This is not rocket science, every one knows Baloch have no influence on the media in both states. But, many Baloch websites are playing a great role in this regard they are trying to encounter the regimes lies, misinformation, and propagandas.

There is also an opportunity for you Waja Dr. Towghi (as “Dr” “PHD”) to encounter against the regimes lies and misinformation about Baloch nation through your scholarly writing to contribute in the Baloch newspapers and the websites.

Mir. Dard beautifully says in his poetry;

Urdu-Tuhmaten chand appne zimme dhar chale- Kis liye aae the ham kyakar chale.

English-Nothing but blame and blemish have we earned in life-What, else, we came to do what achieved in life.

As a self-claimed spokespersons for Balochistan, you have been carrying for a long time the banner of “Liaison, Baloch Human Rights International.” As an individual, instead of joining the Baloch Diaspora in their collective struggle as a human rights activist to make a better contribution for the Baloch people at the same time preaching unity. 

The Balochistan imbroglio

Munir Ahmed Jan

With the change of command in Islamabad after the February 18, 2008 mandate the people of Pakistan in general and the people of Balochistan in particular heaved a sigh of relief owing to any more tolerable semi-civilian and quasi-military dictatorial regime in the country. While there is hardly any day gone where a newspaper or - and in recent electronic media breakthrough - a television channel does not carry a report, a story or a debate going on with regard to the situation in Balochistan, occasionally on natural disasters but very frequently on manmade problems and issues.

And while much had been debated over and the crises in Balochistan, without any concrete and sustainable solution emerging during the past 60 years of the coming into being of this Land of the Pure (masses are excluded from this purity), the major key-players that may either jeopardize or stabilize the situation in this largest and also the smallest province of the country in terms of its landmass and population, respectively are yet to decide their respective agenda. As a result of the never-ending tug of war between the above-mentioned key-players the most affected ones are those spectators of this conflict whose destiny is squarely tied with the end result in the game. And here I would refrain from discussing “The Great Game” around the corner.

As an eyewitness account of the crises in the richest province of the country in terms of its vast natural resources and the all-weather, warm-water 700-kilometre coastal belt, Balochistan is that hapless area, which had treacherously been kept backward and subjugated at the cost of its poor mortals, only to please and favour a selected gang of powerful and self-centred vested interest, commonly known as the establishment. Having said that my focus would be on the post-February 28 situation in Balochistan, where an elected government is in place, headed by Chief Minister, Nawab Muhammad Aslam Raisani, from the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).

The present Balochistan cabinet is a unique case in that it is the only Government in the country sans an Opposition, with the only opposition member of the provincial assembly, Sardar Yar Muhammad Rind, being an exception for he has some tribal disputes with the Raisani clan. The composition of the provincial cabinet is again very unique in that the PPP without being the single largest party manoeuvred the situation to its favour and qualified itself in formulation of and heading the coalition government, which regretfully is a conglomeration of not-very-assertive elected representatives, politically or, in the given situation in Balochistan, tribally as well.

Asif Ali Zardari, scion of a nationalist and well-respected political personality – Hakim Ali Zardari, having close friendship with the contemporary Baloch leadership was the first publicly apologizing over the injustices done to the people of Balochistan on the part of the successive governments including, of course, the first PPP government led by Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. While the media as well as the common man had mixed but positive reactions over this public announcement made by the President, the people of Balochistan save the men in the government had very cautious and reserved expressions on it. The reason! Notwithstanding, the lowest literacy rate there the common man in Balochistan has become the most mature of the citizens, politically and diehard and committed on compromising over their socio-economic, cultural and political rights. They pay no more heed to any such announcements made from any quarter, whether from within or without.

Today, they are left at the brink of the worst-ever national crisis where the country’s integrity is at stake. And again I would refrain from discussing “The Great Game” around the corner. Today, the people of Balochistan are kept outside the mainstream of the national activities and its issues, as ever before. There is no marked change visible, inside Balochistan and elsewhere, ever since the change of command in Islamabad.

