By Mohammed Rizwan
Friday, December 30, 2005
LAHORE: "The struggle for an independent Balochistan is part of the unfinished agenda of Partition," claims B Raman, a retired Indian bureaucrat who works at the South Asia Analysis Group, an Indian think tank. The article written by the former cabinet secretary may reflect the roots of the latest Indo-Pak spat in which Islamabad and New Delhi took a swipe at each other over Balochistan, say analysts in Islamabad.
Mr Raman goes on to say that "since the Baloch resistance is fighting its second war of independence (uprising of the 70s being the first), India should not hesitate to draw the world’s attention towards the ruthless massacre of Baloch nationalists at the hands of the Pakistan Army so that they should draw inspiration from the Bangladesh struggle for independence and unite not only among themselves, but also with Sindhi nationalists, the Shias of Gilgit and Baltistan and the people of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, who had seen how the Pakistan Army treated them as an expendable commodity after the recent earthquake in order to achieve their common objectives. Their strength will be in their unity. Disunity will be fatal."
India’s Ministry of External Affairs has picked up this theme and fired the first shot at Pakistan. Pakistan’s Foreign Office responded with the statement: "We are intrigued by this provocative statement at this time when both countries are engaged in the peace process to address all issues including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute."
Leading Baloch nationalist Senator Sanaullah Baloch told Daily Times that international forces could only exploit such a situation in their favour when such a situation existed in the first instance. "People around the world who have their own interests to pursue can only benefit from the situation in Balochistan if the injustices continue to be inflicted on them and the army operation continues to suppress the genuine voice for their rights," said Sanaullah Baloch on Wednesday. "What is going on in Balochistan is not an operation or a crackdown, it’s a war against the Baloch who only want their genuine rights," said the BNP leader. "Islamabad has pushed us back to the wall and resentment will continue to increase if the iron hand does not stop whipping us," he added.
The views were echoed by a senior Punjabi journalist and seasoned Balochistan watcher. "I am not surprised by Raman’s views. Whenever there is an internal problem people will take advantage of it and one can’t get away with blaming outside forces. Obviously the Indians will want to poke their nose in if there is already trouble on the ground here. When the people’s genuine desire for economic and political rights are being crushed the way they are then you create more rebels than you kill. However, I am surprised by the way India has openly meddled in our internal affairs. Normally, states are circumspect about the things they plan to do. Moreover, the statement from India was absolutely at cross-purposes of the ongoing peace process. Obviously Balochistan is our internal business, but let us start handling our own business," he said.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2005%5C12%5C30%5Cstory_30-12-2005_pg7_8 |
