Unrest in Balochistan

[yalman ansari]

We have to counter the influence of Baloch Sardars or any sardar, wadera and Khan by bringing directly to the people the economic and social benefits and not by locking the Sardars up. We will only be making heroes out of them. We need to implement tough decisions (Punjab shedding more share for poorer provinces) or else we will continue drifting on a path of irrelevancy.

No doubt it's a right course of action, but how such a plan would be implemented and its desired results achieved is the main problem. In fact, failure to provide basic needs of life to the people at the grass root level is the main reason for rising frustration not only in underdeveloped areas of Balochistan or other provinces, but also in the bigger cities of Pakistan.

People are undergoing more suffering in the cities than in the villages. In the villages, lack of electircity, gas, carpet roads, health care, schools does not matter much to the people need because they and their forefathers have lived their lives without them. So their being not used to such facilities is largely undisturbing to them. While those living in cities with inadequate basic facilities feel it more difficult to survive without electricity, water, gas etc. Probably, it is due to this approach that poor in villages reamin poor, the Sardars, Waderas or Zamindars (SWZs) have never felt even a need to contribute any efforts to improve the life of pawned people in their areas.

I wonder how it would be possible to bring social and ecnonmic benefits directly to oppressed poeple when their SWZs sit in the government. Instead each SWZ will ensure that his area remain under his control and his people obey and trust him. Bringing amenities of life to their areas will only decrease their unjust influence.

When increasing number of Punjabis were entering army, quota system was imposed just to maintain an appropriate representation in the forces. Despite this encouragement there was only a small number of Balochis and Sindhis who joined. As a result, many poeple from villages in Punjab came to Sindh to get recruitment in the forces.

Irony is that when people start taking pride in their ignorance, ruthless/ non-sensical tribal or biradri customs and underdevlopment of their area by resisting any development effort seen as threat, no solution can work for them unless their trust is established. This is where SWZs have an edge over the government. Their hagemonic influence has lead people of those areas to act to their orders without realizing that they are being used as pawns in the game.

I don't think education could be a solution to this problem. Many educated "mohajirs" started reverring their nationlist leader and even called him "peer bhai" upon the news of his miracles. In long lines they used to wait to see their leader's name on cactus plant or a marble tile, etc.

The realistic solution is provision of justice, where everybody is treated equally and no elite gets away with injustice done to poor.

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Churchill very truly said that no one can rule a nation where justice is not prevalent.

[MohammedA]

I think best solution is a combination of using the military & FC to protect the plants at all costs, going after terrorists in targetted areas rather than a general operation, while also providing jobs and govt services to local people through the govt and NOT relying on sardars to distribute money and goods. This idea of 10,000 jobs while relaxing selection criteria (affirmative action I suppose) is a good one so long as sardars are not allowed to have any influence on it. Also, the rape case needs to be handled in a transparent manner - so far it smacks of a cover-up.




No surrender at Sui



Ahmed Quraishi

The last thing we need to see is the Pakistani state with all its awe and strength coming down on the knees at Sui, at the hands of those who train and arm terrorists, run illegal underground jails to torture innocent Balochis, sabotage vital installations, and send emissaries to foreign governments that don't wish us well.

It is time to liberate the Pakistanis in Balochistan from the tribal Sardari system that is holding them, and Pakistan at large, hostage to the will of a few tribal chiefs who want to preserve their power by keeping everyone else underdeveloped and weak. According to the propaganda coming out of Dera Bugti, the missile attacks against the gas plants were provoked by the gang-rape of a lady physician, there's a conspiracy against the province, and there's no way to know who is recruiting and arming the 'Baloch Liberation Army'. Each statement is a lie.

There were 71 rocket attacks against gas installations in Balochistan in 2004, and there was no rape incident to trigger them. Just this month we've seen close to 170 rocket attacks in addition to the first-time use of automatic weapons and the unsuccessful attempt to seize and occupy government buildings. Someone is using the unfortunate and condemnable rape incident for other goals.

Neglecting Balochistan's problems is also not the trigger for the manufactured anarchy at Dera Bugti. The Pakistani state machinery today is geared toward developing Balochistan, not only to remedy the criminal neglect of the previous administrations, but also because our collective strength as a nation depends in many ways on a prosperous and developed Balochistan.

And, lastly, the thugs behind the fictitious Balochistan Liberation Army are not only traceable but can be mentioned by name, as done the other day on national television by Mir Ahmadan Khan Bugti, the exiled member the ruling Rahija clan of the Bugtis and a first cousin of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti. Mir Ahmadan argues against any talks with the anarchists, as negotiations will only stoke their already bloated egos. They need to be weakened and sidelined. Anyone who is against progress in Balochistan and empowering his own people can't be good for Pakistan.

The partially successful attempt to stop gas supply across Pakistan is equivalent to a declaration of war against the vital interests of the Pakistani people. And the threat to Balochistan's mega projects is a warning to the poor Balochis that this handful of anarchists is intent on preserving the status quo. Islamabad must stick to the blunt declaration of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and his interior minister that the "continuity of development projects and the protection of national assets will be ensured at all costs."

Islamabad needs to enforce the authority of the state across the board. The Pakistani state should not be seen as 'soft' by potential anti-state elements. The failure to take a tough stand now will encourage others in the future to challenge the state for narrow political or financial gains.

Unfortunately, some elements within the Pakistani political class are out to exploit this anarchy at Dera Bugti to settle political scores with Islamabad. Many of them benefit from a weak state so they can recreate their own little empires. But a good thing to have emerged from the past five years is Islamabad's new ability to project strength and confidence, and its courage to take bold decisions and stay the course.

Mir Ahmadan Khan Bugti says that his people in Dera Bugti want freedom from the tyranny of tribal authority imposed through fear. Islamabad should listen to him. People like him are the most credible answer to those self-styled 'nationalists' who want to hijack the legitimate aspirations of our people in Balochistan.

