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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...

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...

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...

Balochistan Weekly Monitor (Nov. 21-27, 2011)

It was the security forces in Balochistan, who bore the atrocious brunt of ongoing violence during the current week. The Baloch Liberation Army reportedly ambushed a Frontier Corps– (FC) convoy near coalfield in Musa Khel on November 21 and killed at least 14 FC personnel including an army Major. Relatives of missing persons rebuffed recent media reports, which stated that some of the families of missing persons received compensations from the Federal Government. Instead, they demanded immediate and speedy justice in missing persons– cases. They also appealed to the international humanitarian organizations, the United Nations (UN) and Supreme Court of Pakistan to intervene to sort out this issue as soon as possible. Deliberating upon the plight of Baloch people after two years of the announcement of Balochistan Rights– Package (Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan Package), the president of Nationalist Party (NP), Senator Dr Abdul Malik observed that the most pressing issues, which the rights– package was meant to address, are still unaddressed. The issues include the recovery of missing persons, return of self-exiled Baloch leaders to the country and investigation of the extra-judicial killings of Baloch leaders. Former provincial minister Mrs. Fazila Aliani asserted that due to ongoing 'insurgency, poverty, lack of funds, education policy, and schools' about 90 per cent of the girls in rural Balochistan are still out of schools. Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), in its statement, denied recent media reports about military operations in Chamalang, Kohlu or any other part of Balochistan. It underlined that such reports are part of ongoing propaganda campaign orchestrated by the nationalist elements in the province. Week in Review a) Acts of Terrorism/Subversions At least 14 soldiers, including a major of the Frontier Corps, were killed when militants armed with sophisticated weapons attacked their convoy near a coalfield in Musa Khel, on November 21. A unit of the...

Balochistan Weekly Monitor (Nov. 14- 20, 2011)

Balochistan remained in the grip of violence again during the current week: horrific images of mutilated bodies, landmine blasts and a road accident marked the week in the province. Five people perished when a reckless driver rammed the tractor into a passenger van bound for Zhob near Muslim Bagh in Qila Abdullah district on Tuesday night, November 15. In sum, nine people lost their lives in the volatile province during the week. In its report, Crisis Management Cell (CMC) of the federal interior ministry has conceded that despite government measures, the level of violence in Balochistan is soaring intermittently. The report underlines that during last nine months in 161 incidents of violence at least 270 people have died in different circumstances related to insurgent, sectarian and inter-communal violence. At a time when Balochistan government has declared Gwadar a winter capital; the government now finds it difficult to accommodate 65 lawmakers and assembly staff at the under-developed coastal resort. And it is facing serious logistics problems for holding assembly winter session which is scheduled for mid December and will continue for 15 days. After leveling charges of contract breach against the Tethyan Copper Company (TCC), the Balochistan Mining Committee (BMC) has refused to extend the mining contract of the firm. Meanwhile, TCC has blamed the Balochistan government for violating mining rules. Week in Review a) Acts of Terrorism/Subversions At least five people died and eight injured, including two children, when a tractor crashed into a passenger van bound for Zhob near Muslim Bagh in Qila Abdullah district on Tuesday night, November 15.[1] Armed men on Tuesday, November 15 torched a container, carrying military hardware for NATO forces stationed in Afghanistan, near Dasht area of Mastung district, about 45 kilometers south of Quetta. According to the Balochistan Levies, the NATO container was on its way from Karachi to Kandahar, Afghanistan, when...