Kalat Operation: Countering Anti-State Baloch Elements
Every patrotic Baloch knows that the Kalat search operation in the Balochistan province of Pakistan is against the foreign funded and foreign sponsored anti-state outfits like Baloch Liberation Army, United Baloch Army and Baloch Republican Army. These groups are involved in killing of innocent and poor Pakistanis in train bomb blasts, destruction of national assets like gas pipelines, railway lines etc. The aims of these suverisve acts are to weaken the state, public infrastructure, while coercing the economy to fulfill external agenda of the US, India and some western powers.
Farrari camps (Hideouts), located in far off mountains of Balochistan are sanctuaries for these terrorists where they have a lavish living. Sophisticated equipments and gadgets have been recovered from these areas including non detectable satellite phones, solar panels and state of the art weapons. Their defenses are well-planned and weapon system—sited in a deliberate well-organized manner. There is clear proof of external hands, because no indigenous movement or group can afford to have such high-technological weapons and sophisticated gadgets.
In the recent past, bomb blast in Jaffar Express resulted into killing of the innocent Pakistanis, especially the Baloch and Pakhtuns, while the poor were travelling in the cheapest mode of conveyance. The perpetrators were the Baloch sub-nationalists who have lost sense of morality and human compassion. Foreign secret agencies can easily buy their loyalties, as they sell themselves for petty gains and readily fulfill the objectives of their foreign masters.
It is notable that India, US and Israel have been internationalizing the Balochistan issue in accordance with their secret goals. In this respect, in connivance with the Baloch separatist leaders who have taken refuge in Switzerland, Sweden, US and London, these external entities use media, various NGOs and human rights organizations for false propaganda against Pakistan’s armed forces including other security agencies in relation to extrajudicial killings, mutilated bodies and the missing persons.
While, regarding aggravated situation of Balochistan and the missing persons, everyone knows that Balochistan Liberation Army and Baloch sub-nationalist including another group, Jundollah (God’s soldiers) which have been fighting for secession of the province gets logistic support from American CIA and Indian RAW—these militants kidnapped and killed many innocent people and the security personnel in the province. They also massacred many persons through suicide attacks, bomb blasts, targeted killings and sectarian violence. Therefore, they are responsible for dumped bodies and extrajudicial killings in the province. On a number of occasions, these insurgent groups claimed responsibility for their subversive acts. A majority of the disappeared individuals are also in the detention centers which are being run by Baloch feudal lords (Sardars) who want to continue old system of feudalism in the province.
It is because of these reasons that during the missing persons’ case, nothing was proved in the Supreme Court of Pakistan against the armed forces and other security agencies. There are only a few anti-state Baloch separatists and Sardars, who are exploiting the situation in their own favour. In fact, these anti-Pakistan elements are creating hype on the issue of missing persons in order to distort the image of the country, all the Baloch and Pak Army at national and international level so as to obtain their own vested interest. Giving undue importance to the missing persons’ case by these few hostile entities is a diversionary tactics to downplay the actual issues of Balochistan, affecting the common Baloch populace. Thus, they have not only been misguing the loyal Baloch, but are also diverting the attention of the majority of the people from the construtive and progressive works, conducted by the government and the Army in Balochistan.
In this context, Government of Pakistan and the Army have sincere desire to address all the issues of the angry Baloch, who are being misguided by the anti-state outfits.
As a result of the general elections 2013, the government led by the nationalist leader Chief Minister Balochistan Dr Abdul Malik Baloch was established in Balochistan, while on December 7, 2013; local bodies elections were largely held in a peaceful manner in the province. However, these elections proved that majority of the Baloch are loyal to the federation, and do not favour separation of the Balachistan, as they have rejected the case of separatists, being projected by anti-Pakistan powers.
It is mentionable that a Gallup survey of the UK official body, DFID, conducted on July 20, 212, had disclosed that the vast majority of the Baloch people oppose the idea of an independent Balochistan. This survey has also proved that some external elements have been conducting acts of sabotage in the province by backing the minority groups.
Nevertheless, projects relating to the socio-economic uplift has been top priority of Government of Pakistan. In 2013, Rs. 43.19 billions on account of Development Fund were given to the elected Baloch leadership of the provincial assembly. But, benefits of the second development programme funds, issued to MNAs and MPAs of Balochistan are not trickling down to common Baloch. No doubt, a huge amount has been provided to the Baloch political leadership, but no significant development project has been initiated in Balochistan. It is entirely up to the concerned Baloch Sardars or Nawabs to ensure that a common Baloch reaps the benefits of development. They should implement the development project as per plan.
As regards the positive role of Army, in 2011, I had visited Balochistan along with other journalists. I saw a number of institutes, set up by army, and these were providing education, especially technical training to thousands of Balochis. Besides other developments works, Pak Army was also imparting army training to the Baloch youth. So, the purpose of army is to uplift the Baloch people with creation of jobs and to bring them in the mainstream of the country. However, I had also a trip to far-flung areas of the province and witnessed various mega projects and mineral sites, protected by the armed forces. People also told me that subversive events are being arranged by the minority separatist elements so as to create chaotic situation in the province.
Pakistan’s armed forces and law-enforcing agencies are ready to sacrifice their lives to save their Balochi brethren from foreign sponsored anti-state Baloch sub-nationalists. In this respect, Pakistan Army’s relief efforts in Awaraan Earthquake is testimony of their resolve to sacrifice everything for helping Baloch brothers in distress, agony and grief.
Now, it is the duty of our Baloch brothers to identify these anti-state elements which are sponsoring terrorism in Balochistan and get secluded from them. The armed sub-nationalist elements are defaming patriotic Baloch by committing heinous crimes. Honorable Baloch brethren should get united and put up a collective response to counter these elements by undermining their nefarious designs, aimed at destabilizing the state of Pakistan and tarnishing its image including that of the armed foces. The loyalist Balochis must know that separatist entities of the province are bringing bad name to the noble people of Balochistan, and therefore must be condemned assertively.
Undoubtedly, the Baloch are patriotic Pakistanis, but they must not be indoctrinated by the anti-state elements’ propaganda by becoming reluctant, having reservations over priorities set by the federal and provincial governments for their benefits.
Nonetheless, it is the duty of every Pakistani, and particulary every Balochi including members of the civil society and the media persons to give a matching respons to the hostile entities of Balachistan. In this connection, by countering anti-state Baloch elements, they must draw a clear picture of the province regarding Kalat operation and other efforts, made by the civil and military authorities for the benefits of Balochistan.
Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations
Email: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com