And suddenly Balochistan is expected to rejoice at the opening of the Mand-Pishin border market last week. As if Pakistan can be trusted to prioritize Baloch welfare this time when all indicators of the nation’s real interest in Balochistan are pointing south.
Since 2004 Balochistan’s resistance movement has requested, pleaded, begged, and macerated themselves by fasting only for one thing – economic and social equality with the rest of Pakistan. What was once a peaceful province, founded on trust, ancestral wisdom, respect for local customs, and tribal pride, was dissolved giving rise to a colony ruled by the people with the narrowest of vested interest in the region’s resources.
Their disapproval and disappointment at Pakistan’s self-serving ways were apparent since the beginning. When President Gen Musharraf visited Kohlu Agency (Balochistan) in December 2005 concerning the Kalabagh Dam Project, the Baloch Liberation Army protested against such developments which they claimed would bring few benefits to the locals. 20 years on Balochistan produces 56 percent of all gas in Pakistan and is allowed to use a mere 6 percent of it. Last winter the Balochs had to burn garbage and paper to cook and keep their houses warm despite housing the largest gas reserve, Sui.
Army and military actions have torn Balochistan. Their physical assets such as gas, oil, and minerals have been freely tossed between Pakistan and China for decades. Balochistan always received the short end of the stick, the leftovers, the industrial waste. Last year PM Shehbaz Sharif urged the people of Gwadar to keep friendly ties with the Chinese who have limited the locals’ access to the Gwadar port rendering thousands jobless. The locals were promised jobs in CPEC among other developments but today they are wasting away their youth fighting for their rights and the Chinese have caused major environmental concerns through mining activities.
When the locals stand against injustice to their people, the army keeps silencing them with threats, forced disappearances, torture, and unwarranted murder. University students are taken to unknown locations, and after being held captive they are either returned to families in a physically injured, traumatized state or thrown off on the roadside.
Salahuddin son of Zafar Ali was taken away by the Frontier Corps and Counter-Terrorism Department officials without informing the family and was found unconscious near Kharan City on March 14. Soon after he died in critical condition at the hospital. Such news does not leave the four walls of the district, because everyone knows Balochistan is “a minefield for journalists”.
Military operations continue month on month. Last week the federal cabinet approved the deployment of increased Army personnel in Balochistan under the Anti-Terrorism Act, Article 245. The word is that the military troops will “assist” in the maintenance of law and order.
It’s ironic how those responsible for the carnage will legally be in a position of power. Gen Musharraf’s prophesied this in his visit to Kohlu in 2005, when he confidently said, “We will strike you so hard that you will not know what has hit you”. His fellow successors manifested the general’s wish precisely.
Balochistan’s interests have long been relegated to the back burner, while Army and political considerations have been the greater motivation.
Locals are questioning Pakistan’s sincerity in its decision to boost trade with Iran on the Balochistan border. Who truly gains from this? It is expected that business giants from mainland Pakistan will coalesce and the local Balochs will lose whatever little business they have.
Days before the launch of the market the federal government led by the PM held a meeting over the grievances of students of Balochistan. He said that “the political leadership of the country was giving a message of peace, friendship, and prosperity to the people of the province, adding all issues of the province including the missing persons should be resolved by all the stakeholders collectively.”
To keep the Baloch delegation in good humor, he awarded developmental funds to the province, and added, “Pakistan’s progress and prosperity are linked with Balochistan.” All in time, to ensure their cooperation before the Pishin Market opening – what a coincidence!
The federal government and companies never tire of calling Baloch freedom fighters “terrorists”. When former PM Imran Khan was arrested on May 9, PTI workers and their supporters destroyed public and private properties, raided the homes of top army officers, torched the house of a corps commander, and Innocent people were injured in the process.
The incident was condemned all over Pakistan, but only in written form. But if Balochistan would act in the same way (and rightly so) for their constitutional and economic rights, said Langov, the provincial home minister, “the Baloch would be labeled as anti-state”.
Continued Baloch persecution will impose significant costs on Pakistan. The state should be careful.
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