Brahamdagh Bugti & Balochistan Crises

By Zaheerul Hassan

In an interview with Carlota Gall (a British Journalist works for “The New York Times”)    on 23 Aug 2011, Brahamdagh Bugti a renowned rebellion, grandson of late Akbar Bugti has claimed that he has no connection with armed struggle. Recently, he has applied for political asylum in Switzerland. He stated that he has no plans to continue with political activities from there and has offered to resign from his political membership to central committee of BRP. At the same time, he has also reiterated in the said interview that people of Balochistan are undertaking armed struggle for liberation. In fact the past and present status of Brahamdagh Bugti clearly reflects that his illegal activities remained the main causes of unrest in Balochistan. He found involved in abduction and murder of innocent Balochis. According to the highly placed reliable sources Barhamdagh used to be the financially supported by those foreign elements and super power who are dreaming for creation of “The Greater Balochistan”. Thus,it would not be wrong in saying that Barhamdagh is a RAW sponsored Instrument of Indian-Imperialists.

However, many questions and queries are springing up from the interpretation of his last statement regarding returning to Pakistan. First query could be: Is Barhamdagh truly serious in contemplating to return to Balochistan in order to be part of national political mainstream before next gen elections? Secondly: Has he been given assurance of not being arrested on arrival for his anti state activities? Thirdly: Is foreign sponsors of Brhamdagh asked him to return to Pak & re-invigorate the waning struggle, since it is sharply weakening because of his absence from Balochistan?

Anyhow, the analysis of above narrated quarries reveals that CIA and RAW have chalked out a well thoughtful plan with a view to give momentum to dying down separatists’ resistance in Balochistan. Brhamdagh’s desire of returning home and intention of participating peacefully in the forth coming elections is one of episode of foreign sponsored play in Balochistan. The most likely translation of his desire of returning to Balochistan is that his masters (CIA & RAW) have made a tricky plan of launching and ultimately killing him in Balochistan.  Probably, the foreign masters have now lost the utility of Brhamdagh and want him to be eliminated in his area to gain the lost public support the so-called cause (dead sell better than living). Moreover, killing of him would also allow them to choose someone settled within Balochistan having minor or no charge sheet, in addition it will discredit government for its alleged lack of sincerity to resolve the issues on province politically. In my opinion  Brahamdagh i might  has been asked by his foreign masters to publicly disassociate himself from militancy so that host country has no objections in granting him asylum. Therefore his expression to return is just a gimmick, aimed to facilitate asylum.

The other translation could be that, he seems to be greatly under pressure after being displaced from Afghanistan situation and needs a confirmation of the political asylum in the host country and more likely that he will undoubtedly resume his activities after the final grant of asylum.  But till that time foreign hands will try to maintain the ongoing unrest in Balochistan through militancy. For example the increases in exploding power pylons, abduction of innocents and discriminatory firing on the people are the subversive activities of the foreign sponsored militants. On November 21, 2011 foreign sponsored insurgents killed at least 15 security personnel including a Major were killed and 16 others wounded in Chamlang area near Quetta city. Sources stated that the incident took place when Frontier Constabulary (FC) officials were carrying out search operation in Loralayi in the suburbs of the provincial capital. Earlier to number of times militants killed innocents’ civilians and security persons.  

Balochistan has been witnessing a low level insurgency since 1973.  Many nations including USA, Russia and India see Balochistan as a strategically important zone of influence. Obama though is trying to extricate his troops from Afghanistan in 2014 but definitely has the desire of kept on occupying some of Afghanistan bases to guard Americans’ interest while staying in the neighbourhood of mineral enriched Balochistan and Central Asian states. It is worth mentioning here that Balochistan is located on the northern lip of straits of Hormuz through which much of the world’s oil supply passes. Balochistan is God gifted rich in natural resources itself with an estimated 19 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves and 6 trillion barrels of oil reserves. Operating Gwadar deep sea port with Chinese support, Gas pipeline Iran-Pak agreement and Pakistani offer of facilitating Russian trade through warm water are also against Americans’ interest in Asia. Therefore US and her nominated Asian Watchdog (India) are all out for the completion of grand design of establishing “Greater Balochistan” with the help of Pakistani, Iranian and Afghani separatists. US and Indian joint ventured is also  aiming at: (1) supporting rebels Baloch leaders for storming terrorism in Pakistan (2) Incorporating Iranian and Afghanis’ Baloch areas in purposed Greater Balochistan, (3) Declaring Pakhtune region as Al-Qaida dominated areas and targeting Gas pipeline.

Most of Pakistani Balochi lords have never ever taken interest in the development of Balochistan despite taking control of the governments. In various era Bugti, Mengal, Murree and others prominent Baloch lords ruled the province but no progress have been noticed towards the improvement of the life of common man. So called Baloch lords only used to make money on the name of various development projects. In this context, most of federal and provincial governments of the past were also responsible since they never checked that whether deputed lords have expended the allotted funds on the development projects or not.  But now armed forces with the cooperation of federal and provincial governments are taking steps in development of educational institutions, buildings of hospitals and road networks. Recently, General Kayani inaugurated Education City in Sui which reflects another confidence building measure by the Army to remove the sense of deprivation amongst the Baloch by providing quality education to the tribal youth in Sui and Dera Bugti. New opportunities for the development and prosperity in remote areas of Balochistan, a province where 58 percent of the population lives below the poverty line and has a literacy rate of only 34 percent compared to a national average of 54 percent. According to the official reports presently around 23000 Baloch students are studying in the educational institutions run by the Army and Frontier Corps; over 4000 young Baloch are benefiting from Chamlang Beneficiary Education Programme and around 700 Baloch youth are studying in reputed institutions of other provinces. In this context the decision of the Punjab Chief Minister to wholeheartedly open universities and colleges of Punjab to Baloch students is also laudable.   Pakistan Army has also established the Balochistan Institute of Technical Education (BITE) in Quetta where so far 1700 students in various technical trades and disciplines have been trained

Coming back to the topic I will add here that elected true and patriotic leadership of Balochistan should be provided chance to rule the province.  Brahamdagh Bugti too be inducted and involved in political dialogue in line with his expressed intentions. If he backs out (which is most likely to happen) it would confirm his lack of sincerity. Major political forces could generate consensus on critical issues related to provincial autonomy through the NFC award, the 18th Amendment and Aghaz-Haqooq-e Balochistan package, then finding a lasting political solution to Balochistan crