High-level talks between the
United States, Afghanistan and Pakistan are going to be started on May 3, 2011.
Earlier, the talks have been postponed due to the arrest of CIA’s Spy Raymond
Davis in a murder case of two Pakistani in January this year. However, Raymond
Davis case left two conspicuous impacts on U.S. Pakistan ties. Firstly, it has
increased the strain in Pakistan and U.S. relationship and secondly also
uncovered the CIA nefarious activities in Balochistan and FATA (Pakistan).
The tension between two supreme intelligence agencies (ISI & CIA) further
aggravated when American top political and military brass instead paying tribute
to Pakistani security forces in Global War on Terror (GWOT) started maligning
ISI for providing shelter to Haqqani Group of Taliban. In this regard Moassad
and RAW’s financed Western and American media also launched a deliberate
campaign against Pakistani security and Intelligence agencies. Pakistan has
already condemned and rejected American political and military officials’
statements regarding ISI and declared it a part of blame game against her
security and Intelligence agencies.
Above all, CIA’s activities in Balochistan have become now quite intolerable
which also put a big question mark over U.S. growing interest in this region. In
fact, Creation of “Greater Balochistan” is the top most agenda of U.S., India
and Israel collaboration. Their obvious objectives are: (1) weakening Pakistan,
Iran and Afghanistan, (2) establishing strong hold in Central Asian Region even
after culmination of war on terror, (3) denting Chinese economic interests in
African and Middle East while creating impediment in full scale operation of
Gawader Port and the last is looking after Indian and Israeli interests in the
region...
Therefore, the American establishment has started supporting pro Independent
Balochistan Movement, and anti Pakistan elements in Balochistan. In this
connection, CIA supported elements are using America, UK, India and Afghanistan
as their platforms for organizing, planning and operational bases for execution
of the plan of Independent Balochistan. Moreover, some militarily supported
political lobbies of America and Uk are facilitating anti Pakistan elements (so
called liberators) to carryout nefarious activities against Pakistan. On April
28, 2011 US Ambassador Cameron Munter, visited first time Balochistan and
attended a Pashtun tribal Jirga in Quetta. He went there on the invitation of
convener of Pakhtun Ulas Qaumi Jirga Nawab Ayaz Jogezai.
The jirga brought together 16 Pashtun tribal elders from Balochistan who
discussed issues of mutual interest, including economic development in the
province and matters pertaining to security. American interest can be very
easily judged from her ambassador statement in which he mentioned that
“Balochistan is a proud province with a rich history, wonderful people, who have
strong traditions. I feel very fortunate to experience this firsthand by being
included in this Pashtun tribal jirga,” He further added that by meeting face to
face interaction can address the difficult issues facing Balochistan , in a
spirit of open communication and collaboration,”. U.S. Ambassador meeting with
Pakhtune leaders in Balochistan should not be taken as simple interaction and
need to be monitored persistently since such type of meetings might create rift
between three segments (Pakhtune, Balochis, and Punjabi).
In the last week of April 2011 Carnegie Endowment for Intl Peace has rented its
space to the Balochistan Society, of North America (BSO - NA) to hold conference
on Balochistan. Alongside this development, United States Institute of Peace
(USIP) has also held an event “Turmoil in Balochistan. The participants of
meeting were (1) jaz Haider (a journalist from Pak),(2) Shazadi Beg (member of
Department of Justice UK),(3)Selig Harrison (a contentious journalist known for
his critical views on Pak),94) Marvin Weinbaum (Middle East Institute). The
speakers fomented venom against Pakistan very openly as directed by their
masters.
On learning about first event, our Ambassador to USA Mr Haqqani has already
written an unequivocal letter to the President of the Carnegie essentially
arguing that Carnegie’s renting of its space to the BSO – NA could potentially
damage Pak – US relations; legitimise the activities of the BSO – NA who is an
adjunct of a terrorist organisation BLA banned in Pak and urged the Carnegie
Endowment to revoke its decision of renting space to the BSO – NA. Response has
not yet been rendered by Carnegie Endowment and the meeting have been conducted
in the manners as desired by CIA. The government of Pakistan is extremely
concerned over USIP holding of an event “Turmoil in Balochistan” on an integral
part of Pak, Balochistan.
