Unrest in Baluchistan
Mohammad Amjad Hossain
Baluchistan is endowed with rich natural resources, including gas, oil, gold and copper. Strategically it has importance as well. It has mountainous borders and passes along Iran and Afghanistan on the West while miles of maritime coast stretching from the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea in the south as well. Historically Baluchistan never became part of Mughal empire and they fought against the Hindus and gained influence in the Punjab and Sindh. When Mughal power declined they took on the Sikhs, the Maratha and finally the British who arrived in 1841. Baluchistan is well-known as transit route where alternative route of Euro-Asian highway passes from Zahedan in Iran to Taflan in Baluchistan. Another alternative route passes from Kandahar in Afghanistan to Chaman in Baluchistan.The policy of military and Punjabi elite group, majority segment of the population in Pakistan, dominate the political, economic and military sector of the country which actually deprived the Baluchs of legitimate share in administration, military and political arena. Baluchistan has a population of over 7.5 million of which Baluchs constitute 4 percent, but are less educated. No systematic method has been adopted to educate Baluchs to face the reality in life. Baluchs are basically nomad and the tribal organisation is hierarchical. Each tribe is headed by a Sardar. Baluchistan comprising of 343,000 square kilometers -- much bigger than Bangladesh -- could be divided into three sub-regions. These are: the belt comprising Hub, Lasbella and Khizdar is developed industrially by mainly Karachiite business magnates; the coastal belt of Makran and Gwadar is influenced by non-Baluchs and Eastern Baluchistan is completely tribal. Apart from political discrimination, attention has not been paid to develop poor sections of Baluchistan at par, for example, with Hub, Lasbella and Khizdar. Here the influence of tribal leaders is minimal whereas eastern Baluchistan is completely under the domination of tribal leaders. And this part of Baluchistan is very important economically because the Sui gas fields are located in this area. This particular region of Baluchistan is the nucleus of the insurgency. In order to restrain the influence of tribal leaders Pakistan administration needs to concentrate developing this region in line with Gwadar in the coastal belt region. Gwadar has been developed with the assistance of China. It has become a modern port city. Many business centres, factories and hotels are being constructed. This coastal belt region, however, is free from the domination of Baluch tribals. Political leaders are, by and large, of Iranian descend. This region of Baluchistan is known as an area of underground mafia. Fairy tale about the powerful mafia group is prevalent in Pakistan. Makran in Baluchistan and Landikotal in North West Frontier are known as smuggling dens. It is understood that their influence is on the wane as the policy of urbanisation is in the process of implementation. According to a report, there had been 261 bomb blasts and 167 rocket firing in 2005 in Baluchistan. Particular targets are military cantonments in Quetta, capital of Baluchistan and installations of Sui gas fields. Heavy exchange of fires between paramilitary forces and armed tribal men were reported in the first week of this month (January) at the gas fields which caused death of eight paramilitary personnel. This incident encouraged military regime to reinforce military presence in Sui gas region. Following this episode President Pervez Mushrraf had been to Quetta and Kohlu, a restive area while gunship helicopters have been in action in two tribal areas: Kalat and Chaghai and a land and air operation was conducted at Kohlu and Mohmand areas to cow down the tribal insurgents. Musharraf's public meeting at Kohlu was marred by hurling of grenades. This has also caused in increase in the number of military operations in Baluchistan. Pakistan's military authorities have planned to set up more cantonments there. Tribal leaders have demanded equitable pie in the revenue of gas and other mineral resources ,which are located in this region for which they have been fighting for years, and also dismantling of army cantonments. In 1970, a war of independence was launched by Baluchs which lasted several years. Recent flare up of violence is the result of the gang-rape of a woman doctor at a state-owned gas plant. Tribal leaders claim that military officers did this nuisance while some other people are arrested instead. Pakistan officials said that the government has held some talks with tribal leaders and has sought to demonstrate that the government was planning to develop the impoverished province. At the same breath President Pervez Musharraf has given warning that repeat of 1970's operation could not be ruled out if violence continues. The uprising of tribal people was gunned down by military operation under the command of Gen.Tikka Khan, who earned the name of butcher Tikka Khan when thousands of Baluchs were killed. It is expected that President Pervez Musharraf would follow the path of political solution rather than military action, but the trend of blaming India for fanning violence in Baluchistan does not speak of that spirit as of now. Mohammad Amjad Hossain, a former diplomat, resides in Virginia.
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