baluchistan-s-freedom-a-cause-worthy-of-international-support

By Brig RPS Kahlon, VSM (Retd)

 

The Baluch resentment of Pakistan’s shenanigans emanates from historical memories of being robbed of her status as an independent nation. On August 14, 1947, Baluchistan was a free country with its own constitution, elected representatives, flag and sovereign borders under the Khan of Kalat. MA Jinnah signed a stand-still treaty with the Khan to this effect. He, however, did a volte face and forced the Khanate of Kalat to accede to Pakistan by 1948. The injustices heaped on the Baluchi people by the Pakistani Army, ever since, only give a cause to Baluchi freedom struggle.

 

Continuum of Pak duplicity, and suppression

 

Sardar Abdul Karim Khan-led armed Baluchi insurrection in 1950, and the 1960 Sardar Nauroz Khan inspired revolt, were clarion calls for recognition of the Baluch identity and autonomy, which was again ignored by Pakistan. The justification for autonomy, was steeped in the Baluchi code of honour, called ‘Baloch Mayar’, which dictated an honour-bound civilised conduct. Equally well-known and condemned is the duplicity of the Pakistan Government, which duped these Baluch revolutionists to surrender on solemn promises, sworn on Koran, of safe passage and negotiations for autonomy. Instead, they were arrested, thrown into prison and their leadership, selectively eliminated.

 

A decade later, the civilian-led government of Zulfikar Bhutto promised provincial autonomy in return of Baluchi support for a consensus constitution. Bhutto, having achieved his end, dismissed the elected Attaullah Mengal provincial government in 1973, leading to another four-year long insurgency. The geopolitics flowing from the proxy war in Afghanistan, followed by GWOT, temporarily pushed Baluchi freedom quest on the backburner.

 

It was the devious Musharaff, who provided the trigger for the present Baluchi insurgency. He deliberately torpedoed negotiations with Hyrbyair Marri in 2000, and then, the talks with Akhbar Bugti in 2001. In 2005, he shelved the recommendations of a multiparty committee on Baluchistan. Clearly, there is no reason for the Baluch nationalists to trust the Pakistan Army or governments anymore.

 

The strategic importance of Baluchistan 

Baluchistan is Pakistan’s most strategically-located province. It comprises of 44 per cent of Pakistan’s landmass, and is bigger than France. It shares borders with Afghanistan and Iran. It’s 760-km coastline translates into an 18,000 sq km exclusive economic zone. Within this vast confine, it hosts nearly the entire mineral wealth of Pakistan, and is thereby the tap to its economic well-being. About 36 to 45 per cent of Pakistan’s gas production and majority of coal is found in Baluchistan. It also has considerable amount of proven gold, cooper, silver, platinum, aluminium and uranium reserves. 

 

It is a viable country on its own, justified by geography and ethnicity. This Pakistani cash cow, however, has been kept under developed and subservient for economic exploitation by the powers that be in Pakistan. It is no secret that the largest business conglomerate in Pakistan, is its army.

 

The negative fallout of CPEC

 

The $60-billion-dollar China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), aims to connect the Baluchi Port of Gwadar to the Chinese city of Kashgar, over the Karakoram, as an energy and trade corridor. While the corridor is aligned to exploit and transport Baluchi natural resources and mineral wealth, it brings little prosperity and development to the Baluchi population. The Baluchi share of profits accrued is only 4 per cent. The human development index of the ethnic Baluchi lags behind the rest of Pakistan. There is justified resentment among the local Baluchi population towards the expatriate Punjabi and Chinese workers employed in the CPEC projects, who are seen as leeching on work opportunities, resources and wealth which is rightfully Baluchi.

 

The Pakistan Army is perceived, not only as the facilitator, but also main profiteers of this wanton exploitation. The Baluch Liberation Army (BLA) has taken it as a mission to interdict commercial movement on this corridor in Baluchistan as a protest. The CPEC has not generated the anticipated financial profits as a result.

 

Also read: A ceasefire can be mediated by a ‘third party’ only
 

The violent nature of Pak counter-insurgency operations and political apathy

 

The Pakistani Army’s response to the Baluch insurgency has always been disproportionate and punitive. It is routine for the Pak Army to use heavy artillery and aerial bombardments, to decimate Baluchi settlements in reprisals. Lt Gen Tikka Khan, during the third Baluchi uprising post 1973, earned the notorious sobriquet of “Butcher of Baluchistan”. The present counter-insurgency operations are likewise marked by brutal extra-judicial killings, disappearance of suspects, intimidation and human rights violations. No efforts are made to assuage the economic, social and political aspirations of the Baluchi’s which are the root cause for the separatist movement. The local populations have been irreconcilably alienated. The recent declaration of “Baluchistan Independence” by Baluch activists, led by Mir Yar Baloch on social media platform X, is the latest manifestation of this alienation.

 

The evolved nature of Baluchi separatism

 

The Pakistani Army’s intimidation has only stiffened the resolve of the Baluchi population. The present uprising has moved beyond tribal affiliation. It is driven by collective Balochi identity, bound by a common language, moral code and belief. Its leadership base has gravitated towards the middle class, with a growing number of woman activists spearheading the social and political protests. The earlier fragmented and splintered separatists’ groups have united and affirmed to work in unison for the freedom of Baluchistan. They have managed to mount a sustained social media campaign and public demonstrations in Baluchistan and abroad, protesting exploitation and oppression of the Baluch by Pakistani Army in particular. The BLA simultaneously, has proved its ability to cause considerable damage to the Pak Army.

 

Conclusion

 

The Baluch independence cause is garnering international attention. It is time that the leaders of the ‘rule-based global order’ sit up and take notice of the Baluchi predicament, and intervene to ameliorate the situation. If the solution is creation of an independent Baluchistan, so be it. After all, the very basis of the two-nation theory based on religion, whose victim Baluchistan is, has now been proven to be flawed. Time to right the wrong, and for India to take a justified stand in support of Baluch independence.