Mohammad Jamil
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) in its recently published report stated that government of Pakistan, its military and Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) are involved in elimination of Baloch people through enforced disappearances and extra-judicial killings under the purview of National Action Plan (NAP). It also blamed that the government and military were involved in creating and supporting Islamist extremist groups to manage domestic political challenges in Balochistan. Report further stated that after announcement of CPEC project, the government has started new phase of military operation in Balochistan to curb the popular demands for autonomy and equal rights other provinces are entitled to. However, the report has not provided even an iota of evidence in the report, as it is meant to make donors happy, mostly from European Countries, USA or India that are opposed to CPEC.
No doubt, Gwadar deep sea port has great potential to boost Pakistan’s economy; and mineral resources of Balochistan could bring prosperity not only to the people of Balochistan but also people of other provinces. Of course, people of Balochistan stand to gain more, as they will have the first right in business and employment opportunities. All Chinese investment, be it for expansion of Gawadar port or roads and other assets will remain the property of the Balochistan, as these assets cannot be shifted elsewhere. True enough, the CPEC project is part of Beijing’s “Belt and Road” plan to expand its trade and transport footprint across Central and South Asia. It is also true that it will give China easier access to Middle Eastern oil via the deepwater sea port of Gwadar, but Pakistan also stands to gain enormously.
CPEC is must for economic progress, infrastructural development and future prosperity of Balochistan. But Pakistan has to be watchful of India, which is fanning terrorism, violence, militancy, linguistic hatred and inter provincial disharmony to sabotage the CPEC project. India is not only funding insurgents, it also continues its propaganda that Baloch would become Red Indians with the influx of engineers, skilled and unskilled workers. Of course, people of Balochistan have the first right over minerals and other natural resources of Balochistan, and major part of the income from these assets should be spent on the welfare of the people of Balochistan. During the last seven years, Pakistan Army through recruitment of Baloch in the army, by establishing health centres and other facilities has contributed towards winning hearts and minds of Baloch youth, who are participating in nation building process.
The problem is that dissident Baloch sardars have been demanding that army should be withdrawn from Balochistan to perpetuate their system of exploitation. They want to keep the Baloch commoners illiterate so that they could continue their hold over enslaved humanity. Since Balochistan is part of Pakistan, army can be deployed anywhere in Pakistan. Secondly, Balochistan is a province with enormous resources, and other big powers and other countries of the region have rivaling eyes on those resources. In the past, whenever efforts were made by the government for building infrastructure for roads, educational institutions and healthcare system in the past, there was resistance from the dissident sardars at the behest of alien powers, and the civilian government had to deploy military. During the last ten years, army has been focused on peace, stability and tranquility and welfare of the people of Balochistan.
Army initiated numerous schemes and launched projects for the development of Balochistan to improve the lives of the people. To improve and uplift the economic conditions of Baloch people, army created more than 10,000 vacancies for youth of Balochistan in 2009-2011, with additional 5000 vacancies for enrolment in 2012. So far, more than 10,000 youth of Balochistan have joined Pakistan Army as officers and soldiers. Some of the development projects undertaken by Army in Balochistan are Military College SUI Balochistan, Balochistan Public School at SUI, Quetta Institute of Medical Sciences, Gwadar Institute of Technology, Chamalang Beneficiary Education Program, Balochistan Institute of Technical Education, Army Institute of Mineralogy, Assistance to Ministry of Education Balochistan, Baloch Youth Enrollment in Pakistan Army, Dera Bugti Development Projects, Development Projects Kohlu and Nasirabad Division, Pakistan Army Assistance in Development of Road Networks, and many other projects.
Thousands of Baloch have joined the army as recruits and cadets, which will enable them to play their part in the defence of the motherland. It has been decided to provide them health facilities in Combined Military Hospitals; health camps have also been established. Schools and vocational centres have been opened to help Baloch youth to become productive citizens. These steps will increase income of the Baloch youth and lessen their dependence on sardars and centrifugal forces. The incidence of insurgency is almost zero due to the efforts of the army; yet it is in the throes of ethnic, sectarian and tribal schisms. Ethnic and Shia-Sunni fracas has shaken the erstwhile ethnic and sectarian harmony, as criminal gangs are stoking ethnic and sectarian divisions. And Indian RAW and agencies of other countries are behind vile acts.
In view of the largest land mass and scattered population, Balochistan needs massive investment for its residents to prosper and progress. Baloch leaders, therefore, should try to create climate conducive to investment, so that employment opportunities are there to be availed by unemployed youth of Balochistan. The provinces, indeed, require financial resources to be able to maintain the social and physical infrastructure, which is needed to provide basic services to the people. Since the bulk of the resources of the provinces came from the divisible pool, they had little room to maneuver so far as their capacity to tax was concerned. Which is why, at the time of National Finance Commission award, weightage was given for lack of development in the past, its large area and scattered population, and its cumulative effect will be substantial. In addition, the mega projects of Gawadar deep-sea port would improve the living standards of its people.
