This may be the beginning. If due attention is not given to the issue, we may see disastrous results. We must not overlook ground realities and have a pragmatic approach to resolve the issue which is getting international support and sympathy.

We must realise that weapons and aggression are no solution to any problem. In my opinion all garrisons in the province must be removed. Baloch leaders, particularly youths, must be taken on board to solve this problem as this issue is going beyond the autonomy because of lame excuses and hollow claims by rulers.

Balochistan’s atrocities should end and people should be provided some relief or we will lose an integral part of the country.

GULZAR KANDRANI
Quetta

QUETTA: Welcoming a recently tabled bill on Balochistan in the United States’ House of Representatives, Baloch Republican Party’s self-exiled chief Brahamdagh Bugti expressed his support on Wednesday for any and all foreign intervention in the province whether it be by the US, Nato or India.

Brahamdagh Bugti says he will welcome any support for Balochistan independence.

“America must intervene in Balochistan and stop the ethnic cleansing of Baloch people,” said thirty-year-old Brahamdagh, as reporters listened to his telephonic address at the Quetta Press Club. “We know that foreign countries have their personal interest but we must think of our greater interest.”

A resolution was introduced on February 17 by Congressman Dana Rohrabacher and co-sponsored by two other congressmen in the US House of Representatives, calling upon Pakistan to recognise the right to self-determination for the people of Balochistan.

“The American resolution and committee formed for Balochistan is not against the sovereignty of Pakistan. Every country has the right to interfere or intervene [in another’s affairs] if there are state-sponsored human rights violations,” Brahamdagh said.

He went on to highlight how Baloch women, political leaders, activists and students had been subjected to enforced disappearances and tortured for years, and how under such circumstances, any support from any foreign country would be welcomed.

“We have been accused of getting support from India but the Baloch movement does not have any foreign support. However, we will welcome any support for independence.”

Sceptical of mainstream politicians’ and media attention to Balochistan’s affairs, Brahamdagh who now lives in Switzerland said the change of heart was rooted in apprehensions over Punjab’s sovereignty. “Pakistani politicians like Nawaz Sharif are now visiting Balochistan and inquiring about the plight of Baloch people. There are discussions and talks on TV channels and print media in recent days about Balochistan. Because they are now worried about the sovereignty of Punjab and [want] to protect Punjab’s interest.”

‘No negotiations’

When asked about the All Parties Conference (APC) called by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani over the crisis in Balochistan, Brahamdagh said that Baloch nationalist leaders will not join negotiations.

“On the one hand, they are calling an APC, while on the other they continue to brutally kill Baloch people and throw their bullet-riddled, mutilated bodies,” he said.

He went on to call on Balochistan Governor Zulfiqar Magsi and Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani to also join the Baloch movement, leaving behind their “temporary” and “personal” interest.

“If they do not want to join the movement, they should resign from office and sit quietly because the Baloch movement is nearing its destination. Efforts are being made to unify the rank of Baloch leaders.”

When asked about the recent killing of his sister and niece in Karachi, Brahamdagh said that such brutalities will not compel him to withdraw or surrender from the struggle to a free Balochistan.

He also lashed out at the ultra-conservative Difa-e-Pakistan Council, which has announced a public gathering on February 27 in solidarity with the Baloch people.

“Where were they when Baloch women, children and youth were being picked up and brutally killed by security forces? There is no influence of Jihadi elements in Balochistan. These religious parties are backed by security agencies.”

Meanwhile, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Balochistan chapter carried out a procession on Wednesday to protest against the US resolution on Balochistan. The rally led by PPP Provincial Minister Ali Madad Jatak culminated outside the Quetta Press Club.

Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-Ca) on Balochistan and Dr. Shakeel Afridi with VOA’s Ayesha Tanzeem. The US Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-Ca), who introduced a controversial resolution on Balochistan along with two bills honoring the Pakistani doctor who helped the CIA catch Bin Laden, sat down with the Voice of America’s Ayesha Tanzeem to discuss some of these issues.
According to the resolution, the Baloch people have the right to self-determination. Pakistan has reacted strongly to this resolution calling it a violation of international laws and interference in its internal affairs.

The US State Department has tried to distance itself from Congressman Rohrabacher’s opinions and efforts and has insisted that it does not reflect official US policy. State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland insists that the US does not want to interfere in the internal affairs of Pakistan.

