By: Harriss Khan.
The hullaballoo over Baluchistan gains momentum after the resolution, asking Baluchistan be given sovereignty was passed in the U.S House of Representatives by lawmaker Dana Rohrabacher. Just before the resolution was tabled, the entourage of nationalists inculcated the rhetoric of foul game by the state of pakistan in balochistan and instantly the shooting match between miscreants and armed forces also picked up pace in troubled area. In the ensuing thrust exerted by the bandwagon which spell-bounded all and sundry in Pakistan, the up stars of media deemed it their holy obligation to appraise the concerned world about the nasty treatment of baloch people and while narrating the uncanny tale they simply themselves did not know that how well have they overshoot the red lines.
The whole fuss is about interests of the U.S in the region, the Baloch nationalists and our super active media least no one is concerned about the plight of balochies. Apparently U.S seems to be in a mood to avenge the debacle of "operation enduring freedom" by twisting arms of Pakistan and Iran. The humiliation at the hands of handful of guerillas armed with conviction have blown the might of U.S into shatters around the globe and after receiving more than 10,000 dead servicemen flag wrapped coffins the longest war have created a fizzle out scenario for the sole super power. In sheer desperation U.S have unleashed its ugly designs to make Pakistan and Iran suffer her forceful brunt.
Baloch people lives on both sides of the border between Pakistan and Iran, around 3.1 million in Pakistan and 2.2 million in Iran. On Pakistan side Baluchistan liberation army, Baloch Student Organization etc are in a shooting match with security forces and on Iranian side there is jundallah fighting hard with Iranian security forces. Mossad and CIA agents met jundullah operatives in Europe many times and it's not a riddle to solve that what they were up to. On the other hand Haybiar murre is in London and bramdagh bugti is in Switzerland who openly speaks for independence from Pakistan. Does one needs to ask Sherlock homes to investigate how come they live in such peace loving nations while they are instigating violence against another state. On both sides of the border (Iran-Pakistan), the situation is grim and future is bleak because state is challenged tooth and nail by the nationalists but by whose consent? Let the wise think hard.
The nationalists (baloch sarmachar) simply do not have faintest of idea about what they want to achieve, independence? and what after that , which areas will be independent and which will stay with Pakistan. Almost half of Baluchistan population is ethnically Pathan and till yet no pathan living in balochistan have asked for independence. The sarmachar who have picked up arms and fighting the state are not even at one page. Baloch nationalists (Baloch Liberation Army, Baloch Republican Army, Baloch liberation front and Baloch student organization) are not having a joint effort for their common cause, why? Clash of interests. Joint effort is a prerequisite to any armed struggle against the state, less than that it's a futile exercise. In a hypothetical scenario if the nationalists make it through and snatch a piece of the pie for themselves by claiming independence, will they agree between themselves of the share of the pie? Libya’s NTC (national transition council) fate should be in one’s vivid memory before calculating a wild guess.
Meanwhile bravo to our hyper active media personal who are solely interested in growing big over night. "A man without the sense of history is a like a man without ears and eyes". Pakistani media in a very novel manner envisaged and portrayed Baluchistan issue in such a captivating manner that for a tender brain, in terms of historical perspective, Pakistani state seems to be the aggressor. Which on one sunny morning invaded Khan of kalat state and by virtue of superior arms overran his armed militia and till yet holding the ground. Records have to be corrected least a thorough overlook of the annals of history be checked. At the time of independence Khan of Kalat, Ahmed Yar Khan, was reluctant to join pakistan and so was kalat state parliament. Jinnah in a shrewd political move convinced the nawabs of Kharan, Makran and Jam of Lasbella to join in the state of Pakistan, which they eventually did. The shahi jirga opted unanimously for Pakistan and chief commissioner’s province (The settled districts, Agencies and Tribal areas) was automatically acceded to pakistan. How come a tiny state like kalat landlocked by a country (pakistan) could survive in such a scenario? In a matter of time wisdom prevailed and khan of kalat joined Pakistan not over the gun point but by carefully gauging the ground realities. Now form where come the notion of pakistan being an aggressor which the nationalists babble on the top of their lungs and our media projects as being the sole truth. Media needs to read between the lines and decipher the reality.
No one can easily rule out that problems are there to be surmounted by the state of pakistan and obviously it has to be elastic enough to pacify the situation. Missing persons, mutilated dead bodies and total neglect of developmental projects are the root causes of anguish between balochies.
A two pronged strategy can defuse the prevailing grim situation. Firstly, Iran and pakistan needs to draw a comprehensive road map to thwart the footprints of the adversary. Once the first step accomplished the zeal of nationalism fueled by arms and foreign money will automatically dry down. Then the second step should engage genuine stake holders on both sides of the border by both states to completely pacify the situation by agreeing on a middle ground. Easier said than done, but a journey of thousand miles starts by taking the first step.
(The writer is a freelance journalist)
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