Islamabad will find that the ordinary people and most of the political leadership in Balochistan are keen to remove hurdles from the way of real development that the province is seeing for the first time. Let's not forget that this on-again-off-again blackmail and blowing up of vital installations has been going on for some time now. Mir Ahmadan's side of the ruling clan was banished from Dera Bugti a few years back, along with two other branches of the tribe. "Today, there are secret jails in the district that keep the people of Dera Bugti submissive and fearful," he charged. "Pakistan does not exist inside Dera Bugti." He claims that those involved in this terrorism and making contacts with foreign governments have no support from at least 90 percent of the Bugtis, if not more, and he is willing, with government support, to go to Dera Bugti, "take the area back and end the reign of terror there."

Mr. Bugti's thesis may be farfetched, or maybe not. In any case, Islamabad needs to end the old practice of cultivating tribal Sardars and enforce state authority. We can't turn Balochistan into a regional trading hub when violent blackmailers run loose, complete with armed private armies. This is a strange situation and no one will find it more bizarre than our Chinese friends, especially when the Chinese Prime Minister, Mr. Wen Jiabao, is supposed to arrive here soon to launch the Gwadar port. The Chinese would have dealt firmly with this kind of nuisance. Maybe we should learn a lesson or two from them.


The writer is an Islamabad-based columnist. Email: quraishi@furmaanrealpolitik.com.pk

[Yahya]

No doubt it's a right course of action, but how such a plan would be implemented and its desired results achieved is the main problem. In fact, failure to provide basic needs of life to the people at the grass root level is the main reason for rising frustration not only in underdeveloped areas of Balochistan or other provinces, but also in the bigger cities of Pakistan.

Yalman Ansari,
I do not know if you have travelled in the interior of Balochistan. Please do so if you have not done that. You cannot even begin to compare the disparity that exists. A Balochi youth in Sibi, Kalat, Khuzdar or Turbat has hardly any opportunity for employment were he to acquire a college degree. On the contrary a young man in Multan, Faislabad, Gujranwala has a greater chance of finding employment or even be self employed relatively more profitably as compared to his counterpart in towns and cities of Balochistan other than Quetta. My point is that when this youth is not employed he is susceptible to all sorts of influences, including those from his former Sardar. What should we do? Lock the Sardar up and thereby make a hero out of a tyrantl, and also create grounds for more mini Sardars, or, develope these areas so that employment opportunities are created there. We had 28 years to do that after the end of insurgency in Balochistan. We had 28 years in which we could have moved towards economic betterment of Balochistan and ethnic tolerance. A manifold allocation for Balochistan in just two '5 year Plans' would have imparted the momentum and would not have made Punjab or Sind more backward than they are now. It would have sent the message that the elder brother is there to help the younger one.
As long as the government at the centre (whether it is Punjabi dominated or otherwise) does not take urgent steps to redress the grieiances of the common man (not the Sardar) we will continue to have trouble. By just asserting that the Government should take firm stand and deal with iron hand is not going to get us anywhere. We will sink further in the quagmire of ethnic rivalries. See what happened when we tried to deal with an iron hand in former East Pakistan. Let us learn from history .
As regards how the plan can be implemented. So far the Govt continues to appease the Sardars. Perhaps it has limited options and this appeasement is a short term measure. In 1977, I thought that the Govt's dissolution of Hyderabad Tribunal was a short term measure to gain time for introducing the necessary reforms in Balochistan. I was wrong. The Central Govt chose to ignore realities. Today we need peace and a stable enviornment to move full speed ahead with the mega projects. We need to create more opportunities for the Baloch youth in Balochistan. I therefore hope that this time round the Govt's efforts to appease the Sardars is a short term measure. Gwadar, Saindak etc and a few more mega projects should help correct the balance.
As regards the Balochis fear that they may become a minority because of the influx of outsiders, well a few legislations in this regard can allay their apprehensions. Once the initial momentum has been imparted by the centre, the province will itself pick up from there (I hope so) and the very visible disparity between Balochistan and other provinces will be reduced. In all this I am not saying that a direct threat to the federation be overlooked. But too often we have misused 'threat to federation' as an excuse to settle political scores.
We must remember that decades of brainwashing by sardars cannot be removed overnight. It will perhaps take a generation or so. In the meantime, I repeat, we need to be patient and also show tact in handling volatile situations like the one in Sui..

[Shoaib]

Assalamu aleikum,

Crossposting the following article from Pakistan - Iran relations ...

Pakistan assails Iran over growing Baluch insurgency


By Massoud Ansari
LONDON SUNDAY TELEGRAPH


KARACHI, Pakistan — Pakistan has blamed Iran for fueling a growing insurgency in Baluchistan, the strategically sensitive province where militant tribesmen have launched a series of terrorist attacks in recent weeks.
Senior government officials say Iran is encouraging "intruders" from within its own Baluch community to cross the 550-mile border with the Pakistani province and give support to the rebels.
"All this violence is a part of a greater conspiracy," a senior Pakistani government official said. "These militants would not be challenging the government so openly without the backup of a foreign hand."
Pakistan's support would be essential for any U.S.-led action against Iran, whose fundamentalist Muslim regime was last week put firmly in the sights of the second Bush administration by Vice President Dick Cheney. "You look around the world at potential trouble spots — Iran is right at the top of the list," Mr. Cheney said.
Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency set up a unit in the provincial capital, Quetta, last year to monitor suspected Iranian activity in Baluchistan. Officials say that in addition to directly supporting the insurgency, Tehran's state-controlled radio has launched a propaganda campaign against Islamabad.
"Radio Tehran broadcasts between 90 and 100 minutes of programs every day which carry propaganda against the Pakistan government," said a former interior minister. He added that Iran was suspected of providing financial, logistical and moral backing for the insurgency.
Iran is said to be taking advantage of unrest among tribesmen who claim to have been denied the benefits of Baluchistan's natural-gas fields.
Earlier this month, rebels disrupted gas production in a series of rocket and mortar attacks, which killed eight persons. However, Islamabad is delaying a formal complaint to Tehran in the hope that private diplomatic channels may prove more effective. Meanwhile, large numbers of troops are hunting rebels in the province.
Pakistani officials believe that Tehran — already furious at Pakistan's support for the U.S.-led war on terrorism — has stepped up its activity in Baluchistan because of its anger at the construction of a vast deep-water port at Gwadar, close to the border, which it fears could be used by Washington as a base for monitoring and infiltrating Iran.
Washington believes Iran is pursuing an advanced nuclear-weapons program in addition to sponsoring international terrorism, and has repeatedly accused Tehran of fomenting trouble within Iraq.
Last week, journalist Seymour Hersh reported in the New Yorker that U.S. special forces had carried out recent reconnaissance missions inside Iran to identify nuclear, chemical and missile sites that could be targeted. Although the Bush administration brushed aside the claims, the report heightened the belief that the United States might be preparing to take action.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/world...5607-1870r.htm

[Usman S.]