The two bills introduced on the 17th of Feb, 2012 call for giving US citizenship to Dr. Shakeel Afridi as well as honoring him with the highest civilian honor, a Congressional Gold Medal. Dr. Afridi is under arrest in Pakistan after secretly helping the CIA with a fake polio and hepatitis vaccine campaign to collect DNA evidence of Bin Laden’s presence in the compound. The Abbottabad commission has recommended that he be tried for treason for helping a foreign government’s secret agency.

Earlier this week, Pakistan had slammed US Congressman Dana Rohrabacher for having tabled a resolution in the US Congress, calling for the independence of Balochistan.

The Pakistan Foreign Office described Rohrabacher as being ‘oblivious to the ground situation’ and expressed the hope that the move would never succeed. It further said that presentation of the bill was in violation of the international laws and showed a ‘highly irresponsible attitude’ on the part of Congressman Rohrabacher.

A week after he chaired a Congressional committee’s hearing on Balochistan, Congressman Rohrabacher said that the Baloch should be given their right of self-determination and to their own sovereign country.

The House Concurrent Resolution in the US House of Representatives has been co-sponsored by Representatives Louie Gohmert and Steve King. It highlights the history of Balochistan, and says that revolts in 1958, 1973 and 2005 “indicate continued popular discontent against rule by Islamabad, and the plunder of its vast natural wealth while Baluchistan remains the poorest province in Pakistan.”

The text says that there is also an insurgency underway in Sistan-Balochistan, which is being repressed by Iran.

Congressman Rohrabacher’s resolution says that it is the US policy to “oppose aggression and the violation of human rights inherent in the subjugation of national groups as currently being shown in Iran and Pakistan against the aspirations of the Baloch people.”

According to the resolution, the people of Balochistan that are “currently divided between Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan, have the right to self-determination and to their own sovereign country and they should be afforded the opportunity to choose their own status among the community of nations, living in peace and harmony, without external coercion.” (ANI)

He said had there been people support for Herbyar Mari, there would have been his influence in at least three Tehseels of the province.

Muhabbat Mari claims only five percent of people have been supporting the separatists.

He says every Baloch child is ready to shed his last drop of blood for Pakistan.

When asked to elaborate situation in Kohlu district, deemed as stronghold of separatists, he said on the one side there were 180 million people of Pakistan while on the other hand only handful of terrorists and still the government of Pakistan seemed to be failed in controlling the miscreants.  “Seeking separation is not new for this Sardars,” he said and added Khair Bux Mari lived in Russia for 20 years while his son Herbyar Mari had also been living in Europe. “They have no influence in Kohlu district despite they offered Rs10, 000 to jobless youth to join them,” he said. Mr Mari added that he knew financial status of Mari separatist Sardars and they could not purchase weapons. “Now they are having weapons and living in expensive cities like London.How come deprived Balochs live such a luxurious lives”.

He said Herbayar Mari had spent time in a London jail and was released after Rehman Malik’s efforts.

When asked to comment on excesses with Baloch, Mr Mari said it was beyond any doubt that excesses were committed not other than Baloch Sardars who ruled the province as governors and chife ministers. “I ask them what measures they took for providing basic amenities, education and employment to Baloch people,”. He said Sardars were responsible for injustices as they tried to make Balochis their salves.

He recalls the past and says Nawab Mehrullah Mari, father of famous Baloch leader Khair Bux Mari, didn’t allow British government to open a primary school in his area some 95 years ago. He said the Sardars wanted to keep people away from education.

Answering a question whether Baloch separatists could achieve their goal through US intervention he said: “Even father of this terrorist will not be able to achieve this goal”. We will free people of Balochistan form the shackles of this Sardars and our children would scarify for the integrity of Pakistan.

He also denied that any military operation was going on in the province. Mari said India was funneling arms and money to terrorists in Dera Murad Jamali, Sibbi, Kohlu and Makran   through Afghanistan.

The Baloch media is not responsible for the content of external sites or nor we support.

Unfortunately, ours is a history marked with lies, distortions, exaggerations and false glorification. Can’t we at least pay attention to some bitter truths and grim reminders? For all the flak that US Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (Republican from California) is getting from Pakistan’s media and official circles, the fact is that he is gaining popularity by the day, especially among the young people of Balochistan, some of whom have already set up a Facebook fan page for him. At last count, he had over 3,000 fans and this number will only rise.

So, the news channels are fooling and misleading the country when they show a ‘patriotic Pakistani’ from Islamabad or Khyber-Pakhtunkhawa, instead of a talking to a Baloch from Gwadar, condemning the developments taking place in Washington DC. Why is there such reluctance to trust the Baloch and speak to them to learn what has alienated them and what they demand? When was the first (and probably the last) time when the whole country demonstrated unity to address what is happening in Balochistan? How many long marches, breaking news stories and parliamentary resolutions are going to happen before the government addresses the matter at hand?

