Plot against Balochistan intensifies

While Pakistan’s security forces have been fully concentrating on the pocket-resistance in Swat, Waziristan, and the adjoining areas after breaking the backbone of the Taliban militants, foreign plot against Balochistan has intensified. In this regard, subversive events like targeted killings, attack on government buildings, oil pipelines etc. have increased in the province. On August 14 this year, one person was killed and more than 10 injured in Balochistan through bomb blasts. The blasts which also destroyed a power transmission line coincided with the celebrations of the Independence Day. In the last few weeks, militants of Baloch Republican Army (BRA) kidnapped and killed 12 police officials including a deputy superintendent of police and an inspector.

While people of Balochistan have already been following the path of violence since April 8 when deadbodies of three Baloch nationalist leaders Ghulam Mohammad Baloch, Lala Muneer Baloch and Sher Mohammad Baloch were found in Turbat, on August 6, Excise and Taxation Minister Sardar Rustam Jamali was fatally shot during an attempted incident of car-snatching in Karachi. As regards the deteriorating situation of the province, on August 14, Financial Times (online) reported that situation in Balochistan “is a grim reminder that Swat is by no means the only security threat the government faces…low-intensity militancy has gone on for decades. But the violence now appears to be at its most intense.” The paper further explained, “Settlers from other parts of Pakistan, especially Punjab, have been given deadlines to leave.” In fact, this is what the external plotters wanted by inciting the general masses of the province to openly speak against the federation of Pakistan and the Punjabis for all the injustices, created by the Baloh feudal lords (Sardars) who have been fighting for their own so-called status, prestige and influence—most of them have been working on the agenda of foreign countries. It is notable that last year, Pakistan’s government had launched a successful approach of reconciliation particularly with the Baloch lords. The level of violence had fallen to the minimum. It was in these circumstances that the Corps Commander, Lt-Gen Khalid Shamim Wyne claimed on November 9, 2008, “We have moved from the insurgency phase to the reconciliation phase, however, if foreign elements continue to infiltrate in Balochistan, they could stir trouble and undermine our efforts to restore peace.” His observation proved quite true as covert support to the militants by the secret agencies like Indian RAW, Israeli Mossad and Afghanistan’s Khad with the tactical aid of American CIA succeeded in sabotaging the peace process in Balochistan. It is of particular attention that after meeting the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the sidelines of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit at Sharm el-Sheikh, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani remarked on July 18 that during the talks, he also raised the issue of Indian interference in Balochistan.
In the recent past, Pakistan’s civil and military high officials have openly been disclosing that Indian secret agency, RAW, Israeli Mossad and other foreign agencies are involved in supporting separatism in Balochistan. Reports suggest that on June 22, the military officials and national security institutions presented their report to the government with concrete proofs of involvement of secret agencies of India, Israel and another anti-Pakistan agency (Especially CIA) in helping not only militants led by Maulana Fazlullah but also those headed by other militant commanders in Balochistan.
During the ongoing military operations, ISPR spokesman, Maj-Gen. Athar Abbas intermittently pointed out that larger quantity of arms and ammunition had been captured—revealing foreign hands in helping the insurgents of the Frontier Province and Balochistan.
In this context, on July 4, Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit without naming CIA revealed, “The evidence of foreign powers’ involvement in the destabilisation of Pakistan will be shared with relevant countries.”

On June 28, NWFP Governor Awais Ghani openly remarked that some world powers were trying to divide Pakistan, adding that if he were not a governor, he would have exposed them. The matter is not confined to the statements of Pakistan’s high officials, in the recent past, by citing her visits, Christine Fair, a leading US journalist, while unveiling India’s clandestine operations in Pakistan from Indian consulates, located in Afghanistan and Zahidan stated, “The Indian officials have told me privately that they are pumping money into Balochistan.”

These statements coupled with the perennial acts of sabotage in Balochistan clearly show that US, India and Israel have intensified their plot to disintegrate Pakistan by snatching away its largest province. Nevertheless, external plot against Balochistan is part of the conspiracy against Pakistan which is the only Islamic nuclear state—not tolerated by the US, India and Israel which have been trying to virtually besiege our country as noted through a perennial wave of suicide attacks and bomb blasts. In this respect, by covertly backing the Baloch nationalist leaders, foreign elements have been fulfilling a number of covert designs. In Balochistan, people, openly, accuse Pakistan’s intelligence agencies for the abduction and killing of their leaders. This is what these external plotters intended to achieve.

Another purpose is to gain the sympathies of Baloch general masses for Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) which has been fighting for secession of the province. In this regard, on July 23, 2008, Akber Bugti’s grandson, Brahmdagh Bugti told the BBC that they had the right to accept foreign aid and arms from anywhere including India. There is another CIA and Indian-supported separatist group, Jundollah (God’s soldiers) which is also working against the cordial relationship of Pakistan with China and Iran. In the past few years, its militants with the cooperation of foreign agents kidnapped and killed many Chinese and Iranian nationals in Pakistan. In that context, on April 18, 2008, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi vocally pointed out, “Some external forces are trying to weaken China-Pakistan strategic ties” by “creating misunderstandings”.

It is mentionable that Balochistan is replete with mineral resources. Its ideal geo-strategic location with Gwadar seaport could prove to be Pakistan’s key junction, connecting rest of the world with Central Asia. It is due to multiple strategic benefits that the US which signed a nuclear deal with India last year, intends to control Balochistan as an independent state in counterbalancing China and containing Iran. Owing to these reasons, America and India are creating instability in Pakistan by backing Baloch separatists to complete their hidden agenda.

While taking notice of the foreign conspiracy, during the first visit of Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari to Beijing, Pakistan and China on October 15, 2008 signed eleven agreements to enhance bilateral cooperation in diverse sectors. China also agreed to supply nuclear reactors to Islamabad. Since then, this cooperation has been enhancing rapidly. Moreover, plot by foreign elements against Balochistan could also be judged from the “Indian Defence Review,” of Jan-Mar 2009.

At this critical juncture, Pakistan’s elected governments at centre and province must resolve this sensitive issue and redress the grievances of the Balochi people through political means; otherwise external powers which have intensified the implementation of their plot will keep on exploiting various issues of Balochistan, causing irreparable damage to the integrity of the country. In this context, media must also play its positive role in guiding the people of Balochistan in right direction.
Sajjad Shaukat