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Balochistan: Act vigilantly instead of sloganeering
June 01, 2012
Neither political sloganeering nor merely shifting blame on to the armed forces would ensure peace in the province. Nevertheless, the Supreme Court Bar Association conference was a right step in the right direction. At least, the gravity of the situation was acknowledged and articulated, and deliberations were made to sort out an eternal resolution to the problems of Balochistan.
The situation in Balochistan is immensely gruesome. The writ of the state is gradually weakening, or, in certain parts, has ceased to exist. The anti-state movements have progressively created popular sanctuaries in the province. These movements also enjoy political sanctuaries in the neighboring states of Pakistan. In addition, the topography of the province provides physical sanctuaries to the rebellious groups such as Baloch Liberation Movement. More precisely, these sanctuaries provide advantageous circumstances to the dissident groups and limit the police or paramilitary forces’ operability in the province. The elimination of these sanctuaries necessitates a comprehensive multi-dimensional political strategy rather than military tactics.
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The Balochistan imbroglio received a serious response from the major political parties of Pakistan during the recent conference in Islamabad. The leading political leaders of the country expressed their sincere determination to concentrate on the subject and chalk out a pragmatic-cum-doable strategy to address the grievances of the people of Balochistan.
Realistically speaking, the situation in Balochistan is immensely gruesome. The writ of the state is gradually weakening, or, in certain parts, has ceased to exist. The anti-state movements have progressively created popular sanctuaries in the province. These movements also enjoy political sanctuaries in the neighboring states of Pakistan. In addition, the topography of the province provides physical sanctuaries to the rebellious groups such as Baloch Liberation Movement. More precisely, these sanctuaries provide advantageous circumstances to the dissident groups and limit the police or paramilitary forces’ operability in the province. The elimination of these sanctuaries necessitates a comprehensive multi-dimensional political strategy rather than military tactics.
The Baloch’s distrust on both the provincial and federal governments makes the province dysfunctional. In addition, the sectarian zealots, Taliban warlords, and Baloch insurgents have been killing innocent people without the fear of punishment. They roam freely in Quetta, and even hit the targets comfortably within the red-zone of the provincial capital.
The kidnapping for the sake of hefty ransom has been increasing in Quetta. Consequently, people have been migrating from Quetta to the major cities of Pakistan, while wealthier ones have been shifting their business to foreign countries.
The current nightmarish situation of Balochistan has its own negative dynamics. It increases poverty and mistrust among the people. In simple words, the people lose their trust in the law-enforcement agencies. These developments are certainly to the advantage of the anti-state forces to create a fifth column in Balochistan. Such a perilous state of affair demands a serious deliberation from all the stakeholders.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court Bar Association organized a conference on Balochistan in Islamabad on May 26, 2012. It was a timely initiative by the senior Bar Association of the country to deliberate over the burning national issue. The legal fraternity’s sensitivity about the issue certainly strengthens the forces that have been working to find the missing persons in Balochistan. Notably, the missing persons issue has worsened relations between Islamabad and the province. It also provoked the apex judiciary. The Chief Justice of Pakistan personally ordered the law-enforcement agencies to settle the issue of missing persons. Unfortunately, the solution to the missing persons puzzle is still awaited.
The dissident Baloch leaders have been claiming that the federal government agencies are involved in the heinous crime of abduction. They are viewed in government circles as anti-establishment in general and army in particular. The tragic end of Nawab Akbar Khan Bughti further widened the gap between Islamabad and Baloch leaders. This anti-establishment perception needs to be quashed for the restoration of peace and prosperity in Balochistan.
Interestingly, both the ruling coalition members and opposition representatives in the recent seminar had expressed identical concerns on the deteriorating situation in Balochistan. Everyone accused, covertly or overtly, the Pakistan Army and its paramilitary institutions, including the intelligence agencies, of derailing political stability and entailing law and order erosion in the province. While denouncing the tactics of secret kidnapping and the ‘kill and dump’ operation, they recommended the political solution to the problem. One understands the opposition parties’ conclusions about the negative role of the establishment; but one fails to reconcile with the claims of the government representatives in the seminar.
The political solution is the only optimal choice for the ruling elite in Pakistan to bring the dissident tribesmen and their leaders on the negotiating table. Reconciliation between the Baloch leaders and the government is a primary mean to end the prevalent chaos in the Baloch areas. At the same time, the political leadership ought to understand that it has to act rationally and sincerely. Ironically, on May 26, both the ruling coalition members and opposition parties’ representatives were only relying on their oratory skills without articulating a doable plan. It is understandable. The country is heading towards general elections and the political leadership is more concerned about the voting behavior on the Election Day, instead of focusing on the long-term strategy to determine the permanent solution to the problem. This attitude or approach of the politicians would only multiply the problems instead of resolving them.
Indeed, neither political sloganeering nor merely shifting blame on to the armed forces would ensure peace in the province. Nevertheless, the Supreme Court Bar Association conference was a right step in the right direction. At least, the gravity of the situation was acknowledged and articulated, and deliberations were made to sort out an eternal resolution to the problems of Balochistan.
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