Pakistan's 'secret' war in Baluchistan

[Omar1984]

End of ceasefire raises many an eyebrow

* BLA spokesman says government did not respond positively to truce
* Armed groups say they see no justification to end their operations

By Malik Siraj Akbar

QUETTA: Three armed militant groups operating in Balochistan have finally ended their four-month ceasefire. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), the Baloch Republican Army (BRA) and the Baloch Liberation Front (BLF) had announced a swift, unconditional and unilateral ceasefire last September as part of their ‘guerilla warfare tactic’. The decision raised many eyebrows among young Baloch nationalists. While some accused these outfits of 'compromising' with the government on the 'Baloch interest', the others ridiculed them for supposedly

running out of ‘ample Indian assistance’ to pursue their resistance movement.

The Baloch militants, on their part, repeatedly brushed aside such allegations, claiming they had now become so 'powerful' no one could dictate them any more. They could initiate a war whenever they wanted to and end it when it pleased them to do so. The main purpose of the ceasefire, as a BLA spokesman told Daily Times, was to avoid bloodshed that was causing the death of innocent women, children and elderly citizens. In addition, the ceasefire was intended to see if the government would also positively respond to the truce and pull out troops from the conflict zones of Balochistan as a confidence-building measure. That did not happen.

The biggest loser during the four-month lull is undeniably the Pakistan People’s Party government in Balochistan and the Centre. This period of peace and tranquility could have been taken as a golden opportunity by the ruling party to address the Balochistan issue. Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Senator Babar Awan believes there is still sufficient time to address the issue. Therefore, he believes the people of Balochistan should wait until "the government gives them good news in March 2009". This explicitly shows the government’s lack of interest in Balochistan. The governments in Islamabad still tend to underestimate the power of the Baloch armed resistance, besides defiantly skirting the demands of genuine democratic forces. On the other hand, the expanding insurgency has become an unavoidable headache for everyone who tries to rule Balochistan. The PPP leadership seems to be missing the point that the year 2008 was the most violent year in the past decade. Target killings claimed 73 lives of mainly those working for the government – the police, Frontier Corps (FC), army, intelligence agencies and other government institutions. It is for this reason that the conflict in Balochistan cannot afford to wait until March to be addressed by the government.

The government should have taken the ceasefire as a blessing in disguise. It substantially stopped the cycle of target killings in Quetta. In August 2008, the security situation went out of the control to the extent that Governor Nawab Zulfiqar Ali Magsi was obliged to announce on August 14 that he was planning to quit his office. The governor said he had promised to improve the state of law and order in the province soon after assuming charge. Later on, he realised that he had failed to meet the daunting challenge.

Furthermore, Magsi also recommended Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani to join him in tendering resignations because the latter had also promised to bring peace to Balochistan.

"Since both of us have failed to deliver and bring peace to Balochistan, we should quit," Nawab Magsi was quoted in the media as saying.

Such feelings were understandable given the fact that the Baloch armed groups had by that time frustrated the government law enforcement agencies, measures to overpower them. They were unwilling to negotiate with the government. The remaining moderate political parties, such as the Balochistan National Party (BNP), National Party and Jamhoori Watan

Party (JWP), were skeptical of the government for “not doing enough to restore the Baloch trust”. But when the ceasefire was announced, it was the right moment for the PPP leadership to take the opportunity to bring the Baloch political parties to the negotiation table. Had it been done then, it would have remarkably helped the PPP government isolate the militants in Balochistan and pit the Baloch political parties against the hardliners.

The armed groups say they see no justification to end their operations given the 'indefinite timeframe' they had offered to the government to show by its actions that it wanted to drastically change its approach towards Balochistan. The moderate and secular parties complain that the PPP did not fulfil the promises it had made to them before the general elections. A number of controversial issues still remain unaddressed.

The future of security in Balochistan appears bleak after the conclusion of the ceasefire. The first week of 2009 has already proven violent. It witnessed deadly clashes between the FC and the militants. Three times in one week, the Baloch militants attacked passenger trains. BRA spokesman Sarbaz Baloch told Daily Times his party wanted the Baloch people to avoid travelling via train.

