Ambush kills 9 in southwest Pakistan

[Interceptor]

Militants' ambush kills 9 in southwest Pakistan


QUETTA, Pakistan, June 14 (Reuters) - Militants ambushed a vehicle on Thursday, killing six soldiers and three other people in the southwest Pakistan city of Quetta, hours after a visit by a senior U.S. official, Pakistani military officials said.

Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher had stopped in Quetta, Baluchistan's provincial capital, during a trip to the frontier region to check Pakistan's efforts to stop Taliban fighters crossing into Afghanistan to fight Western and Afghan forces.

"The troops were returning from home leave when some unknown gunmen ambushed their van near a railway station and according to my information, nine people were killed, including six soldiers," Major-General Waheed Arshad told Reuters.

Five people were wounded in the attack, two critically, he said.

A man claiming to speak for the Baluchistan Liberation Army, a shadowy guerrilla group, telephoned a press club in Quetta to claim responsibility for the attack.

Baluch rebels have waged a low-key insurgency for decades for autonomy and a larger share of the profits from resources in Pakistan's biggest but poorest province.

They frequently attack gas pipelines, electricity infrastructure and transport links in the province of deserts and barren mountains bordering Afghanistan and Iran.

They also attack security forces, but have no links with Islamist insurgents also fighting government forces along the Afghan border.

President Pervez Musharraf has promised to develop Baluchistan. He has also offered amnesties for rebels who give up while vowing tough action against those who do not.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L1436408.htm

 

[Janbaz]

Well a bad development to say the least. But i do like one thing that the insurgency in Balochistan is unrelated to the other groups all over Pakistan and Afghanistan like Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Lashker-e-Tayyiba etc. to name a few. It is also nice that they do not recieve economic support from powers abroad, which if so can help them become a real nuiscence. I would like that the government and all other parties negotiate and discuss issues and pick this thorn out of our back. Balochistan has massive potential to become a major contributer to our economy and we just need concensus on issues in order to get them in to the Pakistan family!

 

[Interceptor]

This chaos started when Musharraf killed Bugti and from that point on Baluchistan has increased its resilience against the government, the military is fueling this by its presence in Baluchistan.

 

[SMC]

This chaos started when Musharraf killed Bugti and from that point on Baluchistan has increased its resilience against the government, the military is fueling this by its presence in Baluchistan.

So what do you.. should we let the terrorist do their operations in those parts and not touch them at all? Is that what you want?

 

[Adux]

RIP to the soldiers.

 

[Interceptor]

So what do you.. should we let the terrorist do their operations in those parts and not touch them at all? Is that what you want?

No, you try to create stability through sending aids to the Government of Baluchistan send delegations, increase investments, encourage the people of Baluchistan make their confidence rise in the government.

School the children of Baluchistan. Calling the Baluchis terrorist will not help the cause or putting military presence there, the people there are going astray because of the actions taken in Islamabad.

Baguti was a bad person, however, he had a political presence and killing a politician is the biggest mistake Musharraf did. He should have negotiated with Bugti he should have made the government of Baluchistan stronger and controlled it by making the people confident that the government will help them, then the people would have turned against Bugti making him unpopular a mitosis would have occured, however, Musharraf murdered him.

 

[Bull]

This chaos started when Musharraf killed Bugti and from that point on Baluchistan has increased its resilience against the government, the military is fueling this by its presence in Baluchistan.

These are the kind of opinions on which terrorists survive... and depend upon.

 

[Always Neutral]

Isn't Baluchistan the future oil and gas horse power of Pakistan ? If so please be aware all kinds of turmoil will be created as no one wants an asian country to be independant or self sufficient of the energy equation.

If the locals are unhappy than the Central leadership must listen to them.

Regards

 

[Always Neutral]

Isn't Baluchistan the future oil and gas horse power of Pakistan ? If so please be aware all kinds of turmoil will be created as no one wants an asian country to be independant or self sufficient of the energy equation.

If the locals are unhappy than the Central leadership must listen to them.

Regards

Just look at the Niger Delta of Nigeria. The day the biggest oil reserves were discovered there
an insurgency automatically followed.