Let’s stop the ‘internal affair’ drama and focus on some historical facts? Since Pakistan’s inception, Islamabad has spied on the Baloch. Perhaps the Baloch did not respond to the fact that they were treated unequally and disrespectfully but over time they became pained by being billed as Russian, Indian, Afghan and even Iraqi agents. Of course, now they are going to be treated as ‘CIA agents’! Did Islamabad ever embrace the Baloch as respectful and dependable citizens of the land who could be trusted and given ownership and responsibility?

Surely, we all remember what happened in 1973 when the first-ever elected Baloch government was dismissed. As if disregard for the Baloch mandate of provincial government was not enough, the people of the province were then subjected to a horrendous military operation on the charge of having ‘extra-marital affairs’ with foreign countries. In six decades, Islamabad has not been able to present undisputed proof of Balochistan’s unfaithfulness while there are countless accounts of the formers patriarchal arrogance towards the province.

An ardent pro-Pakistan leader like Nawab Akbar Bugti was killed on suspicion of getting ‘foreign assistance’. Former chief minister Akhtar Mengal was literally put into an iron cage because General Musharraf thought he was not sufficiently patriotic. Bramdagh Bugti was called an ‘Indian agent’, and his sister and niece were killed. Hundreds of young Baloch have been found dead in recent months, dumped along roads in the province.

While a troubled relationship between a mother-in-law and her daughter-in-law can endure despite all flaws, marriage between a quarrelling couple has a painful, yet, internationally and legally acceptable choice: divorce. The Pakistani ‘patriots’ should ask themselves that are their actions pushing Balochistan to the brink of divorce.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 22^nd, 2012.

This hearing and the ‘self-determination’ bill were the initiative of Congressman Dana Rohrabacher of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, long known as having rather skewed views about Pakistan. The invitees to the hearing, in particular Colonel Ralph Peters, who has long advocated the break-up of Pakistan, was also indicative of the Congressman’s thinking.

Nevertheless, the State Department characterising it “a complex issue” and calling upon “all the parties to resolve their differences through peaceful dialogue”, cannot be seen as a ringing endorsement of our position, which left the impression that while not endorsing Rohrabacher’s initiative, the administration may not be unhappy with it either. Understandably, given the current state of Pak-US relations, anything that could add to American leverage and enhance our worries would not be unwelcome to the administration.

Moreover, human rights issues have long been a favourite US tool, used effectively even against powerful states, including China. Lest we forget it, the issue of human rights, popularly known as Responsibility to protect, has become a litmus test of a state’s credentials. Consequently, there is near universal unanimity against shielding human rights violations on the plea of ‘interference in internal affairs’.

Be that as it may, there can be no excuse for the long, wilful neglect of Balochistan and the brutal tactics employed there against expressions of dissent. These have convinced the Baloch youth that they have no future in the Federation. But credit for the intensity of their anger and outrage against Pakistan should go to General Pervez Musharraf, who treated them with contempt, coupled with ruthlessness that would have done Saddam proud. The public celebration of Sardar Akbar Bugti’s killing was deeply disgusting to most Pakistanis, but more so to the Baloch, who felt humiliated at the treatment meted out to the venerable Sardar. Ever since, the situation has deteriorated to a point where some of the Baloch are convinced that the only option available to them may be armed insurrection. Is there any surprise that this should have encouraged some of our American ‘friends’ to suggest the province’s separation?

Given its strategic location and its huge proven resources, Balochistan has long attracted the interest of major powers. In the seventies and eighties, Moscow spent a lot of time and resources cultivating the Baloch. Today, if others are interested in taking advantage of our follies, we can only blame ourselves. After all, there is undeniable wisdom in the adage that ‘those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it’ and this is most true of today’s Pakistan. Admittedly, many factors contributed to the country’s break-up in 1971, and we can hold some foreign powers complicit in it, too, but the primary responsibility has to be ours, particularly the politicians, as well as civil and military officials. In fact, each one of us had a role in the enactment of this tragedy.

It is not enough for us to claim that our common faith is enough of a glue to keep us together. Modern states have to be based on shared burdens and shared benefits, in an environment of adherence to law, respect for rights irrespective of caste, creed or ethnic origin, and a commitment to good governance. In short, every citizen must have a stake in the future of the state. The time for apologies and political ‘packages’ has long passed. A radical shift in our thinking and a national resolve to see the Baloch as ‘us’ and not ‘them’, is needed urgently.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 22^nd, 2012.

