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Balochistan fighting kills many
By M Ilyas Khan
BBC News, Karachi
At least six Pakistani troops and many separatist rebels have been killed in clashes in south-western Balochistan province, the authorities say.
Troops say they came under attack in the Dera Bugti area late on Saturday. The rebels say 25 innocent people died.
Armed nationalist rebels have targeted natural gas installations in the Dera Bugti area for several years.
They want greater autonomy and local control over Balochistan's resources such as oil and gas.
Camps 'destroyed'
The latest clashes broke out after a security patrol came under rocket attack from the rebels in the Uch area on Saturday, Frontier Corps official Lt Col
Shahid Mahmood Khan said in a statement.
He said troops returned fire, and chased the rebels into the mountains where they found and destroyed two rebel camps.
He said a large cache of arms and ammunition had been recovered.
Lt Col Khan said six troops and a "large" number of rebels had died in the exchanges of fire on Sunday.
Meanwhile, reports from the area say at least 19 people, including six security personnel, have been injured in bomb attacks in three different areas in
the region.
The Frontier Corps has not confirmed the reports.
A spokesman for the Balochistan Republican Army (BRA), Sarbaz Baloch, confirmed that 25 people had been killed in the security operation on Sunday.
But he denied they were rebels. He said they were innocent tribesmen.
The BRA is said to be led by Brahmdagh Bugti, a grandson of nationalist leader Nawab Akbar Bugti who was killed by the army in 2006.
Rebel 'hub'
Security forces have been fighting to clear rebels from Dera Bugti and Kohlu districts in eastern Balochistan.
The two neighbouring districts are believed to have been a hub of rebel activity since 2000, when the former military government of President Musharraf
made known its intention to issue oil exploration contracts for the area.
To contain the backlash from the killing of Akbar Bugti in 2006, the government arrested a large number of political leaders and activists and charged
them with serious offences, including treason.
The new Pakistani government, which took power in March, took a number of steps to defuse tension in the province.
Most arrested nationalist leaders were released, and nearly 7,000 security troops were pulled out of some important provincial cities to bring what
officials called "a state of siege" in Balochistan to an end.
But troops have not been withdrawn or reduced in the Dera Bugti region, which is home to Pakistan's major gas fields and gas distribution grids.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/7517528.stm
38 killed as Pakistani forces clamp down on rebels in Balochistan
Islamabad - Clashes between paramilitary troops and militants left at least 38 people dead and dozens injured in Pakistan's insurgency-hit south-
western province of Balochistan, media reports said Monday. Fighting broke out in the Uch area of the Dera Bugti district in Balochistan Saturday when
security forces launched a search operation to arrest rebels, who had attacked a gas field and killed an engineer of the state-managed exploration
company.
The death toll rose to 38 after two days of fighting. Thirty people, including six Frontier Corps (FC) paramilitary soldiers, were killed on Sunday, the
English-language Dawn newspaper said.
There were conflicting reports about the death toll as some newspapers put it at 43, with nine casualties among the FC men.
"The operation has been continuing for two days against militants involved in attacks on gas installations in the Uch area," Dawn quoted an official
source at saying.
The security forces also claimed to have destroyed two militant camps from where attacks were mounted on gas fields in the area. According to Dawn,
insurgents put up severe resistance to the troops. Three rebel commanders were also killed in the fighting.
A separatist group, the Baloch Republican Army, accepted responsibility for the attacks on troops on Saturday, saying heavy losses were inflicted on the
government forces.
Sarbaz Baloch, a spokesman for the group, claimed the paramilitary soldiers had killed and wounded innocent tribesmen, Dawn said.
Balochistan, which is Pakistan's largest but most impoverished province, has a long history of insurgency in which gas pipelines, infrastructure links
and security forces have been targeted regularly by rebels seeking greater provincial autonomy and higher share of profit on natural recourses being
exploited in the area.
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/220239,38-killed-as-pakistani-forces-clamp-down-on-rebels-in.html
Forces and militants clash in Pak kills 43
Islamabad, July 21: Forty-three people, including nine paramilitary personnel, have been killed and many more injured in fierce clashes between the
security forces and militants in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province.
An engineer of the Pakistan Petroleum Limited was also among the dead. Many persons were injured, some of them seriously, in two days of fighting
between the security forces and militants in Uch area of Dera Bugti district, sources in the paramilitary Frontier Corps told state-run APP news agency.
Eight militants were killed on Saturday while the rest were killed on Sunday. Heavy weapons, including rockets and mortars, were used in the clashes.
The security forces also arrested nine injured militants and recovered a huge cache of arms from their possession. The injured militants were shifted to
the provincial capital of Quetta for treatment and interrogation.
Frontier Corps personnel also arrested over two dozen other armed men and seized weapons and ammunition from their possession.
The clashes erupted after the militants targeted a gas installation in Uch area on Saturday night. Intermittent exchanges of fire between security forces
and militants continued on Sunday.
A spokesman of the Baloch Republican Army claimed that its members had killed ‘many’ security forces personnel but this could not be independently
confirmed. The spokesman also accused the security forces of killing innocent tribesmen.
The security forces said they had destroyed two camps from which the militants were launching attacks on gas installations and security personnel, the
Dawn newspaper reported. Three militant commanders were among the dead, official sources said.
http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Forces-and-militants-clash-in-Pak-kills-43/338392/
38 killed as Pakistani forces clamp down on rebels
Clashes between paramilitary troops and militants left at least 38 people dead and dozens injured in Pakistan's south-western province of Balochistan,
media reports said on Monday.
Fighting broke out in the Uch area of the Dera Bugti district on Saturday when security forces launched a search operation to arrest rebels, who had
attacked a gas field and killed an engineer of the state-managed exploration company.
The toll rose to 38 after two days of fighting. Thirty people, including six Frontier Corps (FC) paramilitary soldiers, were killed on Sunday, the Dawn
newspaper said.
There were conflicting reports about the toll as some newspapers put it at 43, with nine casualties for the FC.
"The operation has been continuing for two days against militants involved in attacks on gas installations in the Uch area," Dawn quoted an official
source at saying.
The security forces also claimed to have destroyed two militant camps from where attacks were mounted on gas fields in the area.
According to Dawn, insurgents put up severe resistance to the troops. Three rebel commanders were also killed in the fighting.
A separatist group, the Baloch Republican Army, owned responsibility for the attacks on troops on Saturday, saying heavy losses were inflicted on the
government forces.
Sarbaz Baloch, a spokesman for the group, claimed the paramilitary soldiers had killed and wounded innocent tribesmen, Dawn said.
Balochistan, which is Pakistan's largest but most impoverished province, has a long history of insurgency seeking greater provincial autonomy and
higher share of profit on natural recourses being exploited in the area.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/
43 killed in clashes between forces and militants in Pak
ISLAMABAD, JULY 21 (PTI)
Forty-three people, including nine paramilitary personnel, have been killed and many more injured in fierce clashes between the security forces and
militants in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province.
An engineer of the Pakistan Petroleum Limited was also among the dead. Many persons were injured, some of them seriously, in two days of fighting
between the security forces and militants in Uch area of Dera Bugti district, sources in the paramilitary Frontier Corps told state-run APP news agency.
Eight militants were killed on Saturday while the rest were killed yesterday. Heavy weapons, including rockets and mortars, were used in the clashes.
The security forces also arrested nine injured militants and recovered a huge cache of arms from their possession. The injured militants were shifted to
the provincial capital of Quetta for treatment and interrogation.
Frontier Corps personnel also arrested over two dozen other armed men and seized weapons and ammunition from their possession.
The clashes erupted after the militants targeted a gas installation in Uch area on Saturday night. Intermittent exchanges of fire between security forces
and militants continued yesterday.
A spokesman of the Baloch Republican Army claimed that its members had killed "many" security forces personnel but this could not be independently
confirmed. The spokesman also accused the security forces of killing innocent tribesmen.
The security forces said they had destroyed two camps from which the militants were launching attacks on gas installations and security personnel, the
Dawn newspaper reported. Three militant commanders were among the dead, official sources said.
http://www.outlookindia.com/pti_news.asp?id=590663
38 killed as Pakistani forces clamp down on rebels
Islamabad, July 21 : Clashes between paramilitary troops and militants left at least 38 people dead and dozens injured in Pakistan's south-western
province of Balochistan, media reports said Monday.
Fighting broke out in the Uch area of the Dera Bugti district Saturday when security forces launched a search operation to arrest rebels, who had
attacked a gas field and killed an engineer of the state-managed exploration company.
The toll rose to 38 after two days of fighting. Thirty people, including six Frontier Corps (FC) paramilitary soldiers, were killed Sunday, the Dawn
newspaper said. There were conflicting reports about the toll as some newspapers put it at 43, with nine casualties for the FC.
"The operation has been continuing for two days against militants involved in attacks on gas installations in the Uch area," Dawn quoted an official
source at saying. The security forces also claimed to have destroyed two militant camps from where attacks were mounted on gas fields in the area.
According to Dawn, insurgents put up severe resistance to the troops. Three rebel commanders were also killed in the fighting. A separatist group, the
Baloch Republican Army, owned responsibility for the attacks on troops Saturday, saying heavy losses were inflicted on the government forces.
Sarbaz Baloch, a spokesman for the group, claimed the paramilitary soldiers had killed and wounded innocent tribesmen, Dawn said.
Balochistan, which is Pakistan's largest but most impoverished province, has a long history of insurgency seeking greater provincial autonomy and
higher share of profit on natural recourses being exploited in the area.--- IANS
http://www.newkerala.com/one.php?action=fullnews&id=88595
Baloch `incredibly disappointed' over PM's address snub
Islamabad, July 21 : Political parties in Balochistan have said that they were "incredibly disappointed" with Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani first
address to the nation on Saturday night.
According to the Daily Times, most of them felt that Gilani had ignored mentioning the problems affecting Pakistan's largest province, clearly giving the
impression that the military establishment had pressured both the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and Gilani not to touch the "sensitive" issue of
Balochistan.
"The establishment has apparently decided to eliminate Balochistan as a federating unit of Pakistan and is trying to merge it with Punjab," charged
Baloch leader Jalib, adding that the "Punjabi establishment" had already begun Balochistan's cultural invasion.
He said the establishment had made up its mind "to use brute force against the Baloch" until they were forced to give up their struggle for the right of
ownership of their own resources. "This is no democracy, but yet another dark age of dictatorship for the Baloch people," he said.
Mir Hasil Khan Bezinjo, the secretary general of the National Party (NP), accused the PPP government of not being serious about addressing the Baloch
conflict. He said that had the PPP been sincere towards the settlement of the Baloch crisis, it would have convened the proposed all-parties conference
(APC) without delay.
Usman Kakar, the provincial president of the Pashtoonkhawa Milli Awami Party, told the Daily Times that the prime minister's speech included no new
announcements for the nation in general and the people of Balochistan in particular.
--- ANI
http://www.newkerala.com/one.php?action=fullnews&id=88696
NAB recovered Rs413m in Balochistan
By Our Staff Correspondent
QUETTA, July 17: National Accountability Bureau’s director-general for Balochistan Brig (retd) Mussadiq Abbasi has said that an amount of Rs413
million has been recovered from corrupt elements in the province over the past eight years. The countrywide recovery, he added, totalled Rs225 billion.
Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, he said the health department topped in corruption in the province and the food department came
second. He said that a total of 1,416 corruption references had been filed in accountability courts. Of them 753 have been decided.In Balochistan, 182
cases were filed and 127 have been decided.
He said Pakistan’s position on the corruption index had gone down to 42 from number two because of the good performance of the National
Accountability Bureau. He said the NAB should not be blamed for the release of some people because they were exonerated by high courts and the
apex court. He said that armed forces personnel were out of NAB’s jurisdiction and as in other countries they were not covered by corruption laws.
He said the NAB had filed corruption references against 17 retired military officers.
He said check and balance provisions of the local government law had not been enforced strictly, which led to corruption in local government
institutions.
He said that recovery of loans from defaulters had also improved.
http://www.dawn.com/2008/07/18/top14.htm
Insurgent clashes kill at least 41 in Pakistan
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- Gun battles between paramilitary troops and militants in Pakistan's troubled southwest killed at least 41 people Sunday,
including nine soldiers, the state-run news agency reported.
Pakistan says militants in Balochistan -- near the Afghan border -- do not have links to Islamic hardliners.
The fighting in the province of Balochistan is not connected to an ongoing military offensive in the country's northwest, which also has claimed dozens of
lives. Balochistan is rich in natural gas, and insurgents there have been fighting Pakistani military forces for self-rule. For years, they have complained
that the government has paid little attention to them and their economic needs.
After militants in the province attacked a convoy of soldiers Saturday, security forces launched an offensive in the district of Dera Bugti, local media said.
Dera Bugti is home to four major gas fields and was once the operational base for rebel leader Nawab Akbar Bugti, who was killed in a military raid in
2006.
By Sunday, the clashes claimed 41 lives, the Associated Press of Pakistan reported.
Nine were soldiers with the Frontier Corps, which uses recruits from Pakistan's tribal areas and is overseen by Pakistani army officers. One was an
engineer with Pakistan Petroleum Limited. The rest were militants, APP said. Over the years, militant attacks in the province have killed hundreds. The
fighting had quieted after Bugti's death.
Pakistan has said the militants in Balochistan -- near the Afghan border -- do not have links to the Islamic hardliners who have launched assaults in
other parts of the country.
Recently, the province has seen an influx of Afghan refugees. And Afghanistan's government believes key Taliban leaders may be hiding among them.
Soon after the ruling Pakistan People's Party swept into power in February elections, it called for an end to military operations in the province.
It said it would work toward giving "maximum provincial autonomy" to the area. "The PPP on behalf of the people of Pakistan apologizes to the people of
the province of Balochistan for the atrocities and injustices committed against them and pledges to embark on a new highway of healing and mutual
respect," the party said in a press release.
Just as in Balochistan, Pakistan's civilian government is negotiating with tribal leaders in the lawless border region in the northwest. At the same time,
the military is in the midst of an offensive in the North West Frontier Province -- the biggest push against extremists in the tribal region since the
government took power.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/07/21/pakistan.militants/index.html?section=cnn_latest
Students refuse to end hunger strike
By Our Correspondent
QUETTA, July 18: Three students who have been on a hunger strike to press their demand for a quota-based system for admission to the Balochistan
University of Information and Technology refused to end their protests on Friday despite an announcement made by Governor Nawab Zulfiqar Magsi
that a committee had been formed and its recommendations would be followed for a new policy.
Mr Magsi said he would take a decision only after receiving the committee’s report. The students insisted that the governor should immediately issue a
notification introducing a new policy.
When the governor left, activists of the Baloch Students Action Committee held a demonstration and raised slogans against the governor and the chief
minister
They said they would continue their hunger strike till the acceptance of their demand
http://www.dawn.com/2008/07/19/top17.htm
Militant toll rises to 33, nine FC personnel killed: malik siraj akbar.
QUETTA: The militant toll in battles between security forces and militants in the Och area of Dera Bugti rose to 33 on Sunday, while at least 9 security
personnel and a Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) engineer had also been killed since the clashes started, Aaj TV reported on Sunday. The FC also
arrested nine injured militants, recovering a huge cache of arms from their possessions and was using helicopters and armoured carriers in the
search for militants. Meanwhile, a powerful bomb detonated outside the Frontier Corps fort and damaged its wall and two power pylons were blown up
when powerful bombs detonated in the in the Kohlu district, sources said. No loss of life was reported as a result of the blasts, the channel said.malik
siraj akbar.
By M Ilyas Khan
BBC News, Karachi
At least six Pakistani troops and many separatist rebels have been killed in clashes in south-western Balochistan province, the authorities say.
Troops say they came under attack in the Dera Bugti area late on Saturday. The rebels say 25 innocent people died.
Armed nationalist rebels have targeted natural gas installations in the Dera Bugti area for several years.
They want greater autonomy and local control over Balochistan's resources such as oil and gas.
Camps 'destroyed'
The latest clashes broke out after a security patrol came under rocket attack from the rebels in the Uch area on Saturday, Frontier Corps official Lt Col
Shahid Mahmood Khan said in a statement.
He said troops returned fire, and chased the rebels into the mountains where they found and destroyed two rebel camps.
He said a large cache of arms and ammunition had been recovered.
Lt Col Khan said six troops and a "large" number of rebels had died in the exchanges of fire on Sunday.
Meanwhile, reports from the area say at least 19 people, including six security personnel, have been injured in bomb attacks in three different areas in
the region.
The Frontier Corps has not confirmed the reports.
A spokesman for the Balochistan Republican Army (BRA), Sarbaz Baloch, confirmed that 25 people had been killed in the security operation on Sunday.
But he denied they were rebels. He said they were innocent tribesmen.
The BRA is said to be led by Brahmdagh Bugti, a grandson of nationalist leader Nawab Akbar Bugti who was killed by the army in 2006.
Rebel 'hub'
Security forces have been fighting to clear rebels from Dera Bugti and Kohlu districts in eastern Balochistan.
The two neighbouring districts are believed to have been a hub of rebel activity since 2000, when the former military government of President Musharraf
made known its intention to issue oil exploration contracts for the area.
To contain the backlash from the killing of Akbar Bugti in 2006, the government arrested a large number of political leaders and activists and charged
them with serious offences, including treason.
The new Pakistani government, which took power in March, took a number of steps to defuse tension in the province.
Most arrested nationalist leaders were released, and nearly 7,000 security troops were pulled out of some important provincial cities to bring what
officials called "a state of siege" in Balochistan to an end.
But troops have not been withdrawn or reduced in the Dera Bugti region, which is home to Pakistan's major gas fields and gas distribution grids.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/7517528.stm
38 killed as Pakistani forces clamp down on rebels in Balochistan
Islamabad - Clashes between paramilitary troops and militants left at least 38 people dead and dozens injured in Pakistan's insurgency-hit south-
western province of Balochistan, media reports said Monday. Fighting broke out in the Uch area of the Dera Bugti district in Balochistan Saturday when
security forces launched a search operation to arrest rebels, who had attacked a gas field and killed an engineer of the state-managed exploration
company.
The death toll rose to 38 after two days of fighting. Thirty people, including six Frontier Corps (FC) paramilitary soldiers, were killed on Sunday, the
English-language Dawn newspaper said.
There were conflicting reports about the death toll as some newspapers put it at 43, with nine casualties among the FC men.
"The operation has been continuing for two days against militants involved in attacks on gas installations in the Uch area," Dawn quoted an official
source at saying.
The security forces also claimed to have destroyed two militant camps from where attacks were mounted on gas fields in the area. According to Dawn,
insurgents put up severe resistance to the troops. Three rebel commanders were also killed in the fighting.
A separatist group, the Baloch Republican Army, accepted responsibility for the attacks on troops on Saturday, saying heavy losses were inflicted on the
government forces.
Sarbaz Baloch, a spokesman for the group, claimed the paramilitary soldiers had killed and wounded innocent tribesmen, Dawn said.
Balochistan, which is Pakistan's largest but most impoverished province, has a long history of insurgency in which gas pipelines, infrastructure links
and security forces have been targeted regularly by rebels seeking greater provincial autonomy and higher share of profit on natural recourses being
exploited in the area.
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/220239,38-killed-as-pakistani-forces-clamp-down-on-rebels-in.html
Forces and militants clash in Pak kills 43
Islamabad, July 21: Forty-three people, including nine paramilitary personnel, have been killed and many more injured in fierce clashes between the
security forces and militants in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province.
An engineer of the Pakistan Petroleum Limited was also among the dead. Many persons were injured, some of them seriously, in two days of fighting
between the security forces and militants in Uch area of Dera Bugti district, sources in the paramilitary Frontier Corps told state-run APP news agency.
Eight militants were killed on Saturday while the rest were killed on Sunday. Heavy weapons, including rockets and mortars, were used in the clashes.
The security forces also arrested nine injured militants and recovered a huge cache of arms from their possession. The injured militants were shifted to
the provincial capital of Quetta for treatment and interrogation.
Frontier Corps personnel also arrested over two dozen other armed men and seized weapons and ammunition from their possession.
The clashes erupted after the militants targeted a gas installation in Uch area on Saturday night. Intermittent exchanges of fire between security forces
and militants continued on Sunday.
A spokesman of the Baloch Republican Army claimed that its members had killed ‘many’ security forces personnel but this could not be independently
confirmed. The spokesman also accused the security forces of killing innocent tribesmen.
The security forces said they had destroyed two camps from which the militants were launching attacks on gas installations and security personnel, the
Dawn newspaper reported. Three militant commanders were among the dead, official sources said.
http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Forces-and-militants-clash-in-Pak-kills-43/338392/
38 killed as Pakistani forces clamp down on rebels
Clashes between paramilitary troops and militants left at least 38 people dead and dozens injured in Pakistan's south-western province of Balochistan,
media reports said on Monday.
Fighting broke out in the Uch area of the Dera Bugti district on Saturday when security forces launched a search operation to arrest rebels, who had
attacked a gas field and killed an engineer of the state-managed exploration company.
The toll rose to 38 after two days of fighting. Thirty people, including six Frontier Corps (FC) paramilitary soldiers, were killed on Sunday, the Dawn
newspaper said.
There were conflicting reports about the toll as some newspapers put it at 43, with nine casualties for the FC.
"The operation has been continuing for two days against militants involved in attacks on gas installations in the Uch area," Dawn quoted an official
source at saying.
The security forces also claimed to have destroyed two militant camps from where attacks were mounted on gas fields in the area.
According to Dawn, insurgents put up severe resistance to the troops. Three rebel commanders were also killed in the fighting.
A separatist group, the Baloch Republican Army, owned responsibility for the attacks on troops on Saturday, saying heavy losses were inflicted on the
government forces.
Sarbaz Baloch, a spokesman for the group, claimed the paramilitary soldiers had killed and wounded innocent tribesmen, Dawn said.
Balochistan, which is Pakistan's largest but most impoverished province, has a long history of insurgency seeking greater provincial autonomy and
higher share of profit on natural recourses being exploited in the area.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/
43 killed in clashes between forces and militants in Pak
ISLAMABAD, JULY 21 (PTI)
Forty-three people, including nine paramilitary personnel, have been killed and many more injured in fierce clashes between the security forces and
militants in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province.
An engineer of the Pakistan Petroleum Limited was also among the dead. Many persons were injured, some of them seriously, in two days of fighting
between the security forces and militants in Uch area of Dera Bugti district, sources in the paramilitary Frontier Corps told state-run APP news agency.
Eight militants were killed on Saturday while the rest were killed yesterday. Heavy weapons, including rockets and mortars, were used in the clashes.
The security forces also arrested nine injured militants and recovered a huge cache of arms from their possession. The injured militants were shifted to
the provincial capital of Quetta for treatment and interrogation.
Frontier Corps personnel also arrested over two dozen other armed men and seized weapons and ammunition from their possession.
The clashes erupted after the militants targeted a gas installation in Uch area on Saturday night. Intermittent exchanges of fire between security forces
and militants continued yesterday.
A spokesman of the Baloch Republican Army claimed that its members had killed "many" security forces personnel but this could not be independently
confirmed. The spokesman also accused the security forces of killing innocent tribesmen.
The security forces said they had destroyed two camps from which the militants were launching attacks on gas installations and security personnel, the
Dawn newspaper reported. Three militant commanders were among the dead, official sources said.
http://www.outlookindia.com/pti_news.asp?id=590663
38 killed as Pakistani forces clamp down on rebels
Islamabad, July 21 : Clashes between paramilitary troops and militants left at least 38 people dead and dozens injured in Pakistan's south-western
province of Balochistan, media reports said Monday.
Fighting broke out in the Uch area of the Dera Bugti district Saturday when security forces launched a search operation to arrest rebels, who had
attacked a gas field and killed an engineer of the state-managed exploration company.
The toll rose to 38 after two days of fighting. Thirty people, including six Frontier Corps (FC) paramilitary soldiers, were killed Sunday, the Dawn
newspaper said. There were conflicting reports about the toll as some newspapers put it at 43, with nine casualties for the FC.
"The operation has been continuing for two days against militants involved in attacks on gas installations in the Uch area," Dawn quoted an official
source at saying. The security forces also claimed to have destroyed two militant camps from where attacks were mounted on gas fields in the area.
According to Dawn, insurgents put up severe resistance to the troops. Three rebel commanders were also killed in the fighting. A separatist group, the
Baloch Republican Army, owned responsibility for the attacks on troops Saturday, saying heavy losses were inflicted on the government forces.
Sarbaz Baloch, a spokesman for the group, claimed the paramilitary soldiers had killed and wounded innocent tribesmen, Dawn said.
Balochistan, which is Pakistan's largest but most impoverished province, has a long history of insurgency seeking greater provincial autonomy and
higher share of profit on natural recourses being exploited in the area.--- IANS
http://www.newkerala.com/one.php?action=fullnews&id=88595
Baloch `incredibly disappointed' over PM's address snub
Islamabad, July 21 : Political parties in Balochistan have said that they were "incredibly disappointed" with Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani first
address to the nation on Saturday night.
According to the Daily Times, most of them felt that Gilani had ignored mentioning the problems affecting Pakistan's largest province, clearly giving the
impression that the military establishment had pressured both the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and Gilani not to touch the "sensitive" issue of
Balochistan.
"The establishment has apparently decided to eliminate Balochistan as a federating unit of Pakistan and is trying to merge it with Punjab," charged
Baloch leader Jalib, adding that the "Punjabi establishment" had already begun Balochistan's cultural invasion.
He said the establishment had made up its mind "to use brute force against the Baloch" until they were forced to give up their struggle for the right of
ownership of their own resources. "This is no democracy, but yet another dark age of dictatorship for the Baloch people," he said.
Mir Hasil Khan Bezinjo, the secretary general of the National Party (NP), accused the PPP government of not being serious about addressing the Baloch
conflict. He said that had the PPP been sincere towards the settlement of the Baloch crisis, it would have convened the proposed all-parties conference
(APC) without delay.
Usman Kakar, the provincial president of the Pashtoonkhawa Milli Awami Party, told the Daily Times that the prime minister's speech included no new
announcements for the nation in general and the people of Balochistan in particular.
--- ANI
http://www.newkerala.com/one.php?action=fullnews&id=88696
NAB recovered Rs413m in Balochistan
By Our Staff Correspondent
QUETTA, July 17: National Accountability Bureau’s director-general for Balochistan Brig (retd) Mussadiq Abbasi has said that an amount of Rs413
million has been recovered from corrupt elements in the province over the past eight years. The countrywide recovery, he added, totalled Rs225 billion.
Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, he said the health department topped in corruption in the province and the food department came
second. He said that a total of 1,416 corruption references had been filed in accountability courts. Of them 753 have been decided.In Balochistan, 182
cases were filed and 127 have been decided.
He said Pakistan’s position on the corruption index had gone down to 42 from number two because of the good performance of the National
Accountability Bureau. He said the NAB should not be blamed for the release of some people because they were exonerated by high courts and the
apex court. He said that armed forces personnel were out of NAB’s jurisdiction and as in other countries they were not covered by corruption laws.
He said the NAB had filed corruption references against 17 retired military officers.
He said check and balance provisions of the local government law had not been enforced strictly, which led to corruption in local government
institutions.
He said that recovery of loans from defaulters had also improved.
http://www.dawn.com/2008/07/18/top14.htm
Insurgent clashes kill at least 41 in Pakistan
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- Gun battles between paramilitary troops and militants in Pakistan's troubled southwest killed at least 41 people Sunday,
including nine soldiers, the state-run news agency reported.
Pakistan says militants in Balochistan -- near the Afghan border -- do not have links to Islamic hardliners.
The fighting in the province of Balochistan is not connected to an ongoing military offensive in the country's northwest, which also has claimed dozens of
lives. Balochistan is rich in natural gas, and insurgents there have been fighting Pakistani military forces for self-rule. For years, they have complained
that the government has paid little attention to them and their economic needs.
After militants in the province attacked a convoy of soldiers Saturday, security forces launched an offensive in the district of Dera Bugti, local media said.
Dera Bugti is home to four major gas fields and was once the operational base for rebel leader Nawab Akbar Bugti, who was killed in a military raid in
2006.
By Sunday, the clashes claimed 41 lives, the Associated Press of Pakistan reported.
Nine were soldiers with the Frontier Corps, which uses recruits from Pakistan's tribal areas and is overseen by Pakistani army officers. One was an
engineer with Pakistan Petroleum Limited. The rest were militants, APP said. Over the years, militant attacks in the province have killed hundreds. The
fighting had quieted after Bugti's death.
Pakistan has said the militants in Balochistan -- near the Afghan border -- do not have links to the Islamic hardliners who have launched assaults in
other parts of the country.
Recently, the province has seen an influx of Afghan refugees. And Afghanistan's government believes key Taliban leaders may be hiding among them.
Soon after the ruling Pakistan People's Party swept into power in February elections, it called for an end to military operations in the province.
It said it would work toward giving "maximum provincial autonomy" to the area. "The PPP on behalf of the people of Pakistan apologizes to the people of
the province of Balochistan for the atrocities and injustices committed against them and pledges to embark on a new highway of healing and mutual
respect," the party said in a press release.
Just as in Balochistan, Pakistan's civilian government is negotiating with tribal leaders in the lawless border region in the northwest. At the same time,
the military is in the midst of an offensive in the North West Frontier Province -- the biggest push against extremists in the tribal region since the
government took power.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/07/21/pakistan.militants/index.html?section=cnn_latest
Students refuse to end hunger strike
By Our Correspondent
QUETTA, July 18: Three students who have been on a hunger strike to press their demand for a quota-based system for admission to the Balochistan
University of Information and Technology refused to end their protests on Friday despite an announcement made by Governor Nawab Zulfiqar Magsi
that a committee had been formed and its recommendations would be followed for a new policy.
Mr Magsi said he would take a decision only after receiving the committee’s report. The students insisted that the governor should immediately issue a
notification introducing a new policy.
When the governor left, activists of the Baloch Students Action Committee held a demonstration and raised slogans against the governor and the chief
minister
They said they would continue their hunger strike till the acceptance of their demand
http://www.dawn.com/2008/07/19/top17.htm
Militant toll rises to 33, nine FC personnel killed: malik siraj akbar.
QUETTA: The militant toll in battles between security forces and militants in the Och area of Dera Bugti rose to 33 on Sunday, while at least 9 security
personnel and a Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) engineer had also been killed since the clashes started, Aaj TV reported on Sunday. The FC also
arrested nine injured militants, recovering a huge cache of arms from their possessions and was using helicopters and armoured carriers in the
search for militants. Meanwhile, a powerful bomb detonated outside the Frontier Corps fort and damaged its wall and two power pylons were blown up
when powerful bombs detonated in the in the Kohlu district, sources said. No loss of life was reported as a result of the blasts, the channel said.malik
siraj akbar.
Pakistani Forces have launched a new
offensive against the Baluch Resistance
Fighters.
Jul 20, 2008
Press Release:
Pakistani Forces have launched a new offensive against the Baluch Resistance Fighters. The operation is labeled as a “Grand Operation”, implying
that the government wants results.
The spokesperson of the Baloch Republican Army (BRA), Saarbaz Baloch contacted different newspaper offices on Saturday via satellite phone from
an undisclosed location.
Saarbaz said that on noon, Saturday at Kach, Occupied Balochistan, the BRA destroyed a Military vehicle carrying fourteen members of the Pakistani
Army; the six killed were officers while the remaining eight were injured. The military men belonged to the FWO and were working at the Kachi Cannal.
Saarbaz Baloch said that the attack was a response to the Pakistani Forces' aggression against Baloch civilians.
This past Friday at Uch, the Pakistani Security Forces had targeted civilians mostly children, women and old men. The incident left Jani Baloch, a young
boy dead and scores injured. Saarbaz said that the BRA wanted the occupying forces to know that they can't harm the Baluch and get away with it.
Saarbaz also disclosed the details of another incident that occurred later on the same day. Units from the Pakistani Army dispatched as a part of the
crackdown were ambushed by the BRA; the fighting lasted for seven hours. The army suffered a confirmed fifty fatalities, and many injured. The BRA
also seized twenty-six pieces of artillery and torched the convoy of twelve military vehicles. There are reports of Eight Baluch fighters being martyred as
well. Fighting raged through Sunday July 20th.
According to latest reports from the Pakistani Government, nine members of the Frontier Core have been killed in the latest incidents, the Pakistani
Government also claims to have killed thirty Freedom Fighters, injured another twenty-four and dismantling a Parrari Camp. The BRA alleged the
Pakistani forces of resorting to massacring civilians out of frustration.
Brahmdagh Bugti the Commander of the Baluch Republican Army said that the BRA has inflicted heavy losses against the occupying forces. The BRA
reported that Cobra Gunship Helicopters were used to massacre the Baluch civilians. At Dera Murad Jamali a Locomotive engine was hit by Rocket
Fire, the operator of the engine is said to be critically wounded. The attack on the locomotive was followed by intense fighting. Today's fighting has
raged across several areas of Baluchistan, and in a simultaneous manner.
SOURCE: The Baluch.com
offensive against the Baluch Resistance
Fighters.
Jul 20, 2008
Press Release:
Pakistani Forces have launched a new offensive against the Baluch Resistance Fighters. The operation is labeled as a “Grand Operation”, implying
that the government wants results.
The spokesperson of the Baloch Republican Army (BRA), Saarbaz Baloch contacted different newspaper offices on Saturday via satellite phone from
an undisclosed location.
Saarbaz said that on noon, Saturday at Kach, Occupied Balochistan, the BRA destroyed a Military vehicle carrying fourteen members of the Pakistani
Army; the six killed were officers while the remaining eight were injured. The military men belonged to the FWO and were working at the Kachi Cannal.
Saarbaz Baloch said that the attack was a response to the Pakistani Forces' aggression against Baloch civilians.
This past Friday at Uch, the Pakistani Security Forces had targeted civilians mostly children, women and old men. The incident left Jani Baloch, a young
boy dead and scores injured. Saarbaz said that the BRA wanted the occupying forces to know that they can't harm the Baluch and get away with it.
Saarbaz also disclosed the details of another incident that occurred later on the same day. Units from the Pakistani Army dispatched as a part of the
crackdown were ambushed by the BRA; the fighting lasted for seven hours. The army suffered a confirmed fifty fatalities, and many injured. The BRA
also seized twenty-six pieces of artillery and torched the convoy of twelve military vehicles. There are reports of Eight Baluch fighters being martyred as
well. Fighting raged through Sunday July 20th.
According to latest reports from the Pakistani Government, nine members of the Frontier Core have been killed in the latest incidents, the Pakistani
Government also claims to have killed thirty Freedom Fighters, injured another twenty-four and dismantling a Parrari Camp. The BRA alleged the
Pakistani forces of resorting to massacring civilians out of frustration.
Brahmdagh Bugti the Commander of the Baluch Republican Army said that the BRA has inflicted heavy losses against the occupying forces. The BRA
reported that Cobra Gunship Helicopters were used to massacre the Baluch civilians. At Dera Murad Jamali a Locomotive engine was hit by Rocket
Fire, the operator of the engine is said to be critically wounded. The attack on the locomotive was followed by intense fighting. Today's fighting has
raged across several areas of Baluchistan, and in a simultaneous manner.
SOURCE: The Baluch.com
Baloch want sovereignty of
Balochistan: Brahmdagh Bugti
LONDON, July 23 (Online): Brahmdagh Bugtti, grandson of Nawab Akbar Bugtti has said that the
sovereignty of Balochistan is dear to them instead of Pakistan and they would accept any sort of help
from across the border for its defence.
Giving a telephonic interview to BBC from unknown place he said that the operation in Balochistan has
been going on from last four years not from four days and the purpose of operation is to capture the
resources of Balochistan in the name of development, which is not acceptable for Baloch nation
because this is an aggression.
Balochistan: Brahmdagh Bugti
LONDON, July 23 (Online): Brahmdagh Bugtti, grandson of Nawab Akbar Bugtti has said that the
sovereignty of Balochistan is dear to them instead of Pakistan and they would accept any sort of help
from across the border for its defence.
Giving a telephonic interview to BBC from unknown place he said that the operation in Balochistan has
been going on from last four years not from four days and the purpose of operation is to capture the
resources of Balochistan in the name of development, which is not acceptable for Baloch nation
because this is an aggression.
Answering to a question in relation with getting arms from neighboring countries, he replied that they are fighting for self-defence and have the right to
accept any foreign aid in this perspective. In relation with negotiation process he replied that it’s a drama that was created to provide an opportunity to
Army to stabilize it. He claimed the death of 40-50 security personals. Brahmdagh accused that security forces are continuing their operation for last
four days and bombarded at different areas of Dera Bugtti through helicopters, which killed 60-70 people including women and children.
Further he said that media is also not playing its role, if an incident happened in Quetta or in any other urban area all the media stand against it and
start hue and cry but when hundreds of people died in Dera Bugti then why media and civil societies are silent. He said that Baloch nation want to live
independent life, which is their right.
SOURCE: http://thepakistaninewspaper.com/news_detail.php?id=11456
Still no justice for the Baloch, says BSO
Staff Report
KARACHI: The people of Balochistan are still waiting for justice as all the promises made to the Baloch have not been fulfilled by the government,
claimed representatives of the Baloch Students Organization (BSO) while addressing a press conference at the Karachi Press Club on Tuesday.
The Baloch student activists accused the government for launching a fifth operation in their province in violation of ‘national reconciliation’. “While all
the big leaders were allowed to come back and continue their political careers from where they had left off under an NRO agreement, the Baloch were
once again ignored. The government, which said it believed in giving power to the people, and, gave concessions to nationalist leaders, has broken
its promises,” claimed the BSO activists who chose not to identify themselves.
They added that the rights of the Baloch were being denied in a state-sponsored operation by the military which clearly shows the validity of
Balochistan’s claim to democracy and autonomy. “Why has the government remained silent on the ongoing operation against the Baloch? Why is
there silence when innocent women and children are targeted and killed in the name of a so-called operation? Why did they claim before the elections
that they will strive for the rights and wellbeing of the Baloch when they had no intention of doing so?” questioned the student activists, warning the
authorities that that if their issues are not addressed, than soon they will face strong resistance and retaliation by the oppressed Baloch which will be
catastrophic for the government as it will be too late for a reconciliation.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008%5C07%5C30%5Cstory_30-7-2008_pg7_33
Anti-democratic forces active in Balochistan, says PPP leader
By Our Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, July 26: Vice-president of the People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPP) Mir Baz Mohammad Khan Khetran on Saturday said the forces
which wanted to destabilise democratic process in the country are still active in Balochistan province and trying to disrupt the reconciliation process
launched by party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari.
