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Balming Bruised Balochistan
By: Imtiaz Gul The veteran Baloch sardar and former chief minister of Balochistan, Sardar Ataullah Khan Mengal, rang the alarm bells again. After his meeting with PML-N chief Mian Nawaz Sharif on December 19 in Karachi, he cautioned that the atrocities against the Baloch havepushed the situation in chronically volatile province to a ¿point of no return–. He reprimanded the Pakistani security establishment, and held 'the Punjabi army' responsible forinhuman treatment of the Balochis. 'Baloch youth don–t want--- a Pakistan in which they receive mutilated bodies of their compatriots--- they are being systematically eliminated and forced to seek refuge in the mountains,' observed the founding chief of the Balochistan National Party. It is to be noted that Sardar Ataullah Mengal is one of three sardars in the province, whom former President Parvez Musharraf, termed anti-state. The other two are late Sardar Nawab Akbar Bugti and Sardar Khair Bux Marri. Mengal also accused Interior Minister Rehman Malik of using bullying language against the Balochis; emulating the tone and rhetoric of former president Musharraf. Against the backdrop of this strident disdain expressed by a sane politician against the federation; one needs to look beyond political narrative of this ever ticking ¿time bomb– of Pakistan. The history of state vs. province relation suggests that despite the efforts by the former to address the thorny issues in the province, the situation on ground never took a turn for the better. And this unfolding fragility of the situation in Balochistan reached to its climax during 2011. Indubitably the area-wise largest but population-wise tiny Balochistan province most probably as much a microcosm of Pakistan security and political crisis as is FATA; almost 450 murders since January so far; dozens of abductions, and hundreds of attacks on key security and utility installations suggest that the province is currently going through one of the worst phase of its political,...
Securing a Frontline State: Alternative Views on Peace and Conflict in Pakistan
International Conference Securing a Frontline State: Alternative Views on Peace and Conflict in Pakistan (08-09 December 2011, Islamabad, Marriott Hotel) Prologue Pakistan has become a ¿frontline state– in the ongoing War on Terror both as a result of its history of collusion with the terrorist groups and its newfound role of going against these terrorists in corroboration with the international coalition. Consequently, the country has suffered tremendous losses of human lives and development opportunities, especially in the past decade. One part of the problem is that the definition of security for the country so far has mainly been given from a military-strategic point of view. As a result, while Pakistan was busy to secure its borders, it has started falling apart from within. And thus today, it is related with all kinds of ills, which are generally attributed to characterize a ¿failed state–. So, in order to discuss and debate the issues of peace and conflict in Pakistan, Heinrich Boll Stiftung, Pakistan,andCenter for Research and Security Studies, Islamabad, in media partnership withThe Express Tribune, Pakistan organized a two day international conference on 'Securing a Frontline State: Alternative Views on Peace and Conflict in Pakistan', atMarriott Hotel, Islamabad. This international conference aims at broadening the perspective by focusing on the interface between human and military security, the role of the government and Pakistan role in the region. How has the existing approach triggered the wave of violence that now threatens the very core of Pakistan? How is it related to the conflicts in its provinces? What are the most pressing needs that have to be addressed in order to secure Pakistan future as a peaceful state and prosperous society? How can it improve its relations with its immediate neighbors and cooperate in the region in order to secure peace and stability? And last but not the least: what shall be the nature of its relationship with the...
Balochistan Weekly Monitor (Dec. 12- 18, 2011)
Against the backdrop of relatively calm previous two weeks in Balochistan, violence and terror revisited the province during the current week.The highlight of the week was a clash between Frontier Corps (FC) and a group of armed men in the Balgater area, which left six attackers dead and two FC personnelinjured. In sum, 13 people were killed as a result of different episodes of violence across Balochistan. FC Balochistan Inspector General, Major General, Ubaidullah Khattak denied any involvement of FC in the ongoing 'kill and dump operation' in the province. He claimed that 99 percent of the people who were bullet-riddled were criminals and had been killed by their affiliates. In a seminar, titled 'Attacks on journalists and media freedom', at the Quetta Press Club, Mr. Imtiaz Alam, General Secretary of South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) stressed that the government institutions and armed forces should not impede the work of media in the volatile province. He urged the government to constitute a committee to investigate the killing of journalists in Balochistan. Because of the fear of target killing and the deteriorating law and order situation in the province, more and more teachers are quitting their jobs in Balochistan, where education sector is already suffering due to state apathy and mismanagement of resources. Week in Review a) Acts of Terrorism/Subversions and Abductions Three more bullet-riddled bodies of Balochistan National Party activists identified as Allah Baksh and his two nephews Sanaullah and Bashir Ahmed were found dumped in Khuzdar district on December 13, some 300 kilometers from the provincial capital. All of them belonged to Ferozabad area in Khuzdar and they were missing from two months.[1] On December 14, a vehicle of the paramilitary troops during its routine patrolling hit a landmine near the Mand Balo area of Balochistan, killing at least two security personnel while five others were injured. No group has taken the responsibility...