“The United States respects the territorial integrity of Pakistan,” State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters.

“Members of Congress introduce legislation on many foreign affairs topics, but they don’t in any way imply US government endorsement of those positions,” she said.

“With regard to Balochistan itself, we encourage all the parties in Balochistan to work out their differences peaceably and through a political process,” she said.

Balochistan in southwestern Pakistan has been torn by violence since 2004, with human rights groups charging that hundreds have been detained, killed or gone missing as government forces try to crush the uprising.

Baloch rebels want a greater share of the oil, gas and mineral deposits in the region touching Iran and Afghanistan. Taliban and sectarian extremists have also taken up arms in the region.

Rohrabacher recently chaired a hearing on Balochistan and Friday proposed a resolution saying that the Baloch people “have the right to self-determination and to their own sovereign country, and they should be afforded the opportunity to choose their own status.”

Two fellow Republicans joined Rohrabacher in sponsoring the resolution but few believe it has chances of approval soon. Rohrabacher earlier pushed unsuccessfully to cut off all aid to Pakistan after US forces found and killed Osama bin Laden on its soil.

Pakistani leaders including Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani have repeatedly voiced outrage over Rohrabacher’s efforts on Balochistan, amid strong anti-US sentiment in the country.
Rohrabacher’s proposal is a “concurrent resolution,” meaning that even if passed it would not have legal force and would not need the signature of President Barack Obama, a member of the rival Democratic Party. (AFP)

Source: http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-36398-US-takes-distance-from-from-Bstan-bill

Northern Balochistan has tremendous potential for development of horticulture, particularly the fruit farms. Thousands tons of apples are exported each year from the province. Regular and sustainable supply of electricity is essential to enhance production and export of quality fruits. The local growers of fruits are facing electricity load shedding and power fluctuation in the province.

Balochistan’s solar energy potential needs to be exploited fully in view of the growing energy demand. Solar energy is the most reliable and abundantly available renewable source. The province has an average daily global insulation of 19 to 20 million joules/m2 a day with an annual mean sunshine duration of 8- 8.5 hours. These values are among the highest in the world. For daily global radiation of up to 23 million joules/m2, 24 (80 per cent) consecutive days are available in this area. Sunrays are highest in the province, as annual average mean daily solar radiation is at 5.9-6.2KWh/sq.m. Such data is ideal for PV and other solar energy applications. The need is to take advantage of solar technologies to meet the challenge of electricity deficit. The solar thermal devices have greater scope in the province for power generation. Generally, solar thermal power plants use parabolic trough and dish sterling technologies.

Solar parabolic trough consists of curved mirrors, which form troughs that focus the sun’s energy at 30-60 times its normal intensity on a pipe. A fluid is circulated through the pipes, which is then used to generate stream, which powers a turbine that drives an electric generator.

On the other hand, the dish sterling concentrating solar power unit uses a mirror in the shape of a dish to collect and concentrate the sun’s energy onto a small area where a receiver is located. The receiver transfers the solar energy to a sterling cycle engine that converts it into power.

Alternative energy development board (AEDB) is carrying out many RE projects in remote areas of the province for the past many years. The AEDB’s village electrification program through solar energy could not fully be implemented in the province due to the financial constraint.

Established as an autonomous body in 2003, AEDB is working for development of RE technologies. It has been mandated to ensure five percent of total national power generation capacity to be generated through energy technologies by the year 2030.

Solar energy-based projects are eco-friendly and sustainable. Electricity generation through solar thermal power plants is considered by most as an economical and cost-effective energy source, since there is no fuel cost.

Solar thermal power plants produce electricity in much the same way as conventional power station. The difference is that they obtain their energy input by concentrating solar radiation and converting it to high temperature steam or gas to drive a turbine or engine. Solar power plants can simultaneously produce electricity, provide cooling by means of an absorption chiller, generate industrial processing steam, and produce drinking water with a seawater desalination plant.

From an economic point of view, the solar thermal power plants will reduce the dependency on fossil fuels in remote areas. The operation and maintenance cost is nominal, compared to conventional power plants.

Moreover, these plants will also avoid the risk of future electricity cost escalation. They are not only emissions-free in nature, but are also ideally suited to reduce green house gases and other pollutants.

Under the remote village electrification program, AEDB plans to bring in use solar energy technologies to electrify 300 villages, which have been identified in the province for solar homes.