Iran not involved in Balochistan incidents: Pakistan

(Updated at 1800 PST)
ISLAMABAD: Foreign office spokesman Masood Khan has said that Pakistan has not violated the ceasefire with India across the Line of Control in Kashmir region nor Iran is involved in Balochistan incidents.

During a weekly briefing in Islamabad on Monday Khan stated ““There were two incidents on January 18 and 20 across the Line of Control in the area under the control of the Indian forces. We were surprised as India did not say what happened there instead asked us what had happened there,”

Talking about Sui incident he stated that there were no signs of any foreign involvements in the incidents and Pakistan and Iran enjoys very good and stable relations.

http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/index.html

[Yahya]

I feel Iran would be unwise to interfere in Balochistan. They did not do that in 1970's. Iran has a sizeable Baloch population and the areas bordering Pakistan are relatively undeveloped as compared to the rest of the country. Formenting Baloch nationalism would also create problems for them. In 70's there used to be a talk about 'Greater Balochistan' which is certainly not in Iran's interest.

[UmairChaudry]

I'd like to add to this conversation.
First of all I agree that development and social prosperity has to be brought directly to the people.T he best way to do this is to either remove the middle man or make him you'r ally* which in case of feudals is hard to do).
Second, I'm a punjabi myself and have seen a lot of this P bashing from other provinces.Ranging on issues from division of resources to(hello!) even cultural exchanges with east-punjab.
To me and other average punjabis, the grievances about resouces fine are understadable and believe me the common punjabi cares a lot about his countrymen and wants all these issues to be solved.
We say that fine blame the politicians and the generals(the whole lots' rotten) but spare the common punjabi and his culture in you're bashing. They are as much Pakistani as you are.(ok I'm getting emotional here so mods forgive me). I mean I remember reading articles by people of Mengal's ilk against the establishment of a punjabi language preservation and development centre on the behest that it will further punjabi hegemony. Like aren't we even allowed to preseve our mother tounge?
Fine you're complaints are there but sort it out amongst you'r political selves don't poison the mind of a common pakistani against his fellow Pakistani.
Remember that punjab suffered the most during the partition(wrong demarcation, huge population migrations and pogroms) and therefore most of us punjabis really care about the solidarity of Pakistan. It hurts us deeply when you bash us like this on the behest of some sardars.Is it our fault that they don't allow social development to take place in you'r localities or we tell them not to build schools for you?
I'm seeing a slow but sure rise in nationalistic sentiments among my fellow punjabis due to this punjab bashing, it's like they are always bashing us so why should we care about them. I fear that this sentiment will rise greatly amongst punjabis over the course of the next two generations. And heaven help I fear the day when this sentiment becomes predominant amongst us punjabis and shows it's force. That day IMHO will signal a great disaster in the offing for Pakistan
Please take some time out and ponder upon my words.

[Yahya]

Umair,
I appreciate your sentiments and like you I also do not like this Punjabi bashing. But it is there. I have lived in the interior of NWFP, Balochistan and Sind for 3-4 years each and have had the opportunity of interacting closely with their sardars/khans/waderas and also with the common folks. I have also observed the attitude of Punjabis in these provinces (whether in administration or as settlers). I assure you as the majority and hence in the role of elder brother we (Punjabis) have done little to promote ethnic harmony. As Syed Saad in his post has mentioned that we have to see why this hatred is there. First with Bengalis, then with Balochis, to an extent with Sindhis also. It has got a lot to do with our political history. Please study that and you will find genuine complaints. Then the Govt (political or military) has been dominated by decision makers who were from Panjab. Therefore the others blame Panjab. We can be emotional about it, but that does not change the ground realities. If we can be less emotional and more realistic, we can actually be the 'respected' elder brother rather than the hated one. On this forum we are all educated and patriotic, and I hope that we can be less emotional and more pragmatic on sensitive issues.

[yalman ansari]

Yalman Ansari,
I do not know if you have travelled in the interior of Balochistan. Please do so if you have not done that. You cannot even begin to compare the disparity that exists. A Balochi youth in Sibi, Kalat, Khuzdar or Turbat has hardly any opportunity for employment were he to acquire a college degree. On the contrary a young man in Multan, Faislabad, Gujranwala has a greater chance of finding employment or even be self employed relatively more profitably as compared to his counterpart in towns and cities of Balochistan other than Quetta. My point is that when this youth is not employed he is susceptible to all sorts of influences, including those from his former Sardar.

Balochi youth has long been under the influence of well-eduacted, intellectual sardars who have for long embraced progressive values. Khans of Qalat had been very active during English rule and had connections with the establishment until now. The Baloch sardars have encouraged even their daughters not only to get education but also foreign educatoin, and we have the likes of Dr. Noor Jahan Panezai, a former deputy chairman senate; these sardars have strongly detested the idea of educational schools in their areas equateing it against the values and customs of Baloch women. They have been continously beefing up their people's pride with false notions of honor and belligerance, thus enslaving the whole population. It won't be inappropriate to say that the Baloch in rural areas are exactly living in an era of age-old slavery.

Urban disparity is as common as rural disparity. However, with lack of emerging opportunities whether in bigger or smaller cities or in rural areas, people don't face the same intensity of consequences. In bigger cities youth are more prone to crimes and instability because of the visible imbalance between previliged and non-previliged class living next to each other that drive them indignant . In rural areas there is generally a very narrow gap in the social class difference, thus there isn't that stark imbalance between haves and have-nots, despite the fact that they are more deprived under inequal distribution of resources. That being said, the sticky situation in Balochistan is therefore being instigated by sardars.