 

[niaz]

No, you try to create stability through sending aids to the Government of Baluchistan send delegations, increase investments, encourage the people of Baluchistan make their confidence rise in the government.

School the children of Baluchistan. Calling the Baluchis terrorist will not help the cause or putting military presence there, the people there are going astray because of the actions taken in Islamabad.

Baguti was a bad person, however, he had a political presence and killing a politician is the biggest mistake Musharraf did. He should have negotiated with Bugti he should have made the government of Baluchistan stronger and controlled it by making the people confident that the government will help them, then the people would have turned against Bugti making him unpopular a mitosis would have occured, however, Musharraf murdered him.

This is really strange coming from a ZAB supporter. Have you forgotten that longest and the bloodiest operation against the Baluchs ( Marris) was launched by ZAB himself.

 

[Always Neutral]

This is really strange coming from a ZAB supporter. Have you forgotten that longest and the bloodiest operation against the Baluchs ( Marris) was launched by ZAB himself.

Dear Niaz,

What is ZAB ? I would also like your views on whether there really exists a problem in Balochistan or is it media created. I recently read an Interview of Imran Khan who claimed that Balochistan has no problems and Sindh problems were created by people based in UK.

I was confused as UK would never support terrorism in Pakistans internal affairs ? Could you shed some light ?

Regards

 

[BATMAN]

This is really strange coming from a ZAB supporter. Have you forgotten that longest and the bloodiest operation against the Baluchs ( Marris) was launched by ZAB himself.

It confirms why supporters of ZAB are characterised as 'JIALA'
It's not possible to criticise PPP and still be part of it.

I remember there were lot of negotiations before Bugti's death but the guy prefered to respond with bullets and how come planting bombs, which results in loss of lifes and damaged the basic infrastructure of Balochistan can be of help to natives, at all.

It was not Musharraf who supplied all those deadly weapons to Bugti, he was the one who dare to demand surrender.
All those depots of weopans were not smuggled in one or two years rather were accumlated over many past years of political rule.

 

[Interceptor]

This is really strange coming from a ZAB supporter. Have you forgotten that longest and the bloodiest operation against the Baluchs ( Marris) was launched by ZAB himself.

Sir Niaz I know where you are coming from, However, you forgot that this Baluchistan regime was anti-Pakistan and the constitution gives power to the government to take these criminals out immediately. The period of 73-77 was a cold war between Iran and Iraq they had dissolved there disputes by creating a proxy war in Baluchistan. Bhutto took matters seriously and put these tribal/sarddars traitors in jails, the army was sent there to protect the integrity of Pakistan Niaz why do you see this as bad, if he didn't Baluchistan may have splitted from Pakistan like it happened with Bangladesh, this was very similar to it, the Baluchistani rebellions were assisted by foreign powers.

However, Zia murdered Bhutto who was to trial these traitors for treason, if Zia had only been loyal to Pakistan and not been a traitor then the Baluchistan scenario would not have risen ever again.

The situation now is different, my choice to say not to use force was because Baluchistan rebels of that time and now are different, therefore it is better first to make the to support the Baluchistanis who are with the government. Then you have two sides and so divide and
conquer, if you make whole of Baluchistan a foe then it will only deteriorate matters more.

I also believe that the 9 soldiers who were killed this is very serious if the culprits are Pakistani it puts a big question mark why they did this. However, it is probably the rise in hate against the generals who are in the presidential offices and else where. This is not the first time that such an incident happened if you remember the attack on the army barracks that lead to a loss of 90 odd soldiers.

 

[niaz]

Dear Niaz,

What is ZAB ? I would also like your views on whether there really exists a problem in Balochistan or is it media created. I recently read an Interview of Imran Khan who claimed that Balochistan has no problems and Sindh problems were created by people based in UK.

I was confused as UK would never support terrorism in Pakistans internal affairs ? Could you shed some light ?

Regards

Just goes to show how shallow Imran really is. Imran's party has only one seat, Imran himself and that also from Mianwali, ancestral home of the Niazis. Imran gets invited because he is still reaping the benefits of his cricketing prowess.