Under the AEDB’s electrification program, 6968 remote villages in Balochistan will be electrified through solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in the next 20 years.

A solar home costs Rs.100,000 but a solar energy system can be installed with one-time expenditure and the system needs no additional expenditure for years, according to the experts.

Though AEDB was all set to launch RE projects identified for the province in the last fiscal year, yet the federal government had not yet released the funds.

The approved cost for RE projects in PC-I for northern, southern and central Balochistan was Rs308.96 million, Rs280.30 million and Rs316.43 million, respectively. An amount of Rs100 million was given to AEDB in March 2007 from the Khushal Pakistan program, against the allocated Rs592.18 million. The lack of funds caused delay in implementation of AEDB’s approved projects in northern, southern, and central parts of the province by one year and the board could only start its projects in Sindh.

AEDB has already completed topographic survey of target villages in southern, central, and northern Balochistan, yet it has been a cash-strapped and hence could not undertake installation of solar systems in the remote areas of the province.

In February 2008, AEDB was able to open its project offices in Balochistan after it received Rs100 million from the federal government. In the last fiscal year, AEDB hoped a release of Rs250 million for carrying out its village electrification program through solar energy in the province, but the amount is still awaited.

All the RE projects, being undertaken by AEDB in the country, are financed by federal government through public sector development program (PSDP) allocation.

In the fiscal year 2004-05, 121 houses were electrified through solar energy in Allah Baksh Bazar Dandar village in Turbat district.

In the fiscal year 2005-06, 100 houses at Takht village in district Kalat and Kili Mama Macherzai village in district Killa Saifullah were electrified through solar PV. Solar energy systems are working effectively and supplying power to beneficiaries in remote areas where use of fuel-wood has been common.

Under village electrification program, clean drinking water will be provided through use of solar water disinfector and solar cooker will also be used to avoid unnecessary cutting of trees in rural areas.

The National Institute of Silicon Technology (NIST) has developed mathematical models that give the solar insulation values at any time on any surface inclination.

Need is to promote the use of solar energy and to strengthen its technology base so as to allow this source of alternative energy achieve its full potential and contribute towards meeting the provincial electricity needs.

If one were to focus only on the relationship between Bhutto and the US in this case, they would miss the fact that it was only after the legitimate provincial government of Balochistan had been dissolved (by our erstwhile PPP leader), that the resistance began in opposition to what was seen as the writ of the central government and the state.

There are two things happening here — one is the role of the US and one is the specifically national problem within Pakistan. These two can be discussed in their own right but it is important to note that whenever a national conflict arises, it is very convenient for us to forget to point our fingers at ourselves because we are so busy blaming imperialist intervention. Question: is this intervention deeply problematic and do we need to make ourselves less dependent on foreign powers? Yes. However, there is a long history of conflict between the central government and provincial powers, which is not only about the US. Personally, I appreciate all manner of civil, peaceful protest, but saying that no one has a right to talk about Pakistan’s national problems seems to be counterproductive. If the issue of Baloch self-determination has been brought up by the US, does that mean we can never again critically assess the needs of, and problems faced by, the Baloch people?

Perhaps it is easy to forget that the alliance between the national ideology of Pakistan and the ‘right of sovereignty’ that people at a protesting chowk were asking for recently, does not have an easy fit. When Balochistan ‘voted’ for Pakistan, most of the Baloch tribes were not within the British-administered Balochistan and so were not even part of the decision to form the country.

Nonetheless, the promise the country held, and the one that Quaid-e-Azam pushed for initially, was a decentred federation where each province would function autonomously. However, this is not how things played out. Historians writing on Pakistan (and interestingly not included in our school syllabi), have produced many studies showing how this did not actually play out in practice — and the creation of Bangladesh is testament to that. Let us also not forget that when Bangladesh was formed, people in West Pakistan (yes that’s us), and particularly in Punjab, said that Pakistan should not recognise that country because its creation undermined the sovereignty of the state and had been formed in collusion with India. Lesson: we should not only blame our leaders for retrogressive views.

The people making these claims were conflating the legitimate grievances of the Bangladeshis (at that time East Pakistanis) with the illegitimate actions of the Indian state — which were two quite distinct things even if they came together in that one instance. The issue of East Pakistani autonomy had been articulated in terms of language (there were language riots in 1952 in which the rioters were brutally suppressed and West Pakistani newspapers at the time only mentioned it briefly and in passing); the issue of representation in the military, which was being seen as problematic by East Pakistanis everywhere; and crucially, resource allocation, which was being concentrated in the Western wing. Those are the big, macro things we all vaguely know about. On the other hand, the little things that come out of the National Assembly debates of the time include the decision of where to set up television stations (surprise: they were concentrated in West Pakistan); the priority given to refugee reallocation in terms of funds and the set up of employment exchanges in the West; the set up of factories and industry in Karachi through government funds…the list goes on. The point here is that there are so many historical factors that we do not even see that go into the expression of separatist sentiment.