Balochistan has a completely different social fabric under the rule of sardari system being the sign of their authority and ownership, and it cannot be compared with Multan, Faisalabad, etc. However, existence of social injustice and inequal distribution of resources in these cities cannot be ruled out by their ecnonomic growth. Neither can it be compared with those of Minninites who are a classic exmaple of a conservative ethnic group living in remote rural areas in the midst of US and still be unifluenced by trappings of modern life. How backward they are one can understand from the fact that they don't even have access to electricity. They don't drive cars only horse carts and their children don't go to public schools! The point I want to convey is that social inequality is not a reason for insurgency for poor people but only those who want to maintain their authority by using those issues try to create a sense of alienation and discrimination in the minds of oppressed. By this line of reasonning that doesn't mean that social ineuality and injustice is tolerable.

If we let sardari system flourish in current geo-political system, we only invite separatist movements to kick-off. We should start in tandem from all provinces and free people from the bondage of "elite rulers of rural areas" and that can only be done under a military government. It's not the people of these areas who will be greatly affected but their masters whom they are serving through gnerations. It's now time to let them live free and serve their country. The first step forward shoud be enlisting Balochis, Siraikees, etc., into forces and posting them far away from their inherited masters.


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From the double-standards of pre-partiotion to sub-standards of post-partition!

[MohammedA]

Some interesting facts & figures............



Genuine nationalism?



Raania Ahmed

The rape case in Sui was a mere trigger to the nationalists setting a scene for their larger cause. Their campaign for mass consumption has unfolded successfully and beautifully. Instead of the government point of view making headlines that true nationalism doesn't warrant arresting development, the Baloch nationalists have been able to generate solidarity against a military operation amongst the masses of Pakistan, all political parties, and have cemented a special alliance with Sindhi nationalists for a larger cause against the federation.

Let's examine what they have projected as the reality and what the government in response has not been able to convince the masses of despite various media management tools it possesses:

Firstly, an army captain has committed a rape, as a reaction to which the 'ghairatmand' people of Balochistan couldn't hold back, since 'unlike the Punjabis who allow their women to be paraded naked in village streets', the Baloch have higher moral standards. In response: it is unfortunate that a single rape is being politicized. There are many others that go unnoticed all over the country. Let the Bugtis take up the social cause of rape. The captain is accused but not convicted, so he is innocent till proved guilty.

Secondly, the Baloch don't hate their Sardars, who in fact have loyal subjects as demonstrated by the converging of valiant tribals on Dera Bugti to protect their Sardars. In response: please examine the accounts of Ahmadan Bugti and others expelled by Bugti before judging the Sardars on this front. Many political parties currently canvassing alongside the Sardars have fought against the feudal system on earlier occasions and need to explain their double standards now.

Thirdly, the Baloch have a history of 57 years of deprivation mainly due to Punjabi domination. A few mega projects so late in the day and that too for the interests of the rest of the country (since they are the ones getting land and jobs and not the poor Baloch), is not satisfactory. In response: mega projects launched for Balochistan include Gawadar port, Mirani/Sabakzai Dam, Makran Coastal highway, Katchi canal. Rs 130 billion worth of projects will make a significant dent to Balochistan's development climate, enhance the quality of life of its peoples, and take Balochistan over and above the rest of Pakistan in terms of international importance. Those who oppose, do so because they don't want development to emancipate the people and also because they themselves have not been able to provide such development for the masses when they were in power.

Fourthly, the government's efforts at political negotiations have been useless because they have been led by powerless pawns whose negotiated points have already been overruled by the real powers to be. In response: if that was the case, how has Chaudhry Shujaat managed to raise Rs1.5 billion p.a. more in gas royalty to Balochistan due to committee deliberations and why have the Baloch been given 10,000 additional jobs by the prime minister?

The responses above represent an alternative viewpoint to the nationalist claims. However the common man is easily swayed by any anti-government rhetoric without thinking things through and also because of the romantic appeal of the nationalist cause.

Consider that law and order has been compromised. Six months data on Balochistan stands at 956 rocket attacks, 70 bomb blasts, 89 dead, 276 injured, 4 kidnappings. This is clearly 'foreign hand related' and unacceptable to any sane approach in the discussion on the actual issue of Baloch rights. Secondly, Bugti claims on behalf of the Baloch that they have not been paid adequate royalty for the gas and that their natural resources are being stolen for the rest of the nation. In response: Natural resources are not any one nation's personal right. They belong to the Pakistani nation in totality. In any case it seems that the total royalty paid from 2001 to 2004 was Rs 3 billion. Other than that PPL provides Bugti family rent charges of vehicles, air tickets, personal transportation and medical facilities, pay allowances of Bugti staff of Rs 122m per year. Moreover the claim that Balochistan handles the entire gas supply of Pakistan is slightly faulty, since it is responsible for only 24 percent.

Do these circumstances justify blowing up pipelines and damaging Sui gas fields, causing the national exchequer a loss of Rs 200 million per day for power plant and cement plant disruptions? The financial impact of the disruption of the fertilizer plant is over and above this loss, and not quantifiable. Other than financial loss to the nation as a whole, it has caused uncertainty issue in Balochistan's investment climate. Those would-be investors thinking of Balochistan as the economic hub of Asia might reconsider due to the law and order issues. This potential loss runs in billions and cannot be quantified.

Whose agenda was furthered when Chinese working in Gawadar were killed in May 2004, just days before an investment conference inauguration in Quetta? Whose loss was all that lost foreign investment? This was as much of a loss to the Baloch people and to any true Baloch nationalist, as to Pakistan as a whole. Can any true Baloch nationalist want to damage development prospects or can this only be the work of foreign agents combined with ill-informed, misled local miscreants, out to destroy Pakistan's investment profile? Probably. Moreover who do gas disruptions affect the most? No true nationalist would support these because it means reduced royalty for their people since royalty is directly proportional to gas supply. Again this can only be the work of miscreants and not of true nationalists.