"In the past we used to attack the railway tracks and now we will attack the trains carrying passengers. Anyone who would travel on the trains despite this warning would be responsible for his own safety," he warned.

 

[Omar1984]

Violence against women in Balochistan increased in 2008

* NGO says 115 of 600 cases were of ‘honour’ killing
* Dialogue participant says nationalist and communal sentiments, colonial mindset confront those protesting against violence

By Malik Siraj Akbar

QUETTA: Aurat Foundation, a non-governmental organisation working for women’s rights, has said violence against women in Balochistan intensified in 2008, but Baloch society still adopts a defensive attitude and justifies the killing of women in the name of honour and tradition.

In a dialogue with media representatives on ‘Problems in accessibility of information about violence against women’ on Monday, the organisation said Baloch women were victims of violence due to widespread illiteracy, entrenched tribal traditions, distorted interpretation of Islam and economic dependence of women on men.

Cases: The organisation said around 600 cases of violence against women were reported in 2008, which included the murder of 89 women in the first nine months of the year. At least 115 women were murdered in cases of honour killing. The reported cases included 255 incidents of women being subjected to domestic violence. People are unwilling to discuss the violence as a majority of Balochistan people justify such acts in the name of tradition, it said. In some other cases, violence against women in rural areas remains unreported in media because of inaccessibility of the area as well as the dominance of men in society, who believe the publication of reports of violence against women amounts to the disrepute of their respective tribes.

The year’s most disturbing news concerning the plight of women came from Naseerabad district in Balochistan, where five women were allegedly buried alive by tribal elders in the name of honour. Federal Minister Mir Israrullah Zehri and Senate Deputy Speaker Jan Muhammad Jamli defended the incident on the Senate floor and called it “a part of Baloch traditions” and the government failed to expose the culprits and the motives behind the killings. The Naseerabad killings still remain a mystery. “Violence against women is a global phenomenon. It takes place in different parts of the world under varying pretexts,” Aurat Foundation Balochistan Co-ordinator Saima Javaid said. She said, “Our biggest concern is that such violence is unabated, rampant and unnoticed.” Dostain Khan Jamaldini, a researcher, said various hurdles hindered objective reporting of women’s issues in the province. He said violence against women is not taken seriously or addressed at the community level.

Confront: Nationalist as well as communal sentiments and a colonial mindset confront those protesting violence against women. Political leaders remain defensive on the issue, and describe media and NGO reporting as an intrusion in internal matters and traditions. Similarly, communal segments of society dismiss such reports as Western propaganda against Islam. “We need to set our house in order before becoming defensive. The poor state of women’s rights is a bitter reality in our society and we cannot ignore this serious matter for long under different subterfuges,” Jamaldini said. The participants of the day-long dialogue agreed that print and electronic media could best highlight violence against women by describing it as a practice being promoted in the name of Islam and tribal traditions. Journalists and scholars should not use unqualified religious leaders as their primary source in write-ups and reports. Those who contend that Islam is responsible for the suppression of women and violence against women are oblivious to the true teachings of the religion. Islam gives equal status to women in the social, educational and economic spheres, according to one of the speakers.

Illahuddin Khilji, another Aurat Foundation representative, said gender discrimination towards women by male lawmakers, journalists and religious scholars contributed to ‘biased reporting’ of events, while their female counterparts often exaggerated the issues in their reports.

 

[Omar1984]

Govt has evidence about Indian interference in Balochistan and other areas: Farzana Raja

GUJRAT: Benazir Income Support Program (BISP), Chairperson Farzana Raja has said government has evidence about Indian interference in Balochistan and other areas.

Talking to media men here Sunday Farzana Raja said government was taking up Indian interference issue in world forum.

She told efforts made at diplomatic level had defused tension between Pakistan and India. There was no contradiction in government policies, she added. Mehmood Durrani had given his own statement about Ajmal Kasab at his personal level, she pointed out.

She held midterm elections were no solution to the problems. Public mandate given to PPP would be materialized. Parliament was made rubber stamp during the previous regime, she alleged. Parliament was now independent and all the decisions were being taken within the parliament, she claimed. Parliament would repeal 17th amendment and 58/2/B, she remarked.