With what seems like a more permanent (fingers crossed) return to democracy, these are questions we now need to think about and pressurise whoever we support to begin thinking about as well: how can the legitimate concerns of provincial powers be addressed? Is it possible for such negotiations to take place not between the military and guerrilla fighters in open conflict (such as happened in Bangladesh in 1971 and Balochistan in 1973) but between political leaders who are dependent on us for our vote?

Whatever we may think within our internal national discussions, history has not vindicated us. Today, there are several books by Bangladeshi nationalists that discuss the country’s history under “West Pakistani colonialism”. And they are not entirely wrong. In the past (and even today), forcing the argument for ‘sovereignty’ down people’s throats has been counterproductive. In the 1950s in Pakistan, Iskander Mirza publicly stated that provincial autonomy was to be equated with the disintegration of Pakistan. As mentioned in the beginning of this article, that is certainly not what Quaid-e-Azam, who surely knew much more and much better than Mirza, had said to the provinces when they joined the country.

This short narrative is not intended to give instruction about the way forward but simply to convey the need to give this issue the seriousness it deserves and not reduce it to an imperialist construct.

The writer is a PhD candidate in the history department at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. She can be reached at am114@soas.ac.uk

Great Game 2.0
To understand Balochistan, Hossein Bor believes that one cannot look at Pakistan’s largest province through the Afghanistan-Pakistan (Af-Pak) box. In retrospect, this is perhaps one of the strongest contributions that he could have made at the hearing.

For Hossein Bor, Balochistan must be understood in the larger context of South-western Asia: “As everyone knows, there was a great game in this same area in the 19th century and the Afghans and Baloch were the victims. This great game has now been renewed but, instead of the British and Russian Empires, the competition is now between China-India, China-US, Iran-US, Pakistan-India, and Pakistan-US. This competition threatens US strategic and economic interests.”

He therefore counters the opinion of other witnesses, who felt that the hearing should have been limited to the Balochistan province: “There are many interrelated issues at play. When one discusses Balochistan, you are discussing a way to contain China. You are also discussing economic relationships between Iran and Pakistan. And, you are talking about energy security for the US and its allies.”

With respect to China, Bor says that the strategic and economic importance of Balochistan cannot be underestimated: “If (the Chinese) build their port in Gwadar, they will have a land route from Western China to the Indian Ocean. This is of strategic interest to the United States because Chinese ships would have a direct route to China and no longer have to transit past the Indian and American navies. It therefore is logical that Balochistan should be concerned as part of the larger shift to the Pacific announced by the Obama administration. Furthermore, Central Asia has the largest oil reserves in the world after the Middle East. Balochistan provides an alternative way to get those resources to the international market beside China and Russia.”

He makes a similar argument for Iran: “Iran is an empire and they are using Baloch lands to try to become the dominant regional player. The Iranians are using the Strait of Hormuz as a chokepoint for a huge percentage of the world’s oil. They also are building a pipeline to Pakistan which violates UN sanctions. Such growing Iran-Pakistan cooperation is a major concern.” In his mind, an independent Balochistan extending from Karachi to the Strait of Hormuz would not only contain an emerging Iran but also provide a long-term security guarantee against China, Iran, and Pakistan emerging as revisionist maritime powers in the region.

Safeguarding Afghanistan
While Bor does not believe that Balochistan should be limited to the Af-Pak box, he nevertheless recognises its extreme relevance to any discussion on the future of Balochistan.

From his perspective, Balochistan must be viewed not as an internal issue for Pakistan but rather as part of a larger regional struggle between the Baloch and Afghan nationalists and secularists against Afghan and Pakistani fundamentalists: “Pakistan and the Taliban are based upon fundamentalist Islam. They are the natural enemies of secularists and nationalists. This provides the natural ingredients that bring Afghans and Baloch together. The Baloch issue therefore is bigger than the internal struggle between Pakistan and its three large ethnic groups.”