To understand Baluchistan problem one has to go way back in history. Baluchistan was never a part of pre British India. All reference to India is east of river Indus. Also unlike other provinces where there was some kind of referendum, Baluchistan's accession to Pakistan was based upon decision by the representatives of Quetta only. Most of the Baluchistan had been nominally under the Afghan Kings who instituted the system of Shishuk. Meaning all people give one sixth of their produce to their tribal chief. Tribal chieftains gave one sixth of their receipts to the Khan of Kalat; who was nominal ruler of all the Baluchs, Khan of Kalat then forwarded most of his receipts to the King of Afghanistan as a tribute.

British kept the tribes in check by simply killing off the trouble maker Sardars and appointing another of the same family instead. Except for a few major cities, British control on most of the rural areas was minimnal ( Areas divided into A areas and B areas). The tribal chiefs were virtual independent rulers with Khan of Kalat as their nominal head. Baluch insurgency first raised its head during Ayub Khan's time just after Gawadar became part of Pakistan ( it was owned by Oman until 1960). PAF was used to bomb Kalat into submission and things settled down.

During ZA Bhutto's time gas was discovered at Kohlu ( Marri area) and there was another Baluch insurrection as Nawab Khair Bukh Marri was against it. Oil exploration brought foreigners ( non Baluchs) into the area and this disrupted the Baluch traditions.

Despite my reservations about ZAB, he was a very clever politician. ZAB bribed Akbar Bugti ( neighour of the Marris) made him governor of Baluchistan and carried on a compaign lasting 4 years. The compaign fizzled out as soon Zia took over as he accepted Marri demands.

With the doubling of oil prices Bugti demanded more and more money from the PPL ( producers of Sui gas). Raping of Dr Shazia ( not a Baluch) was used as an excuse and full scale rebellion ensued. Reasons and underlying causes were exactly the same as the time of ZAB. Baluch basically claim that any revenue from the mineral wealth is property of the tribe; effectively of the Sardar as he controls it on behalf of the tribe; and not of the centre or the Punjabis ( every one blames Punjabis for every thing in Pakistan except in Sindh where Mohajirs are also the culprits).

Therefore saying that there is no problem in Baluchistan is a lie. There is a major insurgency in Baluchistan for independence. Main trouble makers are three Sardars of Marris, Bugtis and Mengel tribes.

Sindh on the other hand actually voted for Pakistan. However, soon after there was a Jiya Sindh movement, as Sindhis found themselves overwhelmed by the influx of Mohajirs and non Sindhis ( Pashtuns and Punjabis) in Karachi. BTW Karachi has more Pashtun population than Peshawar. The movement was headed by GM Syed and now by Rasul Baksh Palaijo.

Jiya Sindh is also essentially an independence movement. This movement is also very anti Punjabi. Hakim Ali Zardari told Irshad Haqqani ( I read it in one of his columns) that no matter how many benefits Kala Bagh Dam will have, we will not agree to it because most of the benefits will go to Punjab. This view is sufficient to portary anti Punjabi feeling among some of Sindhis. Unlike Baluchistan, there is a substantial number of Sindhis who dont support this movement. The problem exists both in Baluchistan and in Sindh;any one denying it is an "Ostrich".

I am against remarks such as Mohajir owned, or natives of the land, because such views indicate a basic weakness in Pakistan's fabric which should have disappeared by now. Nevertheless,if you read posts in this thread by Pakistanis you would see many such remarks as if others were not entiteld to it or dont deserve it.

Pakistan was made for the Muslims of British India. Punjabis, Pashtuns, Sindhis and Baluchis have always been here. If we are going to differentiate between natives and non natives then there was no reason to create Pakistan at all. Until such time we overcome the xenophobic prejudices, fabric of the society and the federation remains in danger and I as an overseas Pakistani will continue to be despondent over the narrow mindedness of my fellow Pakistanis.

 

[Always Neutral]

Just goes to show how shallow Imran really is. Imran's party has only one seat, Imran himself and that also from Mianwali, ancestral home of the Niazis. Imran gets invited because he is still reaping the benefits of his cricketing prowess..

Thank you Niaz for a very frank and informative post. Just for your information Dr Shazia has just released a book in London yesterday. I saw it one of the papers.

After your post I may just pop in buy it.

Regards