ONLINE - International News Network


Pakistan needs to bring this up to the entire international community.

 

[rajk20002002]

There is nothing called Balochistan movement if you call the terrorist BLA funded by Indians as a movement no one can help it.


And dont worry about the threads as Indians and Indian RAW is doing a great job by funding and running hunderds of propaganda websites in the name of balochs.

Why should it hurt ? is Pakistan not doing the same for so long in Kashmir and other parts of India. I know neither Paksitan will stop, nor India. In fact things are going to escalate after Mumbai attacks. Its just amatter of time when major war breaks and going Nuclear. Best would be to enjoy till that happens once for all and by Allahs wish.

RK

 

[Omar1984]

Why should it hurt ? is Pakistan not doing the same for so long in Kashmir and other parts of India. I know neither Paksitan will stop, nor India. In fact things are going to escalate after Mumbai attacks. Its just amatter of time when major war breaks and going Nuclear. Best would be to enjoy till that happens once for all and by Allahs wish.

RK

Theres a huge difference if Pakistan crosses the LINE OF CONTROL into DISPUTED Kashmir and if India (who has nothing to do with Balochistan) crosses the INTERNATIONAL BORDER into Balochistan.

Kashmir is a disputed territory between Pakistan and India, do you Indians also claim Balochistan is yours?

It would be one thing if India crossed into the Line of Control into Azad Kashmir, but they crossed through the INTERNATIONAL BORDER into Balochistan, its outrageous that Indians have done this.

Btw theres no place that hates India more than Azad Kashmir, so you Indians wouldnt dare cross the Line of Control into Azad Kashmir because you know you'll be eaten alive by the locals in Azad Kashmir.

 

[Omar1984]

Govt giving high priority to development of Balochistan: PM

ISLAMABAD, Jan 16 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Friday said the government firmly believes that progress and prosperity of Balochistan is in the best interest of country, and is giving high priority to its development for which all necessary resources would be provided. He was talking to the Cabinet members of Balochistan headed by the Chief Minister Nawab Mohammad Aslam Raisani, who met him here at the PM House on Friday afternoon.
The Prime Minister said the PPP being a federal party with its roots spread in all parts of the country would protect the rights of smaller provinces as enshrined in the 1973 constitution and would continue its struggle for the supremacy of parliament and promotion of democratic traditions in the country.

The Prime Minister said the founder of 1973 constitution, Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto while framing the constitution kept this thing in mind for safeguarding the rights of smaller provinces.

That is why he (Bhutto) preferred bicameral system instead of a unicameral one. Through this system, Senate was established having equal representation from each province thus making sure that constitution could not be amended without the consent of all the federating units, he added.

The Prime Minister said that Balochistan has a natural advantage due to its vast reserves of minerals and other natural resources, and it is our duty to develop and explore these resources for the progress and betterment of the people of Balochistan.

Talking about the Swat situation the Prime Minister said that no body would be allowed to challenge the writ of the government.

He condemned those elements who have forced the closure of scores of girls’ schools in the area.

The Prime Minister referred to the teachings of the Holy Prophet that seeking knowledge is an obligation on every Muslim and those preaching otherwise are not propagating the true message of Islam.

He said Islam preaches peace, harmony and tolerance and abhors terrorism and extremism in all its forms.

The delegation appreciated the Prime Minister for his personal interest in resolving Balochistan’s problems.

They said that whatever the Prime Minister had promised was duly fulfilled and this marked his sincerity and commitment towards the development of the province.

The delegation also praised the Prime Minister for timely operationalization of Gwadar Port which would help encourage business activities while attracting large investments and improving the living standards of the inhabitants of the area.

http://www.app.com.pk/en_/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=65102&Itemid=1

 

[RabzonKhan]

Rs 11 bn allocated for Balochistan uplift

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has allocated a sum of Rs 11 billion for providing basic amenities to various areas of Balochistan, provincial Communication Minister Mir Sadiq Umrani said on Tuesday.