Bor hopes that hearing will spur a follow-on national debate that will increase American awareness of the larger regional dynamics at play with Balochistan: “Not everyone understands that the Baloch have been naturally allied with the Afghan minorities and Pashtuns. The governments in power in Afghanistan have historically supported the Baloch and neither recognises the Durand Line. That is why there will always be strong cooperation between Baloch and Pashtun nationalists. They also recognise that they need Balochistan to have access to the Indian Ocean and the Gulf.”

In familiarising themselves with the regional dynamics, Bor hopes that Americans will appreciate that the reincorporation of the Taliban into Afghan politics will not necessarily undermine Baloch nationalists: “There are all kinds of possibilities if the Taliban return to power. There is no guarantee that they will trust Pakistan anymore. Plus, they themselves never recognised the Durand Line. So, one cannot conclude at this time that this harms the independent Balochistan cause.”

He consequently sees multiple policy options on the table for policymakers which allow them to pursue difference Afghan policy options while still advancing Baloch rights to self-determination.

Unearthing economic wealth
According to Bor, one of the most overlooked reasons why Balochistan has emerged as a major issue has been “the tremendous deposits of oil, gas, and minerals. In addition to human rights and geopolitics, this is a major reason why it has appeared on the international radar.”

Bor believes that Balochistan will be of increasing importance to the international community in the years ahead: “The Chinese are late-comers to the energy security game. At this point, Western oil companies control mostly of the supplies. Central Asia is one region where this is not the case. This is driving economic competition.”

However, Bor fears that Americans, including those in Congress, do not recognise the economic potential of the region. He therefore sees the hearing as the mechanism by which to introduce economic opportunities in Balochistan into the wider national debate about the future of US AfPak policy.

New cards on the table
Bor believes that the hearing was historic for a number of reasons. Of course, it was the first hearing in the Congress to directly tackle Baloch affairs. But, more importantly in Bor’s opinion, the hearing introduced new policy options to Congressmen that “should have been considered years ago.”

Bor underscores the importance of having such policy options on the table: “One of the main areas of weakness for US policy in the Middle East and Southwest Asia has always been that it did not play to regional dynamics. This was true in Iraq as well as Afghanistan. In Afghanistan, there has always been support for the Baloch but the US was never willing to play this card. The US would not play the game in Iraq or Afghanistan and take advantage of regional dynamics. But, given Iranian and Pakistani brutalisation and colonialism against the Baloch, this card has finally been raised before Congress.”

He also feels that the hearing has reinvigorated the Baloch diaspora to work within the US political system to pressure their government to play this new card, “The Baloch diaspora was late in the Washington game on AfPak policy. They now recognise the importance of playing the game and understand how to do so as a result of the hearing.”

For these reasons, Bor is optimistic that the hearing was not just a one-off event to “tick off Pakistan.” Instead, he believes it marks an important milestone along the road to independence for Balochistan: “There are different positions in the US Government but US policies are changing. They now understand the strategic imperative of an independent Balochistan from the Strait of Hormuz to Karachi.

The hearing and bill mark the first time in history that any member of the US Government has officially recognised an independent Balochistan. Even if the State Department and Administration do not support the hearing, they must now recognise that the kill and dump campaign by Pakistan’s military and intelligence is designed to destroy the very idea of secular and nationalist Baloch. The hearing showed that there will be no peace in the region without a referendum of self-determination. That cannot be ignored.”

Eddie Walsh is a senior foreign correspondent who covers Africa and Asia-Pacific. He also is a non-resident fellow at Pacific Forum CSIS. Follow him on Twitter here.

The views expressed by this writer and in the following reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Dawn Media Group.

LAHORE – A faction of Jamhoori Watan Party led by late Nawab Akbar Bugti’s son Talal Bugti has announced boycotting the All Parties Conference (APC) called by the Prime Minister to resolve the issues of Balochistan and expressed no objection over the US congressmen resolution on Balochistan.Shahzain Bugti, son of Talal Bugti and grandson of Akbar Bugti addressing a press conference at a local hotel on Monday said that he had no objection over the resolution tabled in the US congress by some American legislators.  He added that if the government did not mend its ways regarding taking most immediate steps to address the issues of the Blaoch people, no one from Balochistan would oppose the US congressmen resolution.

He warned the govt of a Bangladesh-like situation in Balochistan if the issues of the Baloch people would not be resolved by taking the local leaders onboard.

Shahzain to solve the issues of Balochistan for restoring peace in the volatile province demanded arrest of Pervez Musharraf, ending paramilitary forces intervention in the troubled province. He also demanded recovery of missing persons, security of citizens and end to the bullet riddled corpses, which he claimed found on regular basis in Balochistan.  Replying to a query, he alleged the security services were the major hindrance in the solution of Balochistan problem.

