Baluchistan was never given importance by the adjacent fertile and
powerful kingdoms of India, Persia and Afghanistan in the past. They
were happy to give this unproductive and nomadic land the status of a
buffer zone, separating them with the deserts and gorges from each
other.
And so, the people of Baluchistan maintained their independence
under the settled system of tribal traditions under their respective
chiefs. But one aspect of the tribal system of Baluchistan must be kept
in mind that it differs in many forms from the existing tribal systems
of the Feudal Punjab, Sind and Khyber Pakhtunkhaw ( previous NWFP ).
Political importance of Baluchistan was first realized by the British
colonial power when the advancement of the Russians lurked towards the
south and the Afghans showed their favorable inclination towards them.
The British, realizing the danger from the North, started fortification
of Baluchistan by building cantonments and extending Railway Lines from
Karachi to the borders of Afghanistan. However, the British Empire did
not interfere in the internal affairs of its Afghanistan. All the
sardars ( Tribal Chiefs ) remained in tact leading to the conglomeration
of many tribal states of their own, till the Pakistan Army, during the
reign of Ayub Khan started action to subdue all the States of
Afghanistan and ordered to merge with the Federation of Pakistan.
This incident was the beginning of the hegemonic attitude of hatred
from both the sides. According to the Baluch Sardars it was the breach
of the agreement they had signed with the Quaid at the time of accession
to Pakistan.There could be no other opinion that Islamabad, since then,
followed the repressive policy in Baluchistan in the name of Federation
and solidarity of Pakistan. It was converted into a ‘nascent’ colony
to exploit its resources.
Over the previous few years, particularly during the period of the
Army action in Bugti area when one of the prominent leaders of
Baluchistan was gunned down in encounter, the volatile situation took
another turn that could not be termed less than the start of a
revolution or a civil war. The deteriorating situation of law and order
demanded immediate solution to calm it down for the security of the
people and the country as a whole. It was the need of the time. But the
political atmosphere was created by our leaders, civilian Government,
military agencies and the media who twisted the facts during the last
three years in such a way as if the Baluchis were fighting for
independence and cessation from Pakistan. Thus, the majority of the
Pakistanis ( 90 percent ) remained in doldrums.
Now there exists some very genuine reasons of their antagonistic attitude towards the federation of Pakistan.
1) Resources of energy and valuable minerals of Baluchistan were
utilized cheaply by the other provinces while the Baluchis were deprived
of their own resources.
2) Baluchistan was treated just like a colony of other provinces.
Most of the vacancies in federal and provincial departments were filled
by the non-Baluchis.
3) It was open for all to get the domicile of Baluchistan,
vis-a-vis to apply for entering the highest posts of civil services.
There were hundreds of non-Baluchi officers in civil, military and
judiciary cadres enjoying the benefits with poor qualifications and
backgrounds by obtaining the Baluchistan domicile through many loopholes
created for the purpose. They knew it well that they could not be
selected if applied from their own provinces’ quota. Baluchi youths
were, thus, deprived of their basic rights since the day Baluchistan
joined the federation of Pakistan.
4) Since Baluchistan comprised heterogenous population, it was
easy for the political leaders and the rulers of Islamabad to exploit
them in the name of their races, languages, ethnic identities, religious
sects, tribal honors and their internal tribal feuds.
5) The people of Pakistan know a little about the Baluchi people,
their culture and history. The fate of the Baluchistan is decided by
the elites of Islamabad and Lahore in their drawing rooms, just like the
situation in East Bengal when the Awami League presented it’s 6-Points
demands to settle the differences with the ruling elites of Islamabad,
while at the same time, Islamabad was preparing to invade The Eastern
wing of Pakistan i.e to hit their own heads to blow out and bleed for
ever.
Let’s see how the political objectives of the parties, even in the
present times, playing to meet their own end can be suicidal to the very
foundation of Pakistan.
a) Baluchistan is situated in the very strategic position where
the interests of the great powers are lingering on under the present
circumstances. The center of future resources of energy, precious metals
and minerals are supposed to be existing in the Central Asian states
and Afghanistan. America has already established its web of
communications by keeping its air-power and cyber-intelligent satellite
system to control the region, in the garb of the savior of democracy
and the guarantor of the sovereignty of the weaker states.
b) Baluchistan was the main land of the supply route for the
American Army during the Russian intervention and was also helpful at
the time of invasion on Afghanistan after 9/11. Militarily, the coast of
Baluchistan is very important for America.
C ) As mentioned above, the sea coast leading to the warm water in
the south of Afghanistan is linked with Baluchistan. This coast could be
the life-line for Central Asia and the adjacent areas as well. The
Russians aspired to control this coast throughout history, but failed.
Russians, even now, would like to enhance their influence in
Baluchistan.Mysterious movements of some great powers on the world’s
diplomatic arena, particularly related to this area, could be observed.
1) America’s combating forces are likely to withdraw next year
from Afghanistan. But it’s presence in Afghanistan and Pakistan cannot
be ruled out even after 2014.
2) India has the blessings of USA in rebuilding projects in
Afghanistan and also to share its political role in the Central Asian
States.
3) China and Russia are near to develop close relationships,
socially and militarily, despite their ideological and some minor
boundaries’ differences.
4) Iran and the Arab World are lurking from one side to the
other, yet to amass equilibrium in relations with their resources and
capabilities to produce latest equipments of warfare. Baluchistan is
going to be the epicenter for the prosperity and solidarity of not only
Pakistan but Iran and the Middle East countries as well.
5) Israel’s possible interference in Iran is another danger
hanging on the horizon of this region. Thus, bundles of jigsaws are
gathering moths around Baluchistan in which the great powers, one or
the other way, are involved and hectic diplomatic actions are expected
to be taken in near future.
6) Pakistan is supposed to play an important and cautious role in
this game to protect its interests. It does not seem that the matter was
ever considered seriously by any one in Pakistan.
At the moment KPK, Baluchistan and Sind are in chaos where law and
order situation is out of control. The responsibility of
discontentments in KPK, Sind and Baluchistan very much lies on the
shoulders of Pakistan Army. Perhaps they don’t like it’s immediate
solution for the reasons better known to them. If Zardari’s slow
political moves are minutely calculated then, somehow, some positive
signs of slow transformations on the diplomatic arena could be seen.
Apparently, a bifurcating line between the armed forces and democratic
government is visible. Judiciary is also playing its cards very candidly
but the real masters of Pakistan, i,e. masses are under the Troika
crushing stones.
Also, recently, a new development emerged on the political arena when
Akhtar Mengal, one of the prominent leaders of Baluchistan came from
self exile and presented a 6-points Agenda to the Supreme Court of
Pakistan for permanent solution of the existing crisis in Baluchistan.
His views were clear. The problems of Baluchistan are related to its
people and their mother land. Why the leaders of other provinces are
taking decision in respect of the future of Baluchistan ? It is
Baluchi, who would decide their own future. This case is now pending in
the Supreme Court for decision.
Since a good number of youths have taken refuge in mountains with
well-equipped modern arms and ammunitions to fight for the liberation of
Baluchistan they seem to be preparing for a civil war. The question of
Baluchistan is not as simple as our leaders and bureaucrats think about.
This crisis is now turning into an international subject where
diplomatically strong powers are vying at it with greedy eyes.