Talking to a TV channel, he said the federal government had also agreed to pay Rs 15 billion loan to Balochistan as during the last era, an overdraft of Rs 22 billion was taken. He said this would help end the sense of deprivation among the people of Balochistan. The cases against Sardar Akhtar Mengal and Nawab Khair Bukhsh Marri have already been withdrawn. Scores of people incarcerated during the Musharraf-led government have also been released from Balochistan jails, he said. He said 50 per cent share of income from all mega projects, including SANDAK, Mirani dam, Gwadar Port, Hubco Power Plant, Uch Power Plant, etc must be given to the Balochistan government.

The amount would be used to provide basic amenities to the people of Balochistan, he added.Terming Gwadar the gateway to the Central Asia, he said 11 ships, loaded with fertiliser, anchored at the Gwadar Port in only one week. As many as 700 trucks are moving daily to transport goods from the Gwadar Port to their destinations, he added.

 

[Omar1984]

Two Punjabis shot dead in Quetta

Staff Report

QUETTA: Two men of Punjabi origin were shot dead in a targeted killing on Sariab Road in Quetta on Saturday afternoon, police said.

The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the killings.

Police said masked motorcyclists opened fire on the two Punjabi-speaking citizens at around 1pm. The two men, who had stopped at a petrol station to refuel their vehicle, were killed on the spot. They were identified as Muhammad Farooq and Shahzad Ahmed, both residents of Rahim Yar Khan district of Punjab. BLA spokesman Bibarg Baloch told Daily Times that the men were killed in reaction to the “ongoing genocide of the Baloch people by the Pakistan Army”.

He said the BLA had formally asked all ‘Punjabi citizens’ to leave Balochistan or face the consequences.

“Those who followed our warnings have already left, but those who refuse to quit Balochistan will be targeted in the future,” he warned. The police said both men, aged between 35 to 40 years, were visiting Balochistan from Punjab and were killed when they were on their way back home.

However, the BLA spokesman claimed the two men were intelligence agents.

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

This kind of nonsense of fighting over ethnic group cant be tolerated, BLA must all die.

 

[Omar1984]

PPP to bring Baloch nationalists into political mainstream

* Party considers offering seats to Baloch leaders in Senate elections

By Zulfiqar Ghuman

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) is considering a proposal to bring nationalist leaders of Balochistan into mainstream politics by offering them seats in the upcoming Senate elections.

"The party has started in-house consultations in this regard. PPP legislator Faryal Talpur, sister of President Asif Ali Zardari, visited Quetta along with Health Minister Aijaz Jakhrani to discuss the proposal with the PPP’s provincial leadership," party sources told Daily Times on Sunday.

"Since the PPP wants to take all political parties along under its reconciliation policy and is determined to address the grievances of the Baloch people, it wants to take the nationalists along," the sources said.

They said once the proposal was finalised within the party, it would be discussed with the nationalists’ leadership.

"The nationalist parties had boycotted the 2008 general elections, but the PPP wants them to participate in the Senate elections," they said.

The PPP wants the parties of late Akbar Bugti, Attaullah Mengal and Mir Khair Bukhsh Marri to participate in the Senate elections.

The sources said the PPP was also in contact with the Awami National Party (ANP) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) to bring a consensus among candidates for the Senate in NWFP.

"This move has been initiated to get maximum results ahead of polling and avoid horse trading like in the past. The party has offered two ministerial slots to the JUI-F at the federal level to further improve coordination between the two coalition partners," the sources said.

They added that the three major coalition partners in the NWFP, the PPP, the ANP and the JUI-F, would get their share according to their strength in the provincial assembly.

Similar talks are underway with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) in Sindh.

"The MQM has been offered a couple of ministerial slots for its cooperation in the Senate elections," the sources said.

Referring to Punjab, the sources said the situation in the province was complicated, as both the PPP and Pakistan Muslim League–Nawaz (PML-N) were trying to seek the support of the PML-Quaid in the Senate elections through backdoor channels.

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[Salahadin]

Balochistan: why India feels ‘concerned’


By Syed Fazl-e-Haider


BRITAIN’S prestigious weekly, The Economist,recently accused Washington and New Delhi of “unwittingly” fuelling unrest in Balochistan in their quest for oil and gas. “The neighbouring field of Nawab Khair Bakhsh Marri contains oil and coal, but the government has not dared to exploit it”, it said.