Since USIP is a congressionally funded body, one would presume that the event is
being held under the patronage of Congress. Its implications on Pak – U.S.
relations will be extremely negative. American leadership should think that it
is not just academic freedom or analysis that is important, what the USIP must
assess is also the impact on our bilateral relations of holding this event. It
is time to help consolidate the democratically elected Government of Pakistan.
It is obvious that arranging such events, which are ideologically or politically
motivated, serve to undermine Pak’s solidarity and its elected govt and
defiantly causes hatter against U.S. character in Pakistani masses too. American
supported political leadership tried to inflame public opinion in Pakistan and
Balochistan.
The think tanks in U.S. are independent and completely autonomous in their
policies. Despite the efforts made by our embassy at Washington, it is less
likely that USIP will change its stance. In spite of the liberty accorded to
think tanks, there always remains influence of state institutions. Therefore,
the possibility of U.S. state authorities’ involvement in this case cannot be
ruled out. After analysing events of last decade and especially of last two
years, we can conveniently derive that: - FATA has been focus of US attention
for last few years in relation to GWOT. US always insist that Taliban are being
provided sanctuaries / safe havens by Pak in FATA. Therefore, all the drone
strikes and border violations have been taking place in this area. But mainly
due to faulty U.S. policy, a worthwhile success is still not in sight in GWOT.
When Gwadar Port started emerging as key project which could boost the economic
activities of Pakistan, China and including Central Asia, many stake holders
emerged on the scene incl Iran (Chah Bahar), UAE (Dubai) and India.
At the same time terrorist activities sped up in Balochistan and Nooristan
(Iran). Nationalist elements in Balochistan have started voicing their concerns
on Human Rights Violations and so called atrocities committed by Pakistani LEAs
and demand for Independent Balochistan. Indian involvement in Balochistan is a
major concern for Pakistan. There have been concrete evidences of Indian
involvement in providing funds and weapons to dissident elements in Balochistan.
The dissident Baloch leaders living in exile (Harbyar Marri in UK & Brahmdagh
Bugti in Switzerland) were incited to raise their voice for Independence of
Balochistan. Seeing the ripe situation, India with the connivance of CIA joined
the cadres to destabilise Balochistan and ultimately Pakistan. Moreover, killing
two birds with one stone, the Chinese interest in Balochistan is automatically
countered if this province remains mired in unrest.
Due to convergence of interests, India and USA are pursuing this agenda jointly.
To exert pressure on Pakistan to succumb to U.S. demands (for undertaking ops in
North Waziristan against Hqqani and against Quetta Shura in Balochistan), the US
is hosting activities of dissident Balochs in USA and Canada. Although the event
(Rally “Save Balochistan Campaign” at Vancouver at Summary) could not attract a
big number but remains a source of concern for Pak.
Anyhow, the trilateral talks have been rescheduled to review the progress on
already set agenda of removing extremism and its related matters. The issue must
be taken up in coming trilateral engagements with USA and bilateral talk with
India. Thus it is suggested that Pakistan should make the American authorities
realize that Balochistan is an integral part of Pakistan and discussion on an
integral part of a sovereign country and is abrogation of international norms.
The government should also exposed Indian involvement in Balochistan and it must
be addressed in bilateral engagements at Sectary level talks b/w India and
Pakistan.
Government should also highlight the issue of harbouring Baloch dissidents in
Pak–U.S.–Afghanistan Trilateral meeting, similarly Afghanistan should be asked
to stop Indian to use her territory since, the Baloch youth is being trained and
supplied with arms and ammo by Indians on Afghan soil. Afghanistan needs to
provide assurance of closing these training camps and not to undertake such
steps which could harm bilateral relations as well as destabilise
Pakistan.American should also be asked to redefine drone attack policy and
provide drone technology to Pakistan. At the same time The
“Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan” package announced by Pakistan Government must be
implemented in letter and in spirit to address the deprivations of Baloch
people.
https://pakobserver.net/detailnews.asp?id=90266
US involvement in Balochistan
Zaheerul Hassan (Lt Col) (R)
October 06, 2012
—The writer is a defence and IR analyst.