Analytically, irrespective of the positions of the government and nationalists, what is more important is the political environment that has ensued as a result. Certain political elements are rallying behind the Baloch to gain political mileage for their own separatist movements or their own struggle against the federation. The Hyderabad bomb blast acceptance by Sindh Liberation Front is not a health omen and suggests that violence is being accepted as a strategy to promote separatist agendas, now that Balochistan example has created a positive public opinion.

This convergence of interests is dangerous since it doesn't signify a better Pakistan. It signifies separatist movements gaining voices in domestic media and in international forums. The NFC war, the provincial autonomy issue, the concurrent lists are all issues that demand bold immediate resolutions, and which are genuine agendas for the betterment of the people of Pakistan, but not at the cost of the federation's unity. Let these issues not be resolved as a result of armed blackmail, which certain miscreant elements of Balochistan are indulging in against the federation. Let these decisions be taken in the interests of Pakistan and not in the interests of any one smaller nationality within Pakistan. The level of provincial autonomy should never affect federal unity and strength, which is the only ticket to real progress. The leadership must grab this opportunity to truly sort out these issues, because only then will we be rid of the constant sword of nationalist separatists hanging over our necks. Only then will all this development effort take Pakistan towards the enlightened progressive model Asian state that we all dream of being.



The writer is based in Islamabad

[Yahya]

[QUOTE=MohammedA] This convergence of interests is dangerous since it doesn't signify a better Pakistan. It signifies separatist movements gaining voices in domestic media and in international forums. The NFC war, the provincial autonomy issue, the concurrent lists are all issues that demand bold immediate resolutions, and which are genuine agendas for the betterment of the people of Pakistan, but not at the cost of the federation's unity. Let these issues not be resolved as a result of armed blackmail, which certain miscreant elements of Balochistan are indulging in against the federation. Let these decisions be taken in the interests of Pakistan and not in the interests of any one smaller nationality within Pakistan. The level of provincial autonomy should never affect federal unity and strength, which is the only ticket to real progress. The leadership must grab this opportunity to truly sort out these issues, because only then will we be rid of the constant sword of nationalist separatists hanging over our necks. Only then will all this development effort take Pakistan towards the enlightened progressive model Asian state that we all dream of being.

Mohammad A,
The rhetoric in the media and on different forums about threat to federation, the unreasonable attitude of Balochi Sardars, the misguided Baloch youth does nothing but hardens the stand of the aggrieved party. If we are unwilling to acknowledge that there exists an aggrieved party, that there has been a lapse, then we have a situation where any bold decision to address the 'genuine agendas' will appear as blackmail.
Having said that I maintain that it is the duty of the Govt (Provincial and in the Centre) to maintain law and order in the country and take whatever measures (political or otherwise) in this regard. But if you create a swell of opinion that the aggrieved party is being unreasonable or that there are no grieviances, then I am afraid the mere holding of talks with the Sardars appears as blackmail. If this is what we feed to our people then we must bear the consequences.
In early 90's a wave of ethnic violence gripped Karachi and Hyderabad. A significant blame rests with the media in this regard, especially the local Urdu media in Sind. I recollect reading a headline in the largest selling local Urdu newspaper of Hyderabad 'Sind mein Punjabi ka naam gali hey". This was an utterance by an obscure politician who could hardly poll 100 votes. He had made that statement at a press conference. The guy had only his family as his supporters. What did it do? It invited reaction from Panjabis and this lead to a series of unwanted exchanges and some violence as well.
We (especially the educated) need to show understanding and restraint when reacting to reports in media.
It is the media and rhetoric by certain analysts that raise the 'threat to federation' issue whenever an ethnic group talks about its rights. This is the situation that our leaders got into vis a vis Former East Pakistan and could not take bold decisions. Will we never learn from history.

[H Khan]

By NASEER KAKAR
.c The Associated Press

SUI, Pakistan (AP) - Pakistan's army has set up a new military base near the country's main gas field, where thousands of forces were deployed after a deadly rocket attack this month that disrupted fuel supplies, officials said Wednesday.

The move, announced to journalists on a trip organized by the military to the restive southwestern province of Baluchistan, will anger tribesmen who have strongly opposed government plans to establish new military garrisons in the region.

Col. Mazhar Masood said that a military cantonment is being established in Sui, a town near where rocket and mortar attacks Jan. 7-11 killed at least eight soldiers and civilians and forced a temporary shutdown at a gas plant and pipeline, disrupting supplies across the country.

``A new cantonment has been set up in Sui over 400 acres (162 hectares) of land. Primarily, a battalion of army soldiers with tanks and other military equipment has been taken there,'' Masood, who is in charge of the garrison, told reporters.

``We are now completely ready to respond to terrorists and miscreants. We will cleanse the area of miscreants and protect strategic installations and the citizens of Sui.''

He addressed the press conference inside a bunker ringed by sandbags overlooking the town, which lies in a remote desert area about 680 kilometers (425 miles) southwest of the capital Islamabad. At least seven tanks were parked under a camouflage net nearby.

He said 2,500 army and paramilitary troops are guarding the gas field and Sui.

Nawab Akbar Bugti, who leads the Jamhoori Watan Party, a Baluch nationalist group, dubbed the military ``invaders and occupiers'' and accused them of appropriating land to set up the base.

``They have set up the cantonment by force and they forced people to give land for the cantonment,'' Bugti told The Associated Press by telephone in Dera Bugti, a tribal town near Sui. ``Time will see how we react.''

Masood said the military bought the land from tribesmen.

The wave of unrest in the underdeveloped region appears to stem from long-standing demands of tribesmen for more gas royalties. Small bombings and rocket attacks against the government and security forces are common, but have recently grown in intensity.

A little-known nationalist group, the Baluchistan Liberation Force, claimed responsibility for the attacks on the gas facilities, saying it was avenging the alleged gang-rape of a local female doctor at a hospital run by the gas company.