Pakistan-US Tiff redefining Civil-Military Relations in Pakistan
The year 2011 is likely to go down in history as a watershed in the Pakistan-US relations. The relations touched an all-time low with the killing of 24 Pakistani soldiers in a NATO-attack from Afghanistan on Nov 26th, triggering a series of events which suggest that continued US-NATO pressures have unintentionally invited an unusual show of unity betweeen Pakistan's civilian and military leadership. Here is a special Post penned by Imtiaz Gul, Executive Director, CRSS, on the subject: Pakistan remains in the eye of the storm. It continues to be the subject of speculation and controversies revolving around the alleged nexus between its security apparatus and some of the Al Qaeda-linked militant groups. Its rather stern response to 26/11 ´ an over two-hour intermittent NATO attack on one of its 890 border posts in the border region that left two dozen Pakistani soldiers dead ´ has further fueled the western coalition's frustrations. This response climaxed with a two-day Envoys Conference in Islamabad on Dec 13th. After the conference, the message that came out of the hurriedly called gathering, also addressed by Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, sent out a message that practically amounts to a redefinition of the decade-old counter-terror cooperation with the United States; Pakistan will not accept transgression of its territorial integrity under any circumstances and its cooperation with US/Nato/Isaf is based on respect for its sovereignty and territorial integrity, was the unanimous view of ambassadors who had been summoned from various capitals to discuss the post 26/11 situation. 'Under no circumstances, could Pakistan accept flagrant transgression of our territorial frontlines. This remains the base line and there can be no compromise on our sovereignty, dignity and national honour,' PM Gilani told the concluding session. The envoys unanimously called for a complete recast of cooperation with Washington, and also recommended scrapping agreements and...
Balochistan Weekly Monitor (Dec. 05- Dec. 11, 2011)
Balochistan, being a hub of human rights violations, unexpectedly witnessed a relative calm this week. With almost 42 oil tankers set ablaze on Chamman border, the week concluded with one person abducted while three others dead, in different episodes of violence. With NATO supply lines being cut off in the backdrop of air strikes on Salala check post, the oil tankers and containers strandedat Pak Afghan border are under attack by militants. At least 42 oil tankers and containers carrying military hardware and equipments to Afghanistan were set ablaze when unidentified armed men fired two rockets on them in Kharotabad area of Quetta on December 8. Similarly, four containers along with their drivers also went missing near Meezai Adda on December 11. While observing the International Human Rights Day in solidarity with the people of Balochistan, Tahir Hussain, chairman of the HRCP Balochistan, on December 11, urged the government to take action against the perpetrators who are responsible for deteriorating law and order in the province. Furthermore, on December 10, Chairperson of Baloch Human Rights Organisation (BHRO) Nargis Baloch whilst demanding the interference of Supreme Court against the worsening state of human rights in Balochistan, severely criticized the role of army in Balochistan and entitled the present civilian government a ¿dummy–. The Supreme Court has resumed the hearing of the Ricko Diq case on December 6 to avoid international arbitration in the backlash of Tethyan Copper Company petition for international arbitration to protect its rights. Week in Review a) Acts of Terrorism/Subversion and Abduction At least three Pakistani fishermen engaged in illegal fishing, were gunned down, and two others were injured by Iranian security forces on Wednesday, December 7, as they entered Iranian territorial waters near Pasaband area, about 40-kilometer off Jiwani coast in Pakistan. District Police Officer (DPO) Gwadar, Liaquat Baloch, confirmed the incident...
