Baluchistan is attached with Iran as well as with landlocked Afghanistan with which it shares 1200 km border and single crossing point at Chaman. About 8-12000 people cross the border daily and 3-4000 vehicles cross Chaman checkpoint daily. Balochistan has huge quantities of natural gas and unexplored oil reserves. It is the largest province covering 48% of Pakistan territory. However, its population accounts for only 5% of total population of Pakistan. It is divided into Baloch, Brahvi, Pathans, Hazaras, settlers and Mekranis living along Mekran coast. Population of settlers is more than others; they have contributed a lot in development of province. There are several Baloch nationalist parties with differing agendas but all are secular. There is no single party that represents Baloch voice or any worthwhile leader who can galvanize the people. There are 70 exploitative tribal Sardars that control the destiny of their respective tribes with an iron hand and have deliberately kept the people backward. Of the 70, Sardars of Bugti, Marri and Mengal are most influential and troublemakers and each maintains private militia. Bugtis and Marris were on warpath till as late as 2005.
Successive governments are equally guilty of keeping the province under developed since they appeased Sardars instead of uplifting the province. Economic deprivation and political victimization led to Marri-Mengal led insurgency in 1970s; now again the Baloch are up in arms against the government. Contrary to Baloch inhabited areas which are restive, the Pashtun belt is peaceful since Pathans are relatively more educated, they are religious minded and are involved in business. They have kept the militants of Waziristan and Taliban at bay. Mekran belt was also peaceful but of late has become restless. Neither Pashtuns nor Hazaras share the idea of separation for they know that they would be biggest losers in independent Baluchistan ruled by Atheist and Socialist ideological Black Souls.
Propelled by lurking apprehensions, the CIA and FBI in connivance with dissident Sardars girded up their loins and commenced their work in real earnest to fail the projects. They began to cultivate quislings in interior Balochistan from January 2002 onwards. US think tanks were activated to keep pace with clandestine operations. Stories of balkanization of Pakistan and maps of truncated Pakistan in which Balochistan is shown as a separate entity were circulated.
Since Mir Aali Bugti has been made the head of Bugti tribe and Talal Bugti is supportive of him and Shahzan Bugti son of Talal is planning to return from abroad to Dera Bugti, Brahamdagh’s men are targeting followers of Aali and Talal and other pro-government officials to regain control of Dera Bugti. Baloch nationalist parties are helping in spreading sense of deprivation and alienation among Baloch but BNP and NP have paid no heed to advice of Brahamdagh of giving up parliamentary politics.
Apart from his feud with Marris, he had eliminated his cousins and relatives and forcibly occupied their lands. CIA played a key role in bringing a thaw in their strained relations and bringing them on a single platform. Baloch nationalist parties too were gradually won over to tie the knot with rebellious elements. Nawab Bugti developed contacts with Afghanistan’s RAM, RAW, CIA, FBI and MI-6 to ensure continued supply of arms, ammunition, communication system, funds, and establishment of training camps. Recruits mostly from Bugti, Marri and Mengal tribes were paid $220 monthly salary and imparted training by Indian trainers in 58 training camps located within the triangle of Barkhan-Sibi-Kashmore in interior Balochistan.
Each camp housed 300-500 terrorists. Massive stocks of sophisticated arms, ammunition and explosives were built up via routes from Helmand-Muslim Bagh, Shahgarh-Kishingarh-Kashmore, and Zahidan. Once his force got fully armed and trained, Nawab Bugti stiffened his attitude and started demanding greater share of gas royalty. He then locked horns with the government on Dr. Shazia’s rape case in January 2005 and tried to politicise it on grounds of Baloch honour. He made this into an excuse to trigger insurgency in Dera Bugti. He shunned conciliatory efforts and pursued path of militancy. Dissident Sardars guided by their new mentors started to portray development works negatively asserting that people from other provinces were reaping benefits at their cost. They propagated that Balochis were denied the fruits of mega projects while non-Balochis were getting jobs and contracts. In concert with Khair Bux Marri, Sardar Attaullah Mengal and Akhtar Mengal and four nationalist parties, Bugti used blackmailing tactics to force the government to abandon mega projects. He had been drawing huge benefits from the PPL in Sui but had kept his area and the people uneducated and impoverished.As long as he pocketed gas royalty and retained control over jobs of Balochis in Sui gas plant, no voice was raised for the suffering of poor. He drew Rs 20000 monthly salary for each worker but gave the worker only Rs 3000. No sooner he was deprived of privileges he raised his voice for the rights of Baloch. Like Marri and Mengal Sardars, he had maintained a powerful private militia and built dungeons to keep his people terrorised.Kalpar and Mastouri sub-tribes of Bugti were forcibly evicted in 1997 since they dared to challenge his despotism. They were brought back once Nawab Bugti and his militia fled from Dera Bugti in 2006.