Thousands of army and paramilitary forces have been searching house-to-house for weapons in Sui, fueling suspicions of a major military operation against unruly tribesmen, but the government insists the forces are just there to provide security.

On Wednesday, President Gen. Pervez Musharraf said the government will take ``adequate measures'' to ensure protection of gas installations in Sui, the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan news agency reported.

In the 1970s, the army quelled an uprising by an ethnic Baluch group seeking independence, and thousands were killed or captured.



01/26/05 09:23 EST

[MohammedA]

If we are unwilling to acknowledge that there exists an aggrieved party, that there has been a lapse, then we have a situation where any bold decision to address the 'genuine agendas' will appear as blackmail.
Having said that I maintain that it is the duty of the Govt (Provincial and in the Centre) to maintain law and order in the country and take whatever measures (political or otherwise) in this regard. But if you create a swell of opinion that the aggrieved party is being unreasonable or that there are no grieviances, then I am afraid the mere holding of talks with the Sardars appears as blackmail.

I disagree with u here. I haven't read the urdu press, but everyone of the english papers I have read have always acknowledged that a problem exists, that something needs to be done for the Balouch people economically and politically. Not ONE single editorial or opinion has advocated a military operation. Pretty much all of the posts from the media here have stated that talks and political solutions are the only way forward. Please show me where anybody has said that their are no genuine grievances.

Where there is a differnec on opinion is in how to deal with the sardars. Some advocate trying to keep them happy, feed them more royalties, and keep them in the mainstream system, while others argue that more long-term problems will be created if the sardars aren't dealt with more firmly while still solving the greivances of Balouchis right now.

In terms of blackmail, I don't see how it can be described as anything else. Most Pakistanis are poor and have greivances such as lack of justice, basic facilities access, opportunities, education, etc. Is this a licence for them to start gureilla warfare? When I was in Islamabad two years ago, walking at night you could see groups of kids sleeping on street corners wrapped in old carpets - this in a relatively prosperous city. All over Pakistan you can see this, go to villages outside Lahore you will see many Punjabi youth either unemployed or under employed. If I was one of them I would be pretty p***** off with life.

In short, I don't think that by pointing out the hypocrisy and downright evil role of many of these sardars as described by even their own first cousins, that the media are trying to sabotage ongoing "back-door" negotiations. On the contrary, the media is opposing military action and encouraging holding of talks. There is nothing wrong with suggesting that at the same time the govt shouldn't completely collapse and accept everything the sardars demand. And as you have already alluded to, if investors think the military can't control the area, then kiss goodbye to billions$ for the province & country.

[MohammedA]

BTW, I also adovocate dealing with those sardars in Sindh and Punjab who more or less have created modern-day slavery for poor people there i.e the bonded labourers.

[Yahya]

Where there is a differnec on opinion is in how to deal with the sardars. Some advocate trying to keep them happy, feed them more royalties, and keep them in the mainstream system, while others argue that more long-term problems will be created if the sardars aren't dealt with more firmly while still solving the greivances of Balouchis right now.

Dont you think that there is a middle way. Keep them happy and use the space created not go to sleep like we did in 1977 but to do something tangible.

When I was in Islamabad two years ago, walking at night you could see groups of kids sleeping on street corners wrapped in old carpets - this in a relatively prosperous city. All over Pakistan you can see this, go to villages outside Lahore you will see many Punjabi youth either unemployed or under employed. If I was one of them I would be pretty p***** off with life.

Then you haven't seen what is the life in remote areas of Balochistan and Sind. If people sleeping in streets in Islamabad are justified in being p------- off then please tell me what should the people who have to trek miles to get water or the basic neceesitiesdo. I never said that guerilla warfare is justified, but please try and understand the reasons. This is what the youth will do if you do not provide alternatives. In Balochistan it is blowing up Govt installations, in Panjab it is dacoity, bank robberies etc. Both are neither justified nor condoned. Do not create hatred by labeling their misplaced reactions as anti state activities. We tend to use this term fairly loosely.

[MohammedA]

Dont you think that there is a middle way. Keep them happy and use the space created not go to sleep like we did in 1977 but to do something tangible.

That is my point - the media are not being simplistic or jingoist - if there is a solution that works then go for it. If we don't want to go sleep again, then surely the govt and people need to go for development & education for the whole province, while granting as much political autonomy possible. These things are obviously not in the sardars long-term interest as they will lose control over their people.

Then you haven't seen what is the life in remote areas of Balochistan and Sind. If people sleeping in streets in Islamabad are justified in being p------- off then please tell me what should the people who have to trek miles to get water or the basic neceesitiesdo. I never said that guerilla warfare is justified, but please try and understand the reasons. This what the youth will do if you do not provide alternatives. In Balochistan it is blowing up Govt installations, in Panjab it is dacoity, bank robberies etc. Both are neither justified nor condoned. Do not create hatred by labeling their misplaced reactions as anti state activities. We tend to use this term fairly loosely.

I don't need to goto every part of Pakistan be it in the mountains or interior of Sindh or anywhere else to realise life can be extremely hard - I've already explained that.
By anti-state I would use that term for those who enlist help of foreign powers to kill their own soldiers. I don't use it for most Balouchis, and I still don't say that we shouldn't negotiate with even those groups who have backing of outsiders. So please don't accuse me of spreading "hatred".

[Yahya]

BTW, I also adovocate dealing with those sardars in Sindh and Punjab who more or less have created modern-day slavery for poor people there i.e the bonded labourers.

Have you ever wondered if the Sardars are such tyrants, why have'nt the people risen in revolt against them. When the centre does not provide them the requisite development they resort to acts that you call guerilla warfare.

[Rafaqat]

yahya,

the whole thing is hypocratic. Balochis need jobs but they are blowing up gawadar. Their leaders openly say that they dont want development. So what the bloody heck do they want ?

I appreciate your views actually. I think we should avoid force at all costs. Dialogue and support for Baloch population is the way forward. The govt seems to be going for that route.

The trouble is that the government is naturally thinking : we will initiate projects that will help prosper the region. Gawadar is part of that plan. Now if these projects are harmed, who is losing out the most ?

