Shabbir Suleman
Balochistan, the largest geographical unit of Pakistan, has been the target of the anti-state elements. Its strategic location and vast natural resources are the sources of its attraction. The hostile factors are trying to sabotage the law and order situation in Balochistan by inciting acts of violence. Importantly, the hostile intelligence agencies are misusing the Baloch leaders for their own interests. They instigate the Balochs to raise anti-Pakistan slogans. The hostile agencies have been involved in funding the militancy in Balochistan. Fortunately, the Law-Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) have played a tremendous role in curtailing terrorism in the province. The Federal and Provincial governments are trying to mainstream the disgruntled Baloch leaders by offering various incentives.
In this regard, an important meeting was held between Balochistan’s Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan and Dr Jumma Khan Marri in Moscow in December 2018. Jumma Marri is a Baloch political activist and son of Baloch leader Mir Hazar Khan Marri who led Baloch freedom struggle in 70-90s against the Pak Army. His family fled to Afghanistan where he completed his schooling in an Indian school and later went to Moscow in 1986 for higher education. He returned from Russia to Balochistan in May 1999, but in view of renewed operation against him during the Musharraf regime, fled back to Moscow. Ultimately, he pledged allegiance to the Pakistani State on Feb 17, 2018, disassociating himself from the so-called Baloch Separatist Movement. He launched an organization ‘Overseas Pakistani Balochi Community’ (OPBC) for the Balochs living abroad. The organization will expose evil designs of the disgruntled Baloch leaders such as Brahamdagh Bugti, Harbiyar Marri and Mehran Marri who are working on the Indian payroll. Jumma Khan pledged that he would bring back all the misguided Baloch residing abroad on political asylum to the mainstream and resolve their issues through a peaceful dialogue. During this important meeting, various political and security aspects of the province were discussed. The Balochistan Liberation Army’s (BLA) involvement in the recent attack on Chinese consulate in Karachi was strongly condemned. They discussed the political situation in Balochistan and all possible ways to appease the anti-state forces. Dr Marri suggested the Pakistani government to put forward the issue and demand the UK government to stop providing the safe haven for BLA’s leader Harbiyar Marri. The organization will voice its concerns regarding Balochistan in the European Union (EU) Parliament. Both the leaders vowed to spread awareness among the Pakistani community in Europe about the anti-Pakistan elements who are actively involved in terrorist activities in Balochistan.
During the upcoming ceremony of the OPBC, few prominent Baloch personalities are expected to be streamlined in the Pakistani politics by declaring their disassociation with the anti-Pakistani factors. The meeting concluded that peaceful negotiations are the only durable solution for bringing back the disgruntled Baloch leaders. The CM Jam Kamal Khan promised the government’s full support in any attempt that could lead towards a peaceful solution to the Balochistan crisis. The Baloch leaders from inside and abroad have started expressing their concerns about the Indian-sponsored insurgency in Balochistan. Dr Jumma Khan Marri is one such example who has parted ways from Brahamdagh Bugti, Harbiyar Marri and Mehran Marri, accusing them of being completely controlled by the Indian intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). One of the main reasons for Dr Jumma Khan’s changed stance is the exposure of Indian support to the Baloch unrest.
The so-called Baloch leaders have been enjoying very luxurious lifestyles in expensive cities as Geneva and London. Such leaders are being misused by the Indians to lead their innocent people against the state. They create unrest in Balochistan by blowing electricity supplies, mining bridges and putting mines on the roadside. Safe havens of the BLA, the BRA and the TTP in Afghanistan is also a cause of concern for the Balochistan. It is important to note that Balochistan cannot be stabilized unless and until these safe havens continue to operate from the Afghan soil with the support of RAW and NDS. Notably, no international media pays any attention to these Baloch separatists except the Indian media that is paid for giving coverage to the Baloch separatists. Previously, the revelations made by the chairman of the American Friends of Balochistan (AFB), Ahmer Masti Khan, have caused real embarrassment for those fighting the Pakistani state in Balochistan. The startling revelations of Ahmer Masti have exposed the entire game plan of the Indian RAW hatched to stage terrorism in Balochistan. Hundreds of individuals were misguided by fake propaganda and fell in the trap of foreign hostile intelligence agencies. Fortunately, the overwhelming majority of Baloch people remained loyal to Pakistan, and disowned any group resorting to violent means against the state.
The Balochistan Peace Program (BPP), launched in 2015, has been a successful effort in bringing separatists back to the national mainstream. More than 2300 separatists, including senior commanders, have laid down their weapons under this initiative. The role of the Pak Army is praise worthy in its efforts to bring the misguided back to mainstream. Most of the Baloch people now thoroughly understand that the so-called Baloch insurgent leaders sitting and enjoying abroad are sincere to none other but to their private interests. Those still playing in hands of the RAW and NDS need to throw down their weapons. The Pakistani authorities need to highlight this issue at the global forums.
