Nawab Bugti's mutilated body was brought out from under the rubble and buried quickly under army protection. Not even his near and dear ones were allowed to have a last glimpse of the dead leader. The growing anti-government resentment that was brewing for the last several decades is now showing its ugly face. As you sow, so you reap. The Pakistan government has again miscalculated things by resting its over-confidence with the muscle power of the armed forces. It had sown the wind. Now it may reap the whirl-wind.

Brewing resentment

The tribal areas of Baluchistan and Waziristan were seething with resentment because they were deprived of the benefits of the natural wealth, like coal, oil, and particularly gas found at Sui in Waziristan. Sui gas was lifted and supplied to other areas of the country.

It was a big source of income for the government, dominated mainly by the Punjab province and its mighty army. The same tragedy happened with the poor East Bengalis who produced the golden fibre, jute, which had earned billions of dollars in foreign exchange, but the producers were literally deprived by the central government of their share.

Bugti's killing has been described by Pakistani and foreign analysts as a "blunder" and a "disaster," that is likely to "radicalise the insurgency" in the region. His death would undoubtedly create more problems than it solved for Musharraf. The killing has turned Bugti into a "martyr" and will serve as a source of inspiration and strength to the rising young Baluchis who idolised him.

It may be recalled here that tribal leaders had enjoyed their hey-day during the British period which allowed them, under an unwritten law based on mutual understanding, to have their own way of running their local administration, including trial of criminals by "Jirga." Akbar Bugti was a well-placed and respected leader in the tradition, not-only for his own tribesmen but also to the tribesmen of neighbouring provinces. He was a well accepted overlord for all purposes. His only "crime" was that he used to receive a "royalty" from the Pakistan Petroleum Ltd (PPL), a central government-sponsored organisation, which was fully authorised to lift and distribute gas from Sui in Waziristan. Reportedly the raping of a lady doctor attached with Sui Centre ignited the fire that is now spreading wildly following the killing of Bugti.

War on terror?

The killing of Bugti was perhaps part of Pakistan's "war on terror" game that Musharraf had been playing with some eighty thousand soldiers stationed in the tribal areas to fight al-Qaida and Taliban terrorists on the Afghan border. It may bring more laurels for him from Washington to help him get through another term as Pakistan's president from 2007. America wants a reliable man like Musharraf in the region. But the point is whether Musharraf will succeed in quelling the rising turmoil in Baluchistan.

The unrest is now being described as the work of some "miscreants" working with external assistance.

Pakistan seems to have learnt nothing from the hard lesson of the past. Perhaps Pakistani leaders are going to commit another blunder in its history. Baluchistan's sad stories of deprivation and exploitation by the ruling junta are just beginning to be heard. Perhaps the Baluchis will have to make more sacrifices if the Pakistani authorities still do not come to their senses. But then?

Problems facing Musharraf

President Musharraf has been facing a number of problems in his country since his hurried decision to join America in its "war on terror" following the 9/11 tragedy. However, it must be admitted that had he not done so Pakistan would have been blacklisted as a "terrorist state." As a key ally Musharraf is now riding high with America, as a "leader with vision." But every action has its reaction. Musharraf is already feeling the heat, particularly from Baluchistan after he had launched a "war on terror" there. So he is now treading a thorny road, rather crossing a field infested with mines. In fact, he is already in hot soup of his own making; people are not happy with his pro-US "war on terror" policy.

Baluch demands

Therefore, to avoid any catastrophe bringing a tragic and disastrous end, Gen. Musharraf will have to be more cautious about using force, whatever his military intelligence advises him. He should remember that army action against a national movement may bring only temporary gain but no permanent solution. Hence, he will have to sit with the people representing the new-nationalist Baluchis belonging to the younger generation, and not with mere "show-men."

The first and the foremost thing that Musharraf may have to do is to accept the basic demand of the Baluchis for autonomy, making them equal partners in the administration. If the current deteriorating political situation in Baluchistan can be halted and amicably solved, then only Baluchistan can be an active partner in Pakistan's national politics.

A M M Shahabuddin is a retired UN official.