This news was published in print paper. Access complete paper of this day.

…Let our government condemn this undue taunt, but history shows that, in order to survive in power, our unpopular rulers have played an important role in creating a situation, where they have allowed foreign intervention. Today, the US Congress is considering a resolution against the violation of human rights in Balochistan, but it forgets these violations were given momentum during the Musharraf era, when he had the complete blessings of the US.

We may term this US activity wrong, but … our attitude to Balochistan has been negative…. Musharraf continued to say that tribal chieftains were a hurdle in the development of Balochistan and … he killed Nawab Akbar Bugti…. After the killing of this chieftain where is the much-talked-of development? The development we are witness to is kidnapping, disappearances and the mutilated dead bodies of Baloch activists. The rulers have been trying to solve this complicated and sensitive issue through committees and ordinary packages. In the Musharraf era, a parliamentary committee prepared some recommendations.
Nobody knows what happened to these recommendations as violations of rights continued. …Holding an APC is laudable, but this should not result in the formation of fact-finding ‘committees’… We know the facts… we have to take bold decisions…. — (Feb 20)

Selected and translated by Sohail Sangi

Speaking at a roundtable on the situation in Balochistan arranged by Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), he said the first bullet-riddled body in Balochistan was found days after Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani told a joint session of the parliament that all missing persons would start reaching their homes in 10 days. “Since that day the number of such killings has gone to around 360.”

He was also sceptical of Army’s role in education in Balochistan. “Why are you doing this; this is not your job. This merely shows your control on all spheres of life in the province,” he remarked.

He said it was an undeniable fact that the voices of independence were gaining momentum in the province with the active involvement of the youth. Denial of socio-economic rights is the main reason for this and addressing the root cause is inevitable to arrest the deteriorating situation before it is too late. He, however, made it clear that his philosophy was different from the separatists as he was all for integration rather than divisions. Mr Bizenjo said the episode of abductions and bullet-riddled bodies must stop and the executive should exercise its powers of governance encompassing the foreign policy. He was of the view that only democracy had the potential to contain the crisis brewing in the neglected province.

The resolution adopted by US Congress on Balochistan’s independence also remained a subject of hot discussion during the roundtable, drawing criticism against the US for meddling in internal affairs of Pakistan.

Adnan Aurangzeb, a former member of National Assembly and son of former Balochistan Governor Miangul Aurangzeb, dispelled the impression the US was trying to give that the resolution did not reflect its official policy. He said each US congressman and senator had a staff having expertise in different areas, primarily in foreign policy. “He has to rely on resource received through the US State Department.”

He said both the governor and chief minister of Balochistan were Nawabs and all the members of the provincial assembly were in the government. “In the absence of the opposition, there is nobody to stand up for the rights of the people,” he remarked.

The executive director CRSS, Imtiaz Gul, referred to a statement by Balochistan’s home minister that there was a nexus between politicians and criminal gangs. A CRSS report titled “Balochistan’s maze of violence” was also launched on the occasion.

In the meantime, Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani decided to hold an All-Parties Conference to find suitable solutions to the issue through an open discussion. Jamat-e-Islami (JI) Ameer Munawwar Hasan made and appealed to stop giving gifts of body bags to Baloch people. MQM chief Altaf Hussain was of the view that the need of the hour was to end the suffering of the Baloch otherwise it would be no longer part of Pakistan.

The PML-N clarified that it would attend the All-Parties Conference if nationalist parties are also invited in the sitting. On the other hand, the stance of the nationalist parties can be judged from Akhtar Mengal’s pronouncement, who welcomed the resolution presented in the US Congress for a free Balochistan.

Some moderate voices among the nationalist parties like Hasil Bizenjo, are raising question why things had been allowed to go to the peak. Why those, who are being annoyed by the US Congress move, did not speak at the severe violation of human rights in Balochistan.

The authorities concerned will have to remove disconnect between the perception of nationalist parties and mainstream politicians ahead of moving for meaningful negotiations. The government can only achieve this by ending the killings.

Without any doubt, those who are responsible for the forceful disappearances, abductions and custodial killings are highly powerful and influential.  More and more people will look outside for help unless the political lot of the country comes forward to handle the situation. An understanding among the political leadership is need of hour in this regard.

However, it is questionable that the present political slot is capable to confront the powerful forces or not. The only way to calm down the situation is to stop extra-judicial killings, free the abducted people and bring the estranged factors on the dialogue table.Tags: