| Baloch Society Of North America (BSO-NA) Baloch Society Of North America (BSO-NA) is working to unite and Organize all Baloch in North America and to expose the Occupation of our land (Balochistan) and exploitations of our resources by Pakistani and Iranian Governments, and to bring their Human Rights Violations in Balochistan into the world’s Notice. |
| I Home I About BSO-NA I About Balochistan I News and Articles I Letters And Opinion I BSO-NA Membership I BSO-NA Store I Contact us |
Balochistan: Pak Govt. giving covert support to
Taliban in Quetta to suppress Balochs. Sanaullah Baloch
Jan 05, 2009
QUETTA: The Pakistan Government is providing covert support to the Taliban to capture land in eastern and western Quetta in order to undermine the
Baloch nationalist movement and promote Talibanisation in Balochistan. Balochistan National Party (BNP) Information Secretary and former senator,
Sanaullah Baloch, said the government is fully aware of these encroachments, but it was deliberately silent because the Taliban enjoy the support of
the government and its intelligence agencies who wish to pit the religious elements against the Baloch nationalists. The Daily Times quoted Baloch
as saying that the government had failed to establish its writ in Quetta, where the Taliban and their supporters were consolidating their grip.
Several parts of the provincial capital have become 'no-go areas' where the Taliban and their supporters have consolidated their position, he added.
"We are surprised why the government does not undertake a military operation against these elements who have openly challenged the writ of the
government," Baloch said.
"Military operations were carried out in Dera Bugti and Sui areas by the government on the pretext of establishing the writ of the government, but the
state machinery does not move against the Taliban and their supporters who have illegally and forcefully captured large areas of land in Balochistan,"
he said.
Baloch said the government was trying to patronise the Taliban elements in Quetta and its outskirts in order to undermine the power of the actual
democratic forces.
Taliban in Quetta to suppress Balochs. Sanaullah Baloch
Jan 05, 2009
QUETTA: The Pakistan Government is providing covert support to the Taliban to capture land in eastern and western Quetta in order to undermine the
Baloch nationalist movement and promote Talibanisation in Balochistan. Balochistan National Party (BNP) Information Secretary and former senator,
Sanaullah Baloch, said the government is fully aware of these encroachments, but it was deliberately silent because the Taliban enjoy the support of
the government and its intelligence agencies who wish to pit the religious elements against the Baloch nationalists. The Daily Times quoted Baloch
as saying that the government had failed to establish its writ in Quetta, where the Taliban and their supporters were consolidating their grip.
Several parts of the provincial capital have become 'no-go areas' where the Taliban and their supporters have consolidated their position, he added.
"We are surprised why the government does not undertake a military operation against these elements who have openly challenged the writ of the
government," Baloch said.
"Military operations were carried out in Dera Bugti and Sui areas by the government on the pretext of establishing the writ of the government, but the
state machinery does not move against the Taliban and their supporters who have illegally and forcefully captured large areas of land in Balochistan,"
he said.
Baloch said the government was trying to patronise the Taliban elements in Quetta and its outskirts in order to undermine the power of the actual
democratic forces.
The Afghan refugees, besides being a burden on the economy of Balochistan, have become the biggest cause of lawlessness and terrorism in the
country's largest province, Baloch said.
Billions of rupees were being spent on eliminating the Taliban and their supporters in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and the NWFP, he
said, asking why the government was ignoring the 'alarmingly dangerous moves' of the Taliban and giving them protection in Quetta.
The BNP leader criticised the government for initiating fresh operations in Dera Bugti and Naseerabad areas, adding that such unprovoked operations
were likely to escalate tensions in Balochistan. --- ANI
Taliban consolidating grip on Quetta: Sanaullah Baloch
January 05, 2009
* BNP leader says ‘establishment’ wants to pitch Taliban against Baloch nationalists
* Says Taliban supporters have captured land worth Rs 2 billion in Quetta * PPP has taken no steps to increase prospects of reconciliation
* Demands more Baloch control and larger share in mining projects
By Malik Siraj Akbar
QUETTA: Balochistan National Party (BNP) Information Secretary and former senator Sanaullah Baloch has disclosed that the supporters of Taliban
have captured land worth Rs 2 billion in the eastern and western parts of Quetta with the covert support of the ‘establishment’ in order to undermine
the Baloch nationalist movement and promote Talibanisation in Balochistan.
In an interview with Daily Times on Sunday, the former senator said the government had failed to establish its writ in Quetta, where the Taliban and
their supporters were consolidating their grip. Several parts of the provincial capital have become ‘no-go areas’ where the Taliban and their supporters
have consolidated their position, he said.