Securing a frontline state: Alternative Views on Peace and Conflict in Pakistan
Press Statementat the Conclusion of the Conference and Resolution Two-Day International Conference co-organised by Centre for Research and Security Studies, Islamabadand Heinrich Boell Stiftung, Germany Islamabad: (Friday, December 09, 2011): Pakistan can no longer afford to continue with its decades– long policy of hostile relations with its neighbours at the cost of good relations in economic, trade, and cultural milieus. Time has reached where Pakistan will have to choose to live amicably with its neighbours or continue its journey on the path to international isolation and ultimate self-destruction. Pakistan has scores of internal security issues on the hand and therefore it should shun the policy of pursuing its external security goals which are in no way real and proximate. These views were expressed by different speakers on the second day of a two day international seminar'Securing a Frontline State: Alternative Views on Peace and Conflict in Pakistan', jointly organized byHeinrich Boll Stiftung, Pakistan,andCenter for Research and Security Studies, Islamabad, in media partnership withExpress Tribune, PakistanatMarriott Hotel, Islamabad. Mr. Jeffrey Laurenti, a US based scholar on foreign affairs, underlined that Pakistan should awaken to the new reality that medieval fundamentalist regime in Kabul will not unlock economic and social potential of that state. 'For two decades Islamist generals in Pakistan supported radicals in Afghanistan and the legacy continues to haunt Pakistan even today', he noted. He emphasized that Pakistan will find it utmost difficult to carry on past policies of double dealing, especially when America is one side and radical Taliban are taking on it on the other side. 'It is not an issue for any government to deal with', he observed. Astoundingly noting the fact that there are few countries in the world where US war is more popular than Pakistan and it is despite the fact that US is the major economic and military backer of...
Balochistan Weekly Monitor (Nov. 28- Dec. 4, 2011)
The week was no different from the recent ones as the episodes of violence continued to haunt the province. The highlight of the week was the target killing of a lecturer of Balochistan University teacher, Mohammad Danish Alam, by unknown assailants in the Zarghoonabad area of Quetta on Novermber 29. Moreover, a 10-year-old boy, identified as Bahar Khan Bugti, was also killed in a landmine explosion in Hafat Wali area of Dera Bugti District on December 2. In an incident of honor killing, a man killed his sister and another man, on account of having illicit relations, in the Usta Mohammad area of Jaffarabad, said the police on Saturday, December 3. In sum, seven people were killed during this week in acts of violence. Three dead bodies of missing persons were also found in Sharag area of the Harnai District on December 1. Keeping in view the worst law and order situations in Balochistan, the vacant police posts were filled up to boost the strength of police and to improve the law and order situation but because of the ongoing spat of target and extra- judicial killings, kidnapping and dumping of mutilated bodies, twenty five senior police officers have refused to join their duties in Balochistan. When contacted, the Chief Secretary of the province, Mir Ahmad Bakhsh Lehri, declared the police refusal as unfortunate, as maintenance of law and order and security was everyone's collective responsibility. Balochistan government has decided, on December 4, to file complaint against those police officers in the Center. On political front, an American aircraft reached Pakistan on, December 4, to take back its nationals to America from the vacated Shamsi Airbase. On economic front, the TCC (Tethyan Copper Company), which owns a gigantic copper- gold project in Balochistan, has opted for international arbitration, on November 29, to ensure or protect its rights in the project after the Balochistan government rejected its mining lease application. Week in Review a) Acts of...
Anatomy of Hope and Betrayal: The State and Baloch Nationalism
I No other ethnic group has suffered as much as the ethnic Balochis and Kurds have due to ulterior colonial and post-colonial geographical divisions in South Asia and the Middle East. With respect to Balochis, the colonial power (Great Britain) in the region 'divided an otherwise contiguous terrain--- spanning from Bandar Abbas in the west to Jacobabad on the east and from the Makran coast in the south to the Toba Kakar range in the north--- among three states i.e., Iran, British India and Afghanistan '* during the 19th century. Meanwhile, the colonial designs to staple the fate of a large nationality with geographically proximate nation-states succeeded because Balochis always formed a 'loose confederacy' during the course of their existence, and 'colonial might' magnificently manipulated this fact to its advantage. Then with the advent of de-colonialization, Balochis again, though intermittently, tried to regain their centuries old status but failed miserably. Moreover, among the three contiguous states, Pakistan inherited the largest segment of the Baloch population at the time of independence. As of today, there are 6,511,000 people living in a province covering almost 44 per cent of Pakistan land mass and straddling Iran, Afghanistan and Arabian Sea. The present government in Pakistan came into power in March 2008 with the promise to share democratic dividend with all the stakeholders across the board. It set off to fix the broken places (conflict ridden areas) across the country and address the long held aspirations of oppressed ethnic minorities, especially of the Balochis. The government achieved a lot, at least in resetting the relationship of the Center with Balochistan; and promised to solving long standing issues and especially of gas royalties, which according to Balochistan government estimates runs in trillion of rupees, presented seventh National Finance Commission (NFC) award, and announced Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan Package in the Parliament on...