India has surprised Pakistan by resorting to what may be described interference in its internal matters at a juncture when the two countries are moving fast through a peace process to normalize their relations. It has shown its ‘concern’ over recent incidents of violent clashes in Balochistan and asked Pakistan government to “exercise restraint.” In reply to a question, India’s foreign office spokesman Navtej Sharma said that his country had been watching the situation with concern. “We hope that the Government of Pakistan will exercise restraint and take recourse to peaceful discussions to address the grievances of the people of Balochistan.”

Meanwhile, B. Raman, a retired Indian bureaucrat who represents the views of hardline anti-Pakistan lobby in South Block and runs a website on behalf of so-called ‘South Asia Analysis Group’, recently said in an article: “The struggle for an independent Balochistan is part of the unfinished agenda of the Partition. Due to reasons of realpolitik, we let them down during their first war of independence. The same realpolitik would dictate painful inaction by us now too. But that does not mean we should hesitate to draw the attention of the international community to the ruthless massacre of Baloch nationalists by the Pakistan army. We owe our moral support to them”.

What makes India feel disturbed over the present Balochistan situation can be seen from a geopolitical perspective. How does a troubled and volatile Balochistan serve India’s strategic interests? Is the politics of discouraging mega projects (particularly Gwadar deep-water port project) part of India’s strategy to depreciate Pakistan’s strategic value in the region?

Balochistan is located in a region of immense geo-political importance. The mega projects, already launched or about to be launched, will open up the province to other provinces and also to Central Asia in particular, turning it into a land of opportunities for foreign investors. Hence, the attempts by certain elements to create a sense of insecurity in the province by committing acts of violence only amounts to subverting the ongoing development process and vitiating the atmosphere for foreign investment. Although the first phase of Gwadar port was completed by Chinese engineers in November 2004 ahead of schedule, its ground-breaking ceremony could not be held in January 2005, probably owing to the deteriorating law and order situation. Later, the situation got worse.

India seems to be in a state of cold war with Pakistan ever since the latter launched the Gwadar port project. India’s recent efforts for developing the North-South Transportation Corridor (NSTC), the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Iran highway, a strategic road project linking Tajikistan with Chahbahar via Afghanistan and its growing defence cooperation with the Central Asian republics (CARs) are some of its projects to counter Pakistan’s strategic interests. These projects are likely to suffer a setback as soon as Gwadar port becomes operational and emerges as a key port in an area that marks the confluence of South Asia, Central Asia and West Asia.

Central Asia is of great geo-economic importance to Pakistan. Gwadar port is being developed with a huge investment of China. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has announced a $300 million loan to finance road projects, which will connect the entire region with this port. The goods produced in Pakistan can be exported to CARs through these roads at much cheaper rates. India intends to deny Pakistan an easy access to Central Asia. It is looking for alternative routes bypassing Pakistan to reach Afghanistan and Central Asia.

In a bid to boost economic and trade ties with energy rich Central Asia, India plans to actively participate in building trans-Afghanistan road and rail links between Uzbekistan’s Termez to Iran’s Chahbahar port in the Gulf. It actually wants to overshadow Pakistan’s transit route to the land-locked Afghanistan by constructing a strategic road linking Kabul to Chahbahar.

Geographically, India faces a challenge in establishing an access to Central Asia. That is why, India has been working with Iran to develop a north-south trade corridor, from Central Asia to Afghanistan through Iran to Chahbahar port, from where goods could be shipped by sea to these countries.

India has always been ambitious to dominate the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. It sees such dominance imperative to pursue its hegemonistic designs in the region. It has been involved in building up a navy, which exceeds its requirements. There is no denying the fact that India’s expansionism have serious political, economic and military implications for Pakistan. It is obvious that the construction of Gwadar port poses a threat to India’s designs in the region.

