May 16, 2011
Nationalism lacks in our society since everyone is carrying different agendas. Pakistani federation constitutes of several nations, but recognition is still missing at very large. Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtoonkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Kashmir are majorly considered provincial divisions, but there are other chunks populations struggling for being recognized and to enjoy their self-determination rights.
Saraiki population is one of major populations in Pakistan, around 60 million of total, dwell largely in northwestern and southern Punjab. Similarly, Hazara people share equal land of Northwestern part of the country and a couple of other populations on the similar pattern.
Somewhere 1200 kilometers from Pakistani federal capital in southwestern part of the country, it has become a traditional news of bullet-riddled corpses found of missing Baloch nationalists. They were kept in hiding by state security forces since they were demanding their democratic rights. The heirs blame Frontier Core (FC) or intelligence people lifted them. Every now and then, they are carrying protests in Quetta, Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad.
In April 2011, their venue is again National Press Club, located hardly two kilometers away from the Presidency, the Parliament House, Supreme Court, and the Prime Minister Secretariat, for the recovery of around 14000 missing Baloch nationalists, disappeared in past several years. Abdul Ghafar Langvoe, Jalil Reki, Ali Asghar Baloch, Zarina Marri, Noman Baloch, Habib Marri, and many others are amongst those whose families are protesting on roads, but to no avail. In the meanwhile, they heard another news of decomposed dead bodies found in some far locality of Balochistan, and they are all frightened to know who they belong to?
Someone refers this to a ‘Dirty Little War’ inside Pakistan going on side by side when world is more anxious about war against terror in Afghanistan, Waziristan agencies of Pakistan and Iraq. Pakistan herself is maintaining a silence over this ‘Dirty Little War’, keeping rest of countrymen unaware of the facts in Balochistan and the tenderness of circumstances. Baloch nationalists want recognition and absolute freedom in their affairs – a few years back it meant provincial autonomy and now a complete freedom from Pakistan. They have rejected caroling ‘Pak Sar Zameen Shad Bad’, instead chant ‘Ma Chukki Balochani’ as of their national anthem.
We, when it comes to discuss nationalism, seem living in a fools’ paradise being raising the slogan of ‘broader nationalism’ (Pakistanism). We forget Pakistan is a federation, as similar as India or former USSR where multilingual and multicultural nations dwell. They have everything dissimilar to others except religion, which is the only thread of bonding. Concept of Pakistanism is impossible unless every cultural group is not given its identity and for Baloch nation, it is their pride. Provincial autonomy is each province’s right. When all other provinces are enjoying this liberty, then why not Balochistan? If they are rebellion today, federation is responsible.
Since Balochistan is the richest and strategically important province of the country, a great-great game is underway and stakeholders are different including US, China and India. Knowing the fact and importance of Balochistan as an energy and mineral resources’ hub, China and India can only meet their energy requirements by means of manipulating it. Indian industry can only survive if gas from energy rich central Asian states will pass through this channel and so is the case with China. When it comes to US presence in the region means to contain the growing Chinese economy at any cost. In the whole scene, Pakistan’s bloc with China is natural and inevitable, in the best interest of regional security, peace and its own existence. Both countries’ interests can serve both nations and lead them to prosperity.
On the other hand, US policies for Pakistan have always proven faithless. During 80s, it was Pakistan who furthered US agenda against USSR and upon achieving its desired goals, US left Pakistan. It is again well evident in war against terror, Pakistan is at a loss if growing influence of India in Afghanistan is not curtailed.
Pakistan may have had been treated as similar as Afghanistan and Iraq, in the name of terrorism, but being nuclear power and a federation, strategy is different.
US investigative journalist Webster Tarpley early this year foils game of American FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation), planning to involve Pakistan in another terrorist activity inside America but with huge impact. Alleged terrorists were deemed of holding links with Jaesh-e-Mohammed. The ultimate purpose was to instigate civil war inside Pakistan and finally dismantle the federation into three or four free states, merging Khyber-Pakhtoonkhwa into Afghanistan.
Current circumstances demonstrate Pakistan a federation facing threats at both internal and external fronts. In Balochistan, civil war is almost on the edge where time and again army operations and kidnapping of Baloch nationalists has made the whole Baloch nation furious against the federation.
The recent statement of Chief of Army Staff (COAF) General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani that from onwards army will not take part in any operations in Balochistan, has proven they are involved in actions against their own citizen. But on the other side this brought a ray of hope for Baloch nation as well that their rights in future would be served and use of force against their own citizen would be discouraged.
Government also must ensure the delivery of what she has pledged in the name of Balochistan Package in 2009, instead of giving Baloch nation with gifts of bullet riddled corpses and help them in retrieving their missing beloved ones to win their confidence.
It is also very important to honor their tribal leaders and get all the elders of major clans on board to alleviate anger and distrust from Baloch society. It has proved in the war against terror in Afghanistan since US is kneeling down on her knees to instigate dialogues with Taliban, no matter whether good or bad, and being front ally of US, Pakistan is supporting US strategy.
If talks are a possible way out of a quagmire of mistakes committed in war against terror in case of Afghanistan, then why not in Balochistan?
Published at: http://www.thebalochhal.com/2011/05/the-%E2%80%98dirty-little-war%E2%80%99-in-balochistan/
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