Balochistan Crying for Justice and Trust
Who said what? Note: The Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), Islamabad in collaboration with Actionaid, Pakistan organized a seminar titled: 'Balochistan Rights– Package-2009: Impact on Baloch Nationalism', at Islamabad Hotel, Islamabad on November 29, 2011. PML-N lawmaker and former governor of Balochistan, Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Abdul Quadir Baloch, Senator Dr Abdul Malik Baloch of National Party, Balochistan, PPP Senator Taj Haider, Dr. Aasim Sajjad Akhtar of National Institute of Pakistan, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Mr. Anwar Sajidi, chief editor, daily Intekhab, Quetta, Mr. Talha Masood, manager human resource, Organization for the Development of Youth, Quetta, and Mr. Sultan Ahmed, program coordinator, Health and Rural Development Organization (HARD), Khuzdar, were among the speakers at the occasion. Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Abdul Quadir Baloch Addressing the participants Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Abdul Quadir Baloch said 'The roots of Baloch nationalism lie in partition of British India. He underscored that the imposition of state authority over Khan of Kalat in 1948 through bullet sowed the seeds of disillusionment among Balochis towards the federation.' He noted 'It is travesty of fairness if one blames only Baloch Sardars for the backwardness of Balochistan, as at present there are 17 members in national assembly from Balochistan and only one of them is Baloch Sardar. Alluding to an interesting fact, he said that 71 out of 74 Baloch Sardars were with former President Musharraf, and despite that he failed to deliver in Balochistan, and ended up creating more mess. 'lt is sardari mindset and not Sardars, that is impeding the progress of common people in Balochistan and this trend is wrecking havoc throughout the country', he stressed. He proposed that someone from academia, civil society or media should come forward and conduct an investigative study to ascertain the causes and factors, 'which kept Balochis out of national arena and forced them to take up...
Balochistan Rights’ Package-2009: Impact on Baloch Nationalism
Let the Baloch People Decide their Destiny ISLAMABAD: Tuesday (November 29, 2011) : Two years after the prime minister had announced the Balochistan Rights' Package, most of the Baloch people continue to dismiss it as a "joke and an insufficient" initiative. What precedes such packages is restoration of trust and consensus on some of the fundamental issues that constitute the core of conflict in a particular region of the country. These views came through in most of the speeches at a seminar held to review the impact of the Balochistan Rights– Package. Politicians and civil society members spoke in unison while underlining that the Rights' Package had miserably failed in changing the status quo in the province where the security establishment continued to call the shots , with little role in decision-making for the political leadership. PML-N lawmaker, and former governor of Balochistan, Lt. Gen. (retd.) Abdul Quadir, Senator Dr Abdul Malik Baloch of National Party, former PPP senator Taj Haider and Dr.Assem Sajjad were among prominent speakers at the organized by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), Islamabad and Actionaid-Pakistan, as part of their campaign to raise awareness among masses about the status of implementation of Balochistan Rights– Package. The seminar also coincided with the second anniversary of the announcement of Balochistan Rights– Package, which is also called Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan Package. Addressing the participants, Qadeir Baloch observed that the roots of Baloch nationalism lie in partition of British India. He underscored that the imposition of state authority over Khan of Kalat in 1948 through bullet sowed the seeds of disillusionment among Balochs towards the federation. He noted that it is travesty of fairness if one blames Baloch sardars for the backwardness of Balochistan. Alluding to an interesting fact, he said that 71 out of 74 Baloch sardars were with former President Musharraf, and despite that he failed...
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I am also a member of National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting. Recently, we held a meeting with the Director General of Radio Pakistan and we told them to initiate such local programs (like Constituency Hour) in regional languages to educate and inform people. Even Indian Radio can be heard in FATA which is being used for propaganda purposes and must be closed. Therefore, we should launch some standard and quality programs like CRSS that will change the taste of the listeners.