As part of its policy of Islamabad’s containment, New Delhi is reluctant to go ahead with the building of a gas pipeline either from Turkmenistan or from Iran through Pakistani territory. India’s “concern” on the current situation (violent incidents between the tribesmen and the security personnel) in Balochistan may be aimed at creating doubts about the proposed trans-national gas pipeline projects. One may recall that soon after an attack on gas facilities in Sui by tribesmen some months ago, the then Indian foreign minister Natwar Singh had asked in a statement how Pakistan would ensure safety of the proposed trilateral gas pipeline coming from Iran to his country when it was unable to protect its own gas installations.

In Balochistan, there is apparently little opposition to the ongoing process of economic development among common people for it is they who will benefit from it. The opposition comes from a particular group of the sardars whose areas are the most under-developed but contain large untapped oil and gas reserves. They resist development for that can weaken the age-old tribal system and their social clout. But what helps them gain legitimacy of their campaign for greater autonomy is the long history of neglect, discrimination and injustice by Islamabad towards the legitimate interests of the province. Hence, they are joined by the liberal and nationalist elements in opposing what is called the centre’s “colonial approach.” That tends to create doubts in the population about the intentions behind the development schemes launched by the regime. Even construction of roads in remote tribal areas are seen as a conspiracy.

Military operations carried out in 1948, 1958, 1965 and 1973 have turned Balochistan into an ‘over-sensitive’ province. But these operations were undertaken mostly for political reasons, not for pursuing and protecting development projects which at present amount to Rs 130 billion. Nor was the province’s enormous development potential and geo-strategic location so discernible in the past to the outside world to lure foreign investment as it is today.

There is a need to address genuine grievances, if any, of the stakeholders — private sector, technical personnel, labourers, etc., — with regard to various projects. If local elite of the areas, where some development activity is taking place, have certain objections then these should be addressed and removed rather than be ignored or suppressed by force. The government must take measures to remove the sense of alienation, if any, of Baloch nationalists to bring them into mainstream politics, and create local stakes in the province’s development.

Reports from Dera Bugti and Kohlu districts suggest a continued exchange of fire between paramilitary forces and tribesmen resulting in increased casualties. This can help external forces exploit the situation in their favour and carry on their propaganda. But this can also slow down the pace of development or even lead to abandonment of some projects in Balochistan. It is, therefore, in the interest of all stakeholders that recurring incidents of violence be brought to an end and the disputes resolved through a dialogue.

 

[Salahadin]

Balochistan: why India feels ‘concerned’


By Syed Fazl-e-Haider


BRITAIN’S prestigious weekly, The Economist,recently accused Washington and New Delhi of “unwittingly” fuelling unrest in Balochistan in their quest for oil and gas. “The neighbouring field of Nawab Khair Bakhsh Marri contains oil and coal, but the government has not dared to exploit it”, it said.

India has surprised Pakistan by resorting to what may be described interference in its internal matters at a juncture when the two countries are moving fast through a peace process to normalize their relations. It has shown its ‘concern’ over recent incidents of violent clashes in Balochistan and asked Pakistan government to “exercise restraint.” In reply to a question, India’s foreign office spokesman Navtej Sharma said that his country had been watching the situation with concern. “We hope that the Government of Pakistan will exercise restraint and take recourse to peaceful discussions to address the grievances of the people of Balochistan.”

Meanwhile, B. Raman, a retired Indian bureaucrat who represents the views of hardline anti-Pakistan lobby in South Block and runs a website on behalf of so-called ‘South Asia Analysis Group’, recently said in an article: “The struggle for an independent Balochistan is part of the unfinished agenda of the Partition. Due to reasons of realpolitik, we let them down during their first war of independence. The same realpolitik would dictate painful inaction by us now too. But that does not mean we should hesitate to draw the attention of the international community to the ruthless massacre of Baloch nationalists by the Pakistan army. We owe our moral support to them”.

What makes India feel disturbed over the present Balochistan situation can be seen from a geopolitical perspective. How does a troubled and volatile Balochistan serve India’s strategic interests? Is the politics of discouraging mega projects (particularly Gwadar deep-water port project) part of India’s strategy to depreciate Pakistan’s strategic value in the region?