Effects of insurgency spread to Sui and Kahan and also contaminated other parts of Balochistan. Trains, gas pipelines, grid stations, telephone exchanges and Frontier Constabulary posts became major targets of bomb blasts and rocket fire. Some Chinese were also kidnapped. Akbar Bugti continued to defy writ of the government and wanted peace on his terms. Two defunct organisations, Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) that had gone into oblivion after the fall of its mentor USSR was revived with the help of Kremlin and RAW and placed under the influence of dissident Baloch Sardars. Human Rights Organisation, NGOs, western world including USA and India lent support to Bugti led terrorists and described counter actions by law enforcers as violation of human rights. They took no notice of BLA taking credit for all acts of terror.
"This policy was in total contrast to the one adopted in FATA where the Army was constantly prodded to do more."
Death of Nawab Bugti in August 2006 and destruction of most Farari camps caused a huge setback to the insurgents and their patrons but the void was soon filled by Balach Marri and later by 28 year old Brahamdagh Bugti grandson of Nawab Bugti. Although intensity of insurgency scaled down to an extent that entire responsibility of security was taken over by Frontier Corps, police and levies, however insurrection continued to fester because of extensive foreign meddling. Nawab Bugti was turned into a hero and his death anniversary celebrated each year to whip up Baloch nationalism. Brahamdagh stationed in Kandahar is being provided all sorts of assistance by foreign agencies to keep Balochistan messy. Random acts of sabotage against gas pipelines, power transmissions, military convoys and target killings of Hazaras and Punjabis are continuing. Settlers, particularly teachers and professors are easy and soft targets since they are unarmed and offer no resistance.Government of Balochistan in exile was established by militants in April 2005 with its HQ in Jerusalem. A short military operation had to be launched in troubled areas of interior Balochistan in 2006 which destroyed more than fifty terrorist camps and forced Bugti to flee to a hideout in inaccessible mountains. He died in the cave in which he was hiding due to artillery shelling. He was eulogized as a leader of Baloch who had died fighting for their cause and was turned into a hero. Insurgency which was confined to Dera Bugti-Sui-Kahan spread far and wide and enveloped settled areas of Mekran, Sarawan and Jhalawan Divisions. Apart from frequent attacks on gas pipelines, grid stations, power transmissions, security check posts and military convoys, kidnapping and target killings of settlers and Hazaras are on the increase.
Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), initially created by KGB in 1980s was resurrected and the mantle given to Balach Marri. After his death in Afghanistan in 2007, Brahamdagh Bugti took over. BLA was headquartered at Kandahar with the active assistance of RAW and CIA. Brahamdagh has been spitting poison against Pakistan and is actively pursuing path of independence of Balochistan. He is involved in a series of kidnappings, targeted killings, sabotage and attacks on forces and installations in different parts of the province. He has threatened to kill all non-Baloch in Balochistan. Some other terrorist outfits like Baloch Republican Army (BRA), Baloch Republican Party (BRP) and Baloch Liberation United Front (BLUF) have also cropped up. In reality, only BLA is operating while others are phony. All four names have been coined by RAW and fed to Brahamdagh for propagation to give an impression to the world that the separatist movement in Balochistan is wide based. BLA doesn't represent aggrieved Baloch people and has a very narrow support base amongst disgruntled elements. These shadowy outfits proudly accept responsibility of criminal acts. Since none of the Baloch nationalist parties took part in February 2008 elections, they have veered towards the separatists. Provincial government comprising mostly of Sardars from PPP and PML-Q, is out of sync with people of the province. Misled Baloch youth belonging to various tribes has become assertive and violent. If you look at the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), led by Hyrbiar Marri, son of Khair Bakhsh Marri. Educated, like most scions of the sardars (while the common Baloch remains pathetically uneducated), he is based in London. It was his group that took responsibility, among other terrorist acts, for killing the innocent Punjabi labourers.
Baloch Legal Fund (BLF) has address originating from Washington DC. It is ironic that champions of global anti-terrorism who promptly ban any religious outfit on slightest suspicion and freeze its funds have closed their eyes to BLF. Likewise, Brahamdagh and his team based in Kandahar indulging in covert operations in Balochistan are being patronized by RAW, Mossad, MI-6 and CIA. Indian Consulates in Zahidan, Mazar-e-Sharif, Jalalabad and Kandahar bordering Balochistan are providing all forms of support to the insurgents with full connivance of USA. Arrest of Gazin Marri in Dubai in March 2006 for channeling funds to BLA from Dubai proved Indian connection. Anti-state activities of London based Mir Suleiman Dawood; Khan of Kalat is an open secret. He has been holding international rallies and carrying out propaganda that Balochistan had been forcibly annexed by Pakistan. In an interview with Indian Daily he said the Gilani-Manmohan declaration in Sharm-el Sheikh helped in highlighting Baloch issue internationally and would pave way for international intervention in Balochistan. British government has neither taken any action against him nor extradited him to Pakistan. Likewise, Harbayar Marri based in UK was caught indulging in covert operations against Pakistan. He was arrested but later on released.