For me, the only logical explanation of the whole thing is that the Sardars are misleading the Baloch masses. Average person knows that he does not have a job and prosperity. However, most people do not know the casues of it and what to do about it. Sardars are giving them a direction but that is a totally the wrong direction.

So basically there is a definite contradiction between what the baloch people want and what the baloch sardars want. Similarly, i see that there are two needs. One is to deal with sardars and the other is to deal with the needs of the people.

Regarding the balochis not revolting against sardars, thats not hard to understand. In that respect, balochis have displayed exactly the same trait that exists everywhere else in Pakisatn. After what Bhutto and Nawaz did to Pakistan, did you see anyone revolting against them ?

regards,
Rafaqat
p.s, had we not been dealing with a situation Sarhad, you may not have been seeing "Dialogue" in Balochistan. the solution may have been a totally different one.

[taimur khaliq]

I will just like to quote an incident you are free to make judgement in 1976 two boys from kohlu balochistan passed the exam to be dispensar local hospital but the vacancy was only one so one out of them allegedly murdered the other guy and got the government job

[Yahya]

[QUOTE=Rafaqat] Regarding the balochis not revolting against sardars, thats not hard to understand. In that respect, balochis have displayed exactly the same trait that exists everywhere else in Pakisatn. After what Bhutto and Nawaz did to Pakistan, did you see anyone revolting against them ?

Rafaquat,
If you are comparing Butto and Nawaz with the Sardars of Balochistan, then I rest my case.

[H Khan]

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default...7-1-2005_pg1_6

PESHAWAR: A tribal jirga in Sindh has decided to kill a woman doctor who was allegedly gang raped in Sui to restore the “lost honour” of her tribe, a Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) official told a press conference on Wednesday. PMA President Dr Umer Ayub said the husband and in-laws of the doctor had told him of the jirga or local council’s decision in Gumbat Khairpur. He demanded the members of the jirga be arrested, and the alleged rapists of the doctor be hanged at Minar-e-Pakistan to deter such crimes. He criticised the federal interior minister for not visiting the woman doctor and her family. He also slammed the NWFP Assembly for not condemning the alleged rape. Ayub said a tribunal formed by the Balochistan government to investigate the incident should be given a one-month deadline. “It has been 24 days since the incident and not one of the accused has appeared before the tribunal. The culprits should appear before the tribunal and not on television,” he said. Ayub said the woman doctor had given her statement to the tribunal a couple of days ago, naming her alleged attackers and outlining the incident in detail. He said DNA tests should be used to identify the culprits. He said the PMA central council would meet on February 13 to discuss its future line. staff report

[MohammedA]

Have you ever wondered if the Sardars are such tyrants, why have'nt the people risen in revolt against them. When the centre does not provide them the requisite development they resort to acts that you call guerilla warfare.

Yahya,

With respect, have you wondered why sardars need to keep private jails and private militias? Is it for good of the people? On a lesser scale the fuedal lords do the same thing. Nearly every day you could read horrific reports of what they do to labourers in their debt for life, their families, etc. This is nothing less than what was happening in medieval Europe. And now these great tribal traditions are coming up with "walking on coals" to prove rapists guilt??!! I have no doubt in my mind these people in Pakistan need to be dealt with, but it may take one or two generations to acheive this, especially since the literacy rate is relatively low, and outside powers are also involved.

One positive point I would make is that the media has reported from some parts of FATA where development and education have made an impact and lessened control of tribal maliks - it is posted on this forum.

[MohammedA]

Army to establish garrison in Sui
SUI (January 27 2005): The Pakistan Army on Wednesday formally announced the launch of a controversial project to build a garrison in the troubled gas-rich town of Sui in the south-western province of Balochistan. Earlier this month tribal rebels fired rockets at main gas field at Sui, killing eight people and suspending the supply to millions of homes and hundreds of industrial units. Since then troops have been deployed around the Sui gas fields to track down those responsible.

"We have come here and taken over the 400 acres of land allotted to the Pakistan army," commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Mazhar Masood said.

"We will soon build a cantonment (garrison) here which is the need of the area," he said at a special press briefing in this dusty town, some 350 kilometers (220 miles) south-east of the provincial capital Quetta.

The land had been acquired and payment made to the owners, he said adding that one battalion of regular troops with a number of tanks had already arrived in Sui.

"You can see only sand dunes here, but within very short time a cantonment will be built and the sand dunes will be turned into green land", he said.

Masood said the troops were in Sui "to protect the key gas installations, life, honour and property of its citizens from miscreants and to provide reinforcement to paramilitary forces in maintaining the law and order in the area."

He said it was necessary to station troops in the town as rocket attacks which have damaged the strategic gas pipelines had become a "regular feature".

The government last year said it planned to build three new military bases in Sui as well as in Kohlu, which has untapped oil and gas reserves, and the coastal town of Gwadar, which is the site of a Chinese-funded deep sea port.

The plan triggered strong opposition from nationalist tribesmen who claimed the projects would bring in outsiders who would ultimately outnumber ethnic Baloch.

The impoverished province is wracked by a low-level uprising fuelled by resentment that foreign investors and richer Sindh and Punjab provinces were benefiting from its resources while locals see little improvement to their quality of life.


Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2005

[Rafaqat]

[QUOTE=Yahya]

Regarding the balochis not revolting against sardars, thats not hard to understand. In that respect, balochis have displayed exactly the same trait that exists everywhere else in Pakisatn. After what Bhutto and Nawaz did to Pakistan, did you see anyone revolting against them ?

Rafaquat,
If you are comparing Butto and Nawaz with the Sardars of Balochistan, then I rest my case.

thats up to you, but there is a commonality i.e all of these are/were leaders (at whatever level) and they all failed their people.

Otherwise give me an example of what these sardars have done for their localities. They take a lot of royalties and where do they go ?
Have these sardars provided jobs, health and justice for their people ? obviously not.

So if people are not revolting against them, that hardly sproves their worth !!!!

Rafaqat

[Usman S.]