Balochistan is located in a region of immense geo-political importance. The mega projects, already launched or about to be launched, will open up the province to other provinces and also to Central Asia in particular, turning it into a land of opportunities for foreign investors. Hence, the attempts by certain elements to create a sense of insecurity in the province by committing acts of violence only amounts to subverting the ongoing development process and vitiating the atmosphere for foreign investment. Although the first phase of Gwadar port was completed by Chinese engineers in November 2004 ahead of schedule, its ground-breaking ceremony could not be held in January 2005, probably owing to the deteriorating law and order situation. Later, the situation got worse.

India seems to be in a state of cold war with Pakistan ever since the latter launched the Gwadar port project. India’s recent efforts for developing the North-South Transportation Corridor (NSTC), the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Iran highway, a strategic road project linking Tajikistan with Chahbahar via Afghanistan and its growing defence cooperation with the Central Asian republics (CARs) are some of its projects to counter Pakistan’s strategic interests. These projects are likely to suffer a setback as soon as Gwadar port becomes operational and emerges as a key port in an area that marks the confluence of South Asia, Central Asia and West Asia.

Central Asia is of great geo-economic importance to Pakistan. Gwadar port is being developed with a huge investment of China. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has announced a $300 million loan to finance road projects, which will connect the entire region with this port. The goods produced in Pakistan can be exported to CARs through these roads at much cheaper rates. India intends to deny Pakistan an easy access to Central Asia. It is looking for alternative routes bypassing Pakistan to reach Afghanistan and Central Asia.

In a bid to boost economic and trade ties with energy rich Central Asia, India plans to actively participate in building trans-Afghanistan road and rail links between Uzbekistan’s Termez to Iran’s Chahbahar port in the Gulf. It actually wants to overshadow Pakistan’s transit route to the land-locked Afghanistan by constructing a strategic road linking Kabul to Chahbahar.

Geographically, India faces a challenge in establishing an access to Central Asia. That is why, India has been working with Iran to develop a north-south trade corridor, from Central Asia to Afghanistan through Iran to Chahbahar port, from where goods could be shipped by sea to these countries.

India has always been ambitious to dominate the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. It sees such dominance imperative to pursue its hegemonistic designs in the region. It has been involved in building up a navy, which exceeds its requirements. There is no denying the fact that India’s expansionism have serious political, economic and military implications for Pakistan. It is obvious that the construction of Gwadar port poses a threat to India’s designs in the region.

As part of its policy of Islamabad’s containment, New Delhi is reluctant to go ahead with the building of a gas pipeline either from Turkmenistan or from Iran through Pakistani territory. India’s “concern” on the current situation (violent incidents between the tribesmen and the security personnel) in Balochistan may be aimed at creating doubts about the proposed trans-national gas pipeline projects. One may recall that soon after an attack on gas facilities in Sui by tribesmen some months ago, the then Indian foreign minister Natwar Singh had asked in a statement how Pakistan would ensure safety of the proposed trilateral gas pipeline coming from Iran to his country when it was unable to protect its own gas installations.

In Balochistan, there is apparently little opposition to the ongoing process of economic development among common people for it is they who will benefit from it. The opposition comes from a particular group of the sardars whose areas are the most under-developed but contain large untapped oil and gas reserves. They resist development for that can weaken the age-old tribal system and their social clout. But what helps them gain legitimacy of their campaign for greater autonomy is the long history of neglect, discrimination and injustice by Islamabad towards the legitimate interests of the province. Hence, they are joined by the liberal and nationalist elements in opposing what is called the centre’s “colonial approach.” That tends to create doubts in the population about the intentions behind the development schemes launched by the regime. Even construction of roads in remote tribal areas are seen as a conspiracy.

Military operations carried out in 1948, 1958, 1965 and 1973 have turned Balochistan into an ‘over-sensitive’ province. But these operations were undertaken mostly for political reasons, not for pursuing and protecting development projects which at present amount to Rs 130 billion. Nor was the province’s enormous development potential and geo-strategic location so discernible in the past to the outside world to lure foreign investment as it is today.

There is a need to address genuine grievances, if any, of the stakeholders — private sector, technical personnel, labourers, etc., — with regard to various projects. If local elite of the areas, where some development activity is taking place, have certain objections then these should be addressed and removed rather than be ignored or suppressed by force. The government must take measures to remove the sense of alienation, if any, of Baloch nationalists to bring them into mainstream politics, and create local stakes in the province’s development.