Brahamdagh doesn’t hold Governor Nawab Zulfiqar Magsi and chief minister Raisani in high esteem. He objects to their receiving salary from Islamabad but has no compunction in getting paid by foreign agencies and dancing to their tunes. While BLA represent Marri tribe, Baloch Republican Army (BRA) represents Bugtis. Lashkar-e-Balochistan is an armed group of Mengal tribe while Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) represents many Baloch tribes. The year 2009 has seen talk of separation gaining currency. Schools in Baloch inhabited regions have been asked not to sing national anthem or to hoist Pakistan flag. The Baloch youth and women in particular are being brainwashed and hatred against Punjab and the Army inculcated in their minds. Dissident Baloch leaders are projecting their separatist movement as liberation movement and are seeking UN intervention to help them gain independence. They have appealed to international community to help the Baloch in getting rid of Pakistan.BLA kidnapped over 20 policemen from Naseerabad District in August and later killed them. It justifies target killings of non-locals as a reaction of Baloch against excesses of Punjabi Army. One of the Baloch writers cribbed in his write up that Baloch were not carrying out enough target killings and provoked them to intensify the killing spree and expand it to Punjab. Attacks on security forces are also continuing. Counter actions by law enforcers are dubbed as military operation and massacre of Baloch by Punjab Army.
"Their propaganda is picked up by the western media for further propagation despite the fact that the Army has not fired a single bullet since August 2006."
Harbayar Marri and Gazan Marri, two sons of Nawab Khair Bakhsh Marri are in exile in London. One of them has married Brahamdagh’s sister in an effort to forge Marri-Bugti confederacy. Khan of Kalat Mir Sulaiman Daud too is in London. All three are indulging in anti-state activities and claim that Balochistan movement has gained international popularity. They are patronized by MI-6 and British government. Daud formed Independent Balochistan Council on 11 August. None of mutinous Baloch leaders have any objection to the presence of US military in Balochistan and heavy involvement of RAW in acts of subversion. Harbayar and his likes say that they do not mind Americans stealing natural resources of Balochistan or enslaving them. Deployment of large number of UK-US troops in Helmand Province also doesn’t bother them but they do mind the presence of Punjabi Army on their soil which according to them has enslaved them and is obliterating Baloch identity.
"They have succeeded in putting a hold on construction of military cantonments in interior Balochistan not realizing that these are an excellent means for development and prosperity of backward areas."
As a policy, all mysterious killings are promptly pasted on the agencies. There are credible reports that target killings and killing of Baloch leaders are being done by RAW agents and Blackwater members to provoke both sides and create anarchic conditions in the province. Peaceful Mekran coastal belt has also been made turbulent. Till recent, Al-Qaeda’s entire leadership was placed in FATA by USA. All of a sudden, Taliban Shura including Mullah Omar has been located in Quetta and marked as high priority target for drone attacks.
“Currently when the cleanup of target killers is under process due to corrupt government and judiciary in Balochistan, These Black Souls are propagating that innocents are being killed by Pakistan but they were proudly announcing their own target killings in Past. Is it not a hypocrite attitude of them? or we should understand that it is the duty of paid agents”
Several RAW agents have been caught red handed indulging in sabotage and subversion in Balochistan. Export of terrorism from Afghan soil into Balochistan and FATA and Swat was brought to the notice of USA, Afghanistan and India several times but none has ever heeded to our complaints. Balochistan cauldron will continue to fester as long as we tolerate intrusion of foreign agencies and treat our enemies as friends. Anti-social and anti-state elements must be punished and efforts made for repatriation of Brahamdagh. This development when seen in context with launching of military operation in Helmand province in July aimed at pushing out Afghan Taliban across the border are part of the design to ignite Pashtun belt which is presently peaceful. It appears that after the fall of Swat front and containment of Waziristan, focus of the schemers in Kabul is shifting towards Balochistan. India is keen to play Balochistan card to force Pakistan to forget about Kashmir. The messy situation in Balochistan requires emergent actions and deft handling to clear the mess. In addition to early announcement of socio-politico-economic package backed by media campaign to help remove grievances and misgivings of people of Balochistan and to win their support, use of air bases by US military in Balochistan must be discontinued and supply routes blocked. These measures would render anti-state elements and foreign agents like fish out of water.
In order to exert pressure on USA and India, both trying to jeopardize the very existence of Pakistan, we instead of remaining in the hunt for foreign aid and docilely accepting their immoral conditions should forthrightly seek early withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan, extradition of Brahamdagh, Harbayar, Gazin and Daud, closure of Indian consulates in Afghanistan, stoppage of Indo-Afghan cross border terrorism into Pakistan as well as drone attacks, termination of Pakistan army and ISI bashing and putting an end to US meddlesome role in our internal affairs. Our participation in war on terror and logistic supply to US-Nato troops should be made conditional to these genuine demands. Now that the ground has begun to slip from under the feet of US troops in Afghanistan, it would be relatively easier to have these demands fulfilled.
Balochistan in general and the Baloch in particular need to get their rights. But negotiations must be within the federal framework. Equally, the Baloch must realise the irony of fighting for their rights while living in a stultifying tribal system. Many want their children to be educated. There are cases of fighters secretly sending their boys to enroll in the army-funded education programme. They must not be disappointed.
