“There is no world of absolute, complete privacy or a world of complete national security.”
– Andrew McCabe
The Balochistan Saga
The recent train hijacking by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) of the Jaffar Express when it left Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan, is a sheer reminder of the thorough cracks appearing in the internal integrity of Pakistan. Of late, there have been various news headlines whereby Balochistan has been projected to be getting worse and restive, day by day. The train that had been hijacked was carrying nearly 400 passengers and the rescue operation after completion reported the killing of 21 civilians, four paramilitary soldiers; and the final rescue after deathly killing of all 33 of the attackers from the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).
This military operation in Pakistan’s southwestern province of Balochistan ended in the rescue of 346 passengers of the Peshawar-bound train. The recent happenings have again bought the Balochistan liberation movement at the forefront, along with pinpointing the continuous internal strife between Pakistan’s military-government establishment and the decades-long aspirations of the Balochis. Balochistan Liberation Army or the BLA is a banned terrorist organisation by Pakistan and both the sides are in the habit of passing edicts against each other on the issue of unfulfilled demands and genuine aspirations.
Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) is responsible for putting to the forefront the demands of the ethnic Balochis and is one of the strongest insurgent groups in Pakistan, active in areas bordering Afghanistan and Irna. BLA targets the Pakistani Army regularly, incessantly, and continuously without any qualms for any destruction caused. However, there is a long history behind the internal struggle between these two differing and opposing factions.
Balochistan and Insurgency: A Short History
Balochistan is actually not just a province but a vast geographical feeling that transcends the cartographical boundaries. ‘Balochi’ is an emotion that includes ethnic groupings such as Baluchis, Brahuis, Pashtuns, Hazaras, and others. It is a minority community group in Pakistan, often at cross-hairs with the established Pakistani government. Balochistan historically refers to the region of western and Southern Asia, located in Iranian Plateau, far south-east and also bordering Iranian plate, along with the Arabian sea.
It is an area marked by desert and continuous mountainous ranges. The ethnic Balochis’ nationality encompasses boundaries of the world stage and Balochis can be found in Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan. Balochis have a tenth-century origin and are not mentioned in the pre-Islamic era. Tribalism and pastoral nomadism are of highest significance for the Balochis, since these are their livelihood-sustenance methods. Balochis are historically displaced people, have lived and are still living in a pastoral-nomadic way of life. The ethnic Balochistan inhabitants are different from Sunni followers of Islamic religion.
The difference of cultural values is the foundation of the internal strife with the Pakistani army. Historically persecuted by the Sassanid emperors Shapur II and Khosrow II, on the issue of suspected Zoroastrian belief system, Balochis converted to Sunni Islamic faith and belief system, in order to avoid any further atrocities and forced conversion; apart from persecutions. The 7th century Arab conquest of Balochistan also led to a furtherance in a lot of Balochi oppressionist agenda/ propaganda.
Balochistan: A Tryst with Pakistan
The largest population of Balochi ethnic communities resides in Pakistan. Pakistan comprises of four (4) major provinces namely- Balochistan (south-western), Sindh (south-eastern), Punjab (eastern Pakistan) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Northern Pakistan). Balochis face extreme isolation and suppression in Pakistan. The same is aptly clear from the recent train hijacking. Regular persecutions of Balochis are reported in the media. The insurgent activities of the Balochi nationalists are targeted primarily towards the established government of Pakistan. The vast area of Balochistan is rich in natural resources, but ironically is the most underdeveloped area of Pakistan.
Right from 1948 to 1977, there was a continuous struggle between the Balochi Liberation Army and the Pakistani Army. There are at-least ten insurgent groups of Balochi liberation under the wider umbrella of BLA. International experts of diplomacy and external affairs have pointed out that Pakistan is not far away from balkanisation. Each and every province of Pakistan is currently undergoing drastic changes that have the internal force to disintegrate a young nation. Even the senate members of the various assemblies in Pakistan have pointed out that the central government of Pakistan has no control over Balochistan. At least seven districts of Balochistan province are under direct control of different terrorist organisations or the Balochi Liberation Army.
The whole issue arises from the indifference towards the inhabitants of Balochistan by the established Pakistani government. Historians also point out towards the disintegration of Kalat princely state from the State of Pakistan at the time of its formation, as one of the reasons, since Kalat was an important part of the whole Balochi nationality.
The people of Balochistan are economically marginalised, inspite of being resourcefully richer and naturally more endowed than any other province of Pakistan. It is a very poor province, with no human development occurring since the past many years. Human rights violations are reported from both, the Balochi side and from the side of the Pakistani ‘aawaam.’ Forced disappearances of the Balochis is another issue, whereby even the Supreme Court of Pakistan has chided the Central government on the forceful disappearances of at-least 5000 innocent native Balochis. Many of those displaced are said to be innocent and a victim of false case lodgings. The natural gas reserves of Balochistan are not used for their upliftment and the various other natural resources are also supplied outside ethe province, local non-usage of which has spewed immense anger.
The regular economic depressions, shortage of skilled and employable labour, unfocussed human resource development, shortage of social institutions, etc are all emerging as well as constant issues of the impoverished region. The entry of the Chinese into the province has triggered sharpest response from the original inhabitants of Balochistan, since the natural resources are now being pandered away for the growth and development of another country, and for the growth and development of another country’s strategic and defence propaganda. Which genuine inhabitant of a place will like this? Which Balochi will be in favour of this? The Chinese-Pakistani Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) of China have irked the Balochis, to such an extent that killing of Chinese workers is again, an everyday headline. Balochis do not have jobs there, but Chinese are being provided with the best of facilities for their employment. What an irony. And amidst all this, Pakistan is blaming India, for all that goes wrong in the country, and specifically the province of Balochistan. But the same does not make any sense, whatsoever.
Closing Note: Consequences for India
The inherent fuel of the Balochi struggle is the indifference of the established Pakistani government and the ages-old killing of the much-revered Baloch leader, Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, by the then Parvez Musharraf establishment. One of the most neglected areas of Pakistan, Balochistan spews anger towards anyone at the Centre because of their neglect of the region, apart from grave injustice and atrocities mounted upon the ethnic Balochis. Last year as well, there were a number of coordinated attacks by the BLA damaging innumerable government structures and establishments. The train hijacking is just another, but a more elevated method of showing dissent. True needs and aspirations of the Balochis are neglected, again furthering the chasm between the two factions, and another reason behind growth of insurgent groupings. Victims of Balochi attacks are not just Pakistani Army officials, but also Punjabi and Sindhi populations, apart from Chinese workers.
The attack on the Punjabis also showcases a need to challenge the army directly, as the Pakistani army has been and is the stronghold of the Punjabis, itself. This all boils down to a simple fact that- Pakistan has failed to address the issues of Balochis, that Balochis do not prefer their natural resources being utilised and exploited for another province or country, and also that Balochistan wants to be seen and addressed and equated equivalent to other Pakistanis. Pakistan justifies crackdown on Baloch nationalists by accusing them of seeking help from India.
Though there are no direct implications for India, but an unstable neighbourhood can very quickly escalate into any kind of border issue, anytime. This is the reason that stability of Balochistan is of utmost importance for Pakistan itself, and more so, for India. Instead of suppressing the insurgents, signing peace accords, understanding their demands, and reaching at a midway is the best option available for the Indian neighbour. What happens, or what does not in the current scenario, needs to be seen.
This situation can either escalate or die down peacefully, depending upon the handling of the issue. Proactive actions are required, alongwith a cool-headed approach of the situation, with best negotiators at the table for solution. Peace, is what one can vouch for and seek in prayers. Jai Hind.