Reports from Dera Bugti and Kohlu districts suggest a continued exchange of fire between paramilitary forces and tribesmen resulting in increased casualties. This can help external forces exploit the situation in their favour and carry on their propaganda. But this can also slow down the pace of development or even lead to abandonment of some projects in Balochistan. It is, therefore, in the interest of all stakeholders that recurring incidents of violence be brought to an end and the disputes resolved through a dialogue.

 

[Salahadin]

Whole Balochistan to be ‘A’ area by June

ISLAMABAD: The five-year plan of the government of Balochistan to convert all its ‘B’ areas (that police do not operate in) into ‘A’ areas will likely be fully implemented by June 2009, official sources told Daily Times on Sunday.

The project, which would cost Rs 5.515 billion, aims to place the entire province under the control of one law enforcement agency (police) to improve law and order in the region. According to official sources, all districts of the province have been notified of the conversion process by the provincial government. They said that civil works for the construction of police stations; purchase of arms/ammunition; and transport facilities were underway.

Separately, the government has also announced plans to computerise the record of all police stations and provide online connectivity to police offices throughout the country. The project is also scheduled for completion by June 2009 at a cost of Rs 1,405.04 million.

Under the project, ‘Police Record and Office Management Information System’, all police stations would be connected to offices of district police officers, police headquarters and the main data centre at the National Police Bureau. All FIRs and investigative procedures would also be digitised.

The sources said that Lahore had 80 data centres; Karachi (126); Peshawar (40); Rawalpindi (39); and Quetta (21). tahir niaz

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

And a good thread started by Enigma for perusing:

http://www.defence.pk/forums/curren...malang-gold-valley-pak-armys-gift-nation.html

 

[Durrani]

Freedom struggle! quit wet dreaming. Its beginning to suck.

Its not about freedom struggle and neither is this about the BLA. I am from Quetta so let me explain to some of you ignorant people about what the REAL ISSUE in balochistan is.....

The regular people of balochistan (aam awaam which includes baloch, pathan, hazara etc) just want a little more prosperity for our region. We are the poorest and most impoverished province in pakistan. Outside Quetta there is absolutely nothing in this province (no water, no gas, no electricity, no schools).

You people think that the situation is only black and white, that on the one side is the BLA (who I, as a patriotic pakistani agree are a bunch of thugs and criminals) and on the other side the federal government.

Why don't you ever try to understand how the regular awaam of balochistan feels? Yes we do not support the BLA and we are not interested in seperation from our beloved nation Pakistan but at the same time we are extremely unhappy with Islamabad and its history of complete negligence of our province. We have the resources and we are happy to share it with the rest of the country but unfortunately no one can doubt the the PEOPLE of balochistan have never gotten a fair share of our resources. SUI, DERA BUGTI, CHAGHI, GWADAR >>>> These are all places with major development projects going on yet the locals are still suffering from rampant unemployment and lack of basic infrastruture.

Please stop looking at the balochistan issue as only being between the seperatists and the federal government. Dont forget the PEOPLE OF BALOCHISTAN !! There is no doubt that our province is extremely underdeveloped in comparison to the rest of the country.

 

[Durrani]

"discuss grievances"


The man cannot read or write nor has any thought in his head other than money and is a hired gun - and he is invited to discuss grievances? yara, I must really be on another planet - Is there any pakistani criminal who has not been invited to discuss his or her grievances??

I gotta go drown it somewhere - just the thought - on the other hand it can't hurt any worse than it already does.

Stop being so ignorant. DO NOT mix the BLA terrorists with the regular awaam of Balochistan. Yes the BLA are a bunch of criminals but the REGULAR PEOPLE OF BALOCHISTAN DO HAVE GENUINE GRIEVANCES WHICH NEED TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. Dont forget that the regular people of Balochistan are among the poorest in Pakistan yet they reside in its most resource-rich province. Dont deny the fact that the regular people of Balochistan do have some very serious grievances. The BLA are terrorists but the normal people of Balochistan do have very real "grievances" which MUST be "discussed" at the Federal level.