Balochistan despite being the
richest province of Pakistan in terms of natural resources has remained backward
and neglected. There have been sporadic spurts of violence unleashed by the
Baloch nationalists who are convinced that their resources are being plundered
by other provinces and resource-rich Balochistan would be better off
independently. This feeling germinated in their minds after the discovery of
natural gas reserves at Sui in 1952 and its denial to them till as late as 1979.
Extreme poverty, lack of education and health facilities make the province a
fertile area for foreign hunters to fish in troubled waters of Balochistan and
exploit the simple and gullible people for their vested interests. Tyrannical
hold of the Sardars, Nawabs and Mirs over their respective tribes in the tribal
belt is yet another factor of impoverishment and backwardness of the province.
Those defying the commands of the Sardar are either put in dungeons to rot for
the rest of their lives or are brutally killed. Successive governments in
Pakistan, both civilian and military have been leaning on the Sardars to keep
Balochistan in control. Not only Sardars were bribed with cash and high office,
their inter-tribal rivalries were exploited by pitching one Sardar against the
other to meet political ends.
Previously, Afghanistan, former USSR and India were the trouble makers who would
support the Baloch dissidents. Now the US and its allies India, Britain, Israel,
Afghanistan and Israel are meddling in Balochistan in a big way since 2002 and
have succeeded in destabilizing the province to quite an extent. There are
reports that even Russia may be having a finger in the pie. The harmony between
the locals and non-locals has been disturbed making it extremely difficult for
the settlers, mainly the Punjabis to stay in Balochistan, particularly in Baloch
dominated districts. The Persian speaking Hazaras originally belonging to
Afghanistan are also the target of Baloch nationalists and religious extremists.
Both the democratically elected civilian and military governments failed to
remove the sense of deprivation of the people of Baluchistan. Rather than
removing their grievances and bringing about reconciliation, they resorted to
force to solve the Balochistan tangle. While ZA Bhutto dismissed Balochistan and
Frontier governments in 1973 and provoked insurgency, and then initiated a
prolonged military operation against the insurgents, the decade old democratic
era under Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif from 1988 to 1999 did little for
Balochistan which gave reason to the Baloch nationalist parties to foment sense
of disillusionment among the Baloch by crying out that they were being exploited
and neglected.
However, none can deny that military regimes did a great deal better than
civilian regimes to remove the socio-economic inequities of the backward
provinces. Maximum development work was done by Field Marshal Ayub Khan in
former East Pakistan and even Gen Yahya Khan allocated greater development funds
to remove East-West inequities. Had 1965 war not taken place and had East
Pakistan crisis fuelled by India not spun out of control in 1971, the imbalance
to a large extent could have been corrected. When Gen Ziaul Haq took over, he
defused the 1973 insurgency by releasing political leaders undergoing trials
under Hyderabad tribunal, initiated development works and generated greater
economic activities. Border with Iran was opened up for free trade which flooded
markets with cheaper Iranian goods and made the business community prosperous.
Removal of ZA Bhutto and later his hanging in April 1979 together with start of
Afghan war in December 1979 which flooded NWFP and Balochistan with Afghan
refugees were other factors which distracted the nationalists and brought calm
in Balochistan. All mega projects were initiated by Gen Musharraf which included
Kachhi Canal, Mirani Dam, Gawadar Port, Makran Coastal Highway, Saindak Copper
Project and Quetta Water Supply Scheme. Over 300% increase was made in the
national budget for development programs. His uplift and welfare policies are
being pursued by the present government though at a decreased pace and
undertaken by the armed forces.
Had the development works which started in 2001/2002 in Balochistan and system
of free education to the youth in best schools together with host of other
welfare programs and induction of Baloch youth in armed forces and other
government departments which commenced in 2007/2008 been undertaken in mid
1970s, the situation in Balochistan by now would have been quite different. The
youth couldn’t have been exploited by external forces and disgruntled elements
within the province in the name of sense of deprivation.
The PPP led government made a beginning with an apology by President Zardari and
an assurance that the grievances of Balochistan will be addressed. All high
profile political leaders were released and those in exile were pardoned and
asked to return. The Army was returned to the barracks in May 2008, military
operations of all sorts were stopped and the security was handed over to the
Frontier Corps. No covert or overt war has been conducted since then and the
troops of 12 Corps are confined to seven cantonments. Not single Army personnel
are on any operational duty in that province. Even Kohlu and Sui towns approved
to be converted into military garrisons are being developed as educational
cities. Thousands of students have been enrolled in the schools and colleges of
Sui and in Cadet College of Kohlu. Establishment of modern medical institute in
Quetta Cantonment is a gift for the Baloch people. In this, the Baloch students
will avail 80% quota. After the passage of 18th Amendment in the Constitution,
the question of provincial autonomy stands resolved.
Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan package was announced and NFC Award revised to
grant greater share to Balochistan.
Although PM Raja Ashraf has extended an olive branch to the estranged Baloch
leaders by opening the doors for talks but he categorically stated that this
offer is for only those who believed in the constitution and respected the
national flag. This is notwithstanding that the government is trying to woo
Brahamdagh Bugti and Harbyar Marri, the two chief proponents of Baluchistan’s
independence. Raja Ashraf urged all estranged Baloch leaders to take part in the
coming general elections and assured them that it would be free, fair and
transparent. He solicited all practical ideas that could help in improving the
situation in restive Balochistan.
Situation in Baluchistan is going through a critical stage which warrants
positive contributions from all and sundry to avoid another debacle. Foreign
powers governed by their strategic and commercial interests are hell bent to
detach Balochistan from the body of Pakistan. Their designs need to be defeated
through collective efforts. Foremost requirement is to ensure good governance in
the province. Since it is not within the capability of provincial ministry to
govern, there is a need to oil up the administrative machinery by posting
honest, upright and efficient officers. The chief secretary should be a
go-getter who should run the show particularly when the chief minister spends
most of his time in Islamabad and other ministers are disinterested and involved
in criminal activities. All ongoing developmental projects must be completed
with speed.
Media should play a role in highlighting the pitfalls of separatist agenda and
the dangerous designs of foreign powers wanting to plunder the mineral resources
and enslaving the people of Balochistan. Media should also expose the real face
of Sardars, particularly the dissident Sardars leading high-heeled life abroad
and sacrificing the commoners. The patriotic fervor of the Baloch youth should
be aroused through well-conceived cultural programs, dramas and talk-shows on
stage, radio and TV. Provision of free education to the Baloch students and
their enrolment in armed forces and jobs in government departments must continue
to remove sense of deprivation. Education, justice and prosperity alone will
curb extremism and arouse patriotism.
The writer is a retired Brig, a defence analyst and a columnist.
Email:[email protected]
Need to arouse patriotic fervor
Asif Haroon Raja