Talking to Dawn, Mr Khetran demanded of the authorities concerned to pull out those officials of Frontier Constabulary (FC) and security agencies
personnel who had been performing duties in the Balochistan province for the past many years and appoint new persons preferably from the same
province.
Moreover, the PPP leader suggested that the heads of the FC, paramilitary forces and other security agencies operating in Balochistan should be
taken from the police department on the pattern of the NWFP.
Presently, he said, the heads of law enforcement agencies deputed in the province were from army.
Mr Khetran said the genocide of the Baloch people was still continuing and the forces which wanted to derail the democratic process in the
country as well as in the province were still covertly carrying out their activities. Without identifying, he said, these forces were trying to sabotage
the ongoing process of the reconciliation initiated by Mr Zardari after the Feb 18 elections.
The PPP leader was of the view that the country was facing worst-ever economic and political crises.
He, however, expressed the hope that the PPP had the capability of bringing the country out of the present complex situation as it did after the 1971
tragedy and in 1988 when Pakistan was suffering due to 11-year martial law of Gen Zia.
Mr Khetran admitted that the PPP government was facing a tough challenge due to the alleged wrongdoings of the previous Shaukat Aziz regime, but
advised the people to give some time to the PPP leadership so that they could bring Pakistan out of present quagmire.
Replying to a question, the PPP office-bearer denied that there was any grouping within the party ranks. He said if any senior party member had any
grievances, he or she should bring it to the notice of the party leadership.
He said that those party workers and senior members who had struggled for 12 long years to bring the PPP back into power should show patience
and give some more time to the party leadership to resolve the contentious issues.
He asked them to assist Mr Zardari in his efforts for advancing reconciliation process in the country. He said that every military dictator in his efforts to
damage the PPP had actually caused harm to the country.
SOURCE: DAWN
Staff Report
KARACHI: The people of Balochistan are still waiting for justice as all the promises made to the Baloch have not been fulfilled by the government,
claimed representatives of the Baloch Students Organization (BSO) while addressing a press conference at the Karachi Press Club on Tuesday.
The Baloch student activists accused the government for launching a fifth operation in their province in violation of ‘national reconciliation’. “While all
the big leaders were allowed to come back and continue their political careers from where they had left off under an NRO agreement, the Baloch were
once again ignored. The government, which said it believed in giving power to the people, and, gave concessions to nationalist leaders, has broken
its promises,” claimed the BSO activists who chose not to identify themselves.
They added that the rights of the Baloch were being denied in a state-sponsored operation by the military which clearly shows the validity of
Balochistan’s claim to democracy and autonomy. “Why has the government remained silent on the ongoing operation against the Baloch? Why is
there silence when innocent women and children are targeted and killed in the name of a so-called operation? Why did they claim before the elections
that they will strive for the rights and wellbeing of the Baloch when they had no intention of doing so?” questioned the student activists, warning the
authorities that that if their issues are not addressed, than soon they will face strong resistance and retaliation by the oppressed Baloch which will be
catastrophic for the government as it will be too late for a reconciliation.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008%5C07%5C30%5Cstory_30-7-2008_pg7_33
Anti-democratic forces active in Balochistan, says PPP leader
By Our Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, July 26: Vice-president of the People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPP) Mir Baz Mohammad Khan Khetran on Saturday said the forces
which wanted to destabilise democratic process in the country are still active in Balochistan province and trying to disrupt the reconciliation process
launched by party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari.
Talking to Dawn, Mr Khetran demanded of the authorities concerned to pull out those officials of Frontier Constabulary (FC) and security agencies
personnel who had been performing duties in the Balochistan province for the past many years and appoint new persons preferably from the same
province.
Moreover, the PPP leader suggested that the heads of the FC, paramilitary forces and other security agencies operating in Balochistan should be
taken from the police department on the pattern of the NWFP.
Presently, he said, the heads of law enforcement agencies deputed in the province were from army.
Mr Khetran said the genocide of the Baloch people was still continuing and the forces which wanted to derail the democratic process in the
country as well as in the province were still covertly carrying out their activities. Without identifying, he said, these forces were trying to sabotage
the ongoing process of the reconciliation initiated by Mr Zardari after the Feb 18 elections.
The PPP leader was of the view that the country was facing worst-ever economic and political crises.
He, however, expressed the hope that the PPP had the capability of bringing the country out of the present complex situation as it did after the 1971
tragedy and in 1988 when Pakistan was suffering due to 11-year martial law of Gen Zia.
Mr Khetran admitted that the PPP government was facing a tough challenge due to the alleged wrongdoings of the previous Shaukat Aziz regime, but
advised the people to give some time to the PPP leadership so that they could bring Pakistan out of present quagmire.
Replying to a question, the PPP office-bearer denied that there was any grouping within the party ranks. He said if any senior party member had any
grievances, he or she should bring it to the notice of the party leadership.
He said that those party workers and senior members who had struggled for 12 long years to bring the PPP back into power should show patience
and give some more time to the party leadership to resolve the contentious issues.
He asked them to assist Mr Zardari in his efforts for advancing reconciliation process in the country. He said that every military dictator in his efforts to
damage the PPP had actually caused harm to the country.
SOURCE: DAWN