Fire-fighting in Pakistan

Political solutions, which involve compromises, are always far better than military operations

Ikram Sehgal

With the worst in Wana seemingly over, Pakistanis were beginning to breathe easier a few weeks ago. The terrorist-guerillas were either killed or captured, or scattered and on the run. A spate of incidents in Balochistan was an irritant certainly but not of any magnitude to cause alarm. If anything, the lull itself bred a sense of unease, almost as if there was a storm brewing somewhere. In a self-fulfilling prophecy we are today on the threshold of a full blown crisis, mainly because of what is happening in Sui, not too far as the crow flies from South Waziristan, south by southeast.

No country can afford to allow armed militants to run riot in any part of the State, the aggravation force multiplied by the presence of foreign elements among the militants. The Pakistan Army has done a reasonable job in Wana in controlling the militancy. Most of the foreigners became State-less when they came to fight as mujhahideen (freedom fighters) in a war (Afghanistan circa 1979-1992) where the winners ended up as losers. To go home would have meant certain death, so a large number settled down in the only haven they knew, married locally and raised families, leading a relatively peaceful life in a region where tribal customs dictate that the fugitive and the destitute must be given sanctuary.

The US invasion of Afghanistan forced the Taliban who survived the rain of death from the skies to come flooding across the porous frontiers into the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). Along with the Taliban came hard-core remnants of the Al-Qaeda, almost all Arabs (Saudis, Yemenis, etc among them), Chechens, Tajiks, and Uzbeks. The locals gave them refuge in keeping with tribal culture and tradition, the hospitality strengthened by their involvement in 'jihad' against the Soviets.

Far to the north in Gilgit the killing of the Shia religious scholar Agha Ziauddin Rizvi will have complex sectarian repercussions. Gilgit is destined to remain a smoldering powder keg unless we curb the sectarian militancy that has swept the area in the last six years. As an Alouette-3 helicopter pilot with the Karakoram Highway (KKH) Flight of Army Aviation giving logistic support to the engineers of the Pakistan Army and the Chinese Peoples' Liberation Army (PLA) building the KKH, the utter backwardness, illiteracy and poverty was a shock in stark contrast to the rest of (the then) West Pakistan, itself in not too good a shape either. The Aga Khan Foundation has done wonders for the socio-economic uplift of the area, progress should not be put in jeopardy because of the narrow-mindedness of a few clerics who link progress directly to a decline in their influence. Illiteracy is fertile ground for demagoguery.

Somehow one is never free of the feeling that something is brewing in Karachi. While the trouble in Lyari is mostly inter-gang warfare over control of the lucrative drugs trade, the targeted murder of Anwar Bhaijan of Baloch Ittehad has grave implications. He was a potent political leader of the area and his killing could invite retaliatory revenge attacks elsewhere in Karachi. Even at the best of times Karachi is a powder keg and unless the culprits are brought to book soon the conspiracy theorists will fan raw emotions to put Karachi back into the throes of civil strife. Eliminating the drug trade may require some effort but it can be done.

The Balochistan crisis has to be defused in priority and military operations can only be a last option. A canard was spread that a Captain Hammad of the Army was responsible for the rape of a lady doctor. Denying this vehemently the accused said he was ready to take a DNA test and if the allegations against him were found to be false, then those falsely accusing him should face the same punishment they were demanding for him. Since Nawab Akbar Bugti publicly named Captain Hammad, is he ready to face the consequences of false allegations?

Like other feudals of his ilk, Bugti needs to inform the world time to time that he is still around and has nuisance value. Hell-bent on provoking a fight with the Army, he is invoking Baloch honour in an attempt to involve the Baloch population. Where was this honour when Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto used the army to install him as governor Balochistan in place of late Bizenjo in 1973, who along with Sardar Ataullah Mengal then chief minister, were far more credible standard-bearers of Baloch honour. For a man who claims that nobody can move in his area without his knowledge, Akbar Bugti denies through his teeth knowing anything about the attacks on Sui and the gas installation thereof, a potential sabotage that can cripple Pakistan's economic growth for the near future. Avoiding the temptation to put a dead stop to irrational self-motivated behaviour, the law enforcement agencies (LEA) have to tread softly while carrying a big stick. Translation: send enough forces to protect Sui and installations, prevent further attacks by misinformed tribals, but do not fire unless fired upon!

The civil and military hierarchy must take a long-term view about internal strife. Given the firepower and air mobility available the army could easily obliterate the Bugti tribals, but national unity considerations dictate that the LEAs must only react to hostile action, and then too swiftly and precisely, and only against those directly involved.

Some lessons need to be learnt from 1973. My unit 44 Punjab (now 4 Sindh) was first into Balochistan, initially to install Bugti as Governor, then for counter-guerilla operations into Marri area. We suffered more casualties than any other infantry unit, learning quickly through bloody experience. During counter guerilla operations, company commanders more than at any time have to lead from the front, and in such operations there is no fixed front. By reputation, the present military hierarchy in Balochistan from the Corps Commander downwards is known to be professional and competent. In any case one cannot teach tactics to the commanders on the ground.

The luck of the draw seems to be with the army and Pakistan. The number of Defence Security Guards (DSG) Battalions in static role must be increased, not only in Sui but also in all other soft targets of industrial and commerce importance up to a radius of 150-200 miles. Frontier Scouts must do patrol and picket duties on roads; they are best while being dynamic. The regular units of the army, both heliborne and ground mobile, can be kept in "Operational Reserve". The Bugtis attacking the installations are not the enemy, they are misguided by those who want political - and financial -- profit. Those who are misguiding them are the real enemies. The State cannot remain hostage to their blackmail.

The State must have an adequately equipped internal security force, as one cannot use either the army or paramilitary forces indefinitely in such roles. A well-equipped fully air-mobile dedicated force must be put together as a priority. Actions must be coordinated for internal firefighting, to cater for both local sensitivities and political considerations. Political solutions, which involve compromises, are always far better than military operations. Not to be used indiscriminately, once military operations are launched they should not be compromised by political doublethink or they will be a failure. The name of the game is to continue with this policy, with a lot of carrots, not sparing the rod but using it wisely. One's strategy must be that of a measured response.

http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/index.html