Baloch said the government was fully aware of these encroachments but it was deliberately silent because the Taliban enjoy the support of the
government and its intelligence agencies who wish to pit the religious elements against the Baloch nationalists.
“We are surprised why the government does not undertake a military operation against these elements who have openly challenged the writ of the
government. Military operations were carried out in Dera Bugti and Sui areas by the government on the pretext of establishing the writ of the
government, but the state machinery does not move against the Taliban and their supporters who have illegally and forcefully captured large areas of
land in Balochistan,” he said.
Sanaullah said the government was trying to patronise the Taliban elements in Quetta and its outskirts in order to undermine the power of the actual
democratic forces. The Afghan refugees, besides being a burden on the economy of Balochistan, have become the biggest cause of lawlessness and
terrorism in the country’s largest province, Baloch said.
Billions of rupees were being spent on eliminating the Taliban and their supporters in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and the NWFP, he
said, asking why the government was ignoring the ‘alarmingly dangerous moves’ of the Taliban and giving them protection in Quetta.
The BNP leader criticised the government for initiating fresh operations in Dera Bugti and Naseerabad areas, adding that such unprovoked operations
were likely to escalate tensions in Balochistan. “The government is making Balochistan a battlefield again,” he said.
The operations have made the militant groups end their ceasefire which would further deteriorate the security situation, he said. The Baloch
leadership had welcomed the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government despite the imprisonment of its leadership with the hope that the PPP would
learn lessons from the past and pay serious attention to the Baloch issue, he said, adding: “We have deep respect for the PPP and its leaders but we
are not going to compromise on the Baloch interests at the cost of our friendship with the PPP leaders. The democratic as well as armed groups in
the province are losing faith in the present government.”
Reconciliation: Asked if the BNP and other Baloch leaders welcomed the recent statement of PPP leader Babar Awan that “the Baloch would hear
good news in March”, Sanullah accused the PPP leadership of using ‘delaying tactics’. In 1977, the PPP had delayed the resolution of the Baloch
issue by hoping that the crisis in Balochistan would gradually fade away, Baloch said, adding that the PPP was showing a lack of interest in
Balochistan again by not understanding the urgency needed to permanently resolve the issue.
“In politics you need to reconcile at the right time. Timeliness is a crucial factor in politics which the PPP seems to be missing in Balochistan’s
context,” he commented. Recalling a promise made by late Benazir Bhutto, the former PPP chairperson, who had agreed in the Charter of Democracy
to establish federal tribunals to settle the cases of the provinces against the federal government, besides ensuring complete provincial autonomy to
the provinces, Baloch said the PPP did not take any initiatives that would brighten the prospects of reconciliation.
Citing the failure of the reconciliatory committees formed by the previous government, Sanaullah Baloch said the Baloch had always agreed to sit on
the negotiation table and sort out the problems, but the government had been calling them terrorists and traitors. “We have asked the PPP government
to punish the elements who carried out massive human rights violation and remove the unnecessary FC checkposts in Balochistan so that we see
some progress made by the government as a confidence-building measure. But our demands have not been met yet.”
Mines and minerals: The BNP leader demanded the local Baloch youth be given technical know-how in mining and geological sectors so that they
could handle the Saindak and Reko Dik projects.
“We want agreements on the Saindak Gold and Copper project and Reko Dik to be reviewed. The chief minister issued such statements recently but
no headway has been made yet in this regard. The Baloch share in the revenue generated at Saindak project is merely 2 percent while the federal
government takes 48 percent, and 50 percent goes to China. This is an unjust formula that needs to be revised. We consider this utter exploitation,” he
said, recommending that bidding should be conducted in the international stock exchanges for the interested mining companies that want to run
these projects. “The government of Balochistan should be given the right to choose the company that can best run these projects while keeping in
view the fact that the benefits of the projects should go to the people of Balochistan,” said the former senator. Dailytimes.com.pk
Balochistan's political demands do not contradict social, religious and democratic ideas. In fact, they include a) the governance of Balochistan by
exercising the right of self-rule in the province, the ownership of resources, political participation and control over the local economy; and b) security
arrangements, including control over the paramilitary forces and the police. These are very practical and justified issues and in tune with international
political norms.
Last year's Feb 18 polls and the PPP's takeover of power created some hope in the desperate Baloch community that the new government would heal
the province's wounds and bring an end to the misery of the Baloch population.
They were Baloch population hoping that the sun would shine again and that the clouds of conflict would dissipate, the strains of happiness would fill
the air and the days of requiem would end forever.But unfortunately, the PPP and the establishment failed to capitalise on the Baloch hope for positive
change.
There was rhetoric and no action on the part of the rulers. This increased the frustration of Baloch activists about a negotiated settlement of the
Baloch-Islamabad conflict.
The PPP leadership also underestimated the complex Baloch-Islamabad relations based on the establishment's unchanged policy that sees
Balochistan as a permanent threat and the Baloch as disloyal citizens.
True, Asif Ali Zardari tendered an apology to win the hearts and minds of the distressed people of the province and his move was cautiously
welcomed by the Baloch nationalist parties. However, the insistence was that negotiations could only be held with the ruling coalition if the
establishment's notorious policies vis-à-vis the province were overturned.
The PPP government has not been able to change Islamabad's elite perspective on the deprived Baloch, and over the past year has not been able to
fulfil promises made to the people.
These include a) completely ending the military operation and halting the construction of military and paramilitary cantonments, b) withdrawing
security forces, c) repatriating and rehabilitating displaced persons, d) cancelling civil/military land allotments, e) demilitarising the area, f) ensuring
equal wellhead prices for Balochistan's gas, and h) abandoning torture camps and establishing a 'truth and reconciliation commission' for the trial of
those involved in killing veteran Baloch leaders Nawab Akbar Bugti and Balach Marri, and other human rights violations.
During the Musharraf regime the Balochistan situation was shocking enough. Today, it is more frightening. Thousands of displaced families are living
in dreadful conditions and arbitrary arrests, disappearances, blockades and restrictions on freedom of movement have not ceased. As observed by
many Baloch politicians 'the troops are still active; their intelligence networks are still operational and hounding people struggling for their rights'.
The last eight years of conflict have not only resulted in the physical and social breakdown of Baloch society, they have also badly affected the
economic framework of the province. Poverty has increased, unemployment has surpassed all limits, provincial GDP is on a constant decline,
government spending on law and order has mounted, industrial and economic growth is bungled and investment levels are low.
In addition, aggressive action on the part of the law-enforcement agencies and intolerance towards moderate Baloch political activists have provided
an opportunity to criminal gangs, banned sectarian groups and religious fundamentalists to regroup and flourish, resulting in an increase in
kidnappings, ransom cases, sectarian killings and robberies.
The military's reliance on brute force produced a short-term victory for Islamabad in 2006, but in reality the central government has lost its moral,
political and physical authority in the region.
The situation will also have serious economic and strategic implications for Islamabad. Balochistan has been Pakistan's energy basket for years.
Policymakers have to rethink their current strategies and demonstrate their willingness to grant substantive political and economic autonomy to the
people to ensure Pakistan's energy and strategic security.
There is no doubt that a mistrust of Himalayan proportions exists between the Baloch and the establishment, and that this is one of the major causes
of conflict. The Baloch have given 60 years to Islamabad to change the fate of the
region but have, instead, been showered with bombs and bullets. Political, economic, social, educational and cultural values have been all but
destroyed in the province.
Now it is Islamabad turn to trust the Baloch vision about governance and to deliver the goods. Without granting political authority and economic
freedom this will not be achievable and prolonged conflict in the area will be to no one's good. Weapons will only add to miseries and breed hatred.
The PPP-led government should take sincere measures for a rethink of Islamabad's policy on Balochistan. This is essential to turning the situation
around for the Baloch who are currently unable to break out of the vicious cycle of frustration and despair. They have witnessed enough apologies,
enough promises, enough excuses and enough sufferings. They now want a peaceful Balochistan which is ruled by them.
Balochistan-Baloch Demands Unmet.
By Sanaullah Baloch
Feb 18, 2009
Islamabad's recent move to grant religious self-rule to the Taliban in Swat and the denial of political
autonomy to the people of Balochistan are obviously beyond comprehension.
The establishment's unwillingness to end the costly conflict in the resource-rich, strategically significant
region is a clear sign of the undemocratic approach towards resolving the Balochistan crisis.
The Government of Pakistan has signed several peace deals with religious groups in the NWFP and Fata,
but the political crisis in Balochistan has been totally ignored and no serious effort has been made to end
Baloch suffering.
The elite in Islamabad is flexible when it comes to dealing with violent religious groups but displays an
intransigent attitude towards justified Baloch demands.
By Sanaullah Baloch
Feb 18, 2009
Islamabad's recent move to grant religious self-rule to the Taliban in Swat and the denial of political
autonomy to the people of Balochistan are obviously beyond comprehension.
The establishment's unwillingness to end the costly conflict in the resource-rich, strategically significant
region is a clear sign of the undemocratic approach towards resolving the Balochistan crisis.
The Government of Pakistan has signed several peace deals with religious groups in the NWFP and Fata,
but the political crisis in Balochistan has been totally ignored and no serious effort has been made to end
Baloch suffering.
The elite in Islamabad is flexible when it comes to dealing with violent religious groups but displays an
intransigent attitude towards justified Baloch demands.