And while a government led by PPP is in place in Islamabad and in Balochistan and while there had been a number of visits taking place between Quetta and Islamabad on the part of central and provincial PPP leadership (these include the visits of President, the PM and the CM) the common man is yet to feel any relief, any consolation in his daily life, with regard to their political, economic and social grievances (the sense of deprivation terminology being out of fashion). The common Baloch is still suffering from the high handed attitude on the part of the federally controlled law enforcement agencies. Again the Balochistan is the largest of all the provinces in terms of its check posts, proportionate to its population, manned by the Frontier Corps, the Coastal Guards, the Customs and the Anti-Narcotics Force, leaving behind the provincial police and the levies.

The families of the missing persons are holding protest rallies and resorting to hunger strikes in front of Parliament House, Balochistan Assembly, Islamabad, Karachi and Quetta press clubs. Still, the Balochistan’s youth are running from pillar to post in search of getting public sector employment proportionate to fixed quota of six percent for Balochistan (the major chunk of it going to the urban educated youth from Quetta, Machh, Pishin and Loralai districts). Still the students from the most neglected and most backward areas are making hue and cry seeking admissions in the provincial and national level professional universities.

The VIPs as well as the common man are not allowed to enter the cantonment areas in the province, not even the provincial ministers driving official vehicles with the green flag fluttering (thanks, at least there is no discrimination). Given the above situation the President of Pakistan had been pleased to invite, on Thursday (October 30, 2008), a large number of intellectuals (majority of them retired bureaucrats), professionals (again the government officials), tribal chieftains (chiefs of different small groups within a tribe but not the mainstream), political leadership (two or three representatives but not heads of these parties) and one or two journalists (already hard pressed and/or under control thanks to government advertisements), to Islamabad at the Presidency as state guests. Mr. President delivered his key-note address at the end of a day-long discussion over the situation in Balochistan, with the announcement of establishment of two more universities and one women’s medical college (Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Medical College for Women) in the province.

The show in fact was an activity organized by the PPP Balochistan, led by its provincial president, Nawabzada Lashkari Raisani, the younger brother of chief minister Balochistan. The key speakers, as seen in the press photographs sitting on the podium, also belonged to the PPP – M/s Raza Rabbani, Babar Awan, Jenhangir Badar, Rehman Malik et al. However, the event received not much expected media coverage owing to the devastating earthquake occurred in different parts of the province just one day earlier.

The question, which came into the minds of all and sundry was, what was the real objective of arranging such a big show and inviting such a large number of selected persons at the cost of the public exchequer? Only to announce the establishment of a few odd educational institutions in there, and to deliver a key-note address over reconciliation in there, on the part of the President, a symbol of the federation and custodian of the country’s sacred constitution, but presiding over a function arranged by a political party having ideological differences with other major political parties? Apparently, yes but the ground realities suggest something else. It is now up to the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan or for that matter the head of the government, the Prime Minister of Pakistan – Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani to uncover the future plans relating to bringing peace and promoting reconciliation in that godforsaken part of the country.

Meanwhile, there is an impartial and honest suggestion for President Asif Ali Zardari. He must get the best services of his great father – Hakim Ali Zardari – who is alive and kicking. The gentleman equally enjoys the companionship of and is honoured and revered by the political and tribal stalwarts of the province of Balochistan including the chief of the Raisani tribe. The gentleman had played a very key role at a time when all the Baloch leadership were behind the bar facing (the in camera) Hyderabad Conspiracy Case and in the absence of the National Awami Party (banned during ZAB rule) political vacuum was filled with the National Democratic Party headed by Sher Baz Khan Mazari and Hakim Ali Zardari, a true nationalist, both of them having unblemished personal and political track record.

The answer, at the end of the above explanations, is very simple i.e. implementation. All the successive governments had constituted countless numbers of committees, sub-committees and task forces. All these committees, sub-committees and the task forces have finalized and submitted recommendations to the respective governments including the outgoing and the incumbent governments. All these recommendations have been put on the backburners. It is only the matter of implementation, Mr. President.

—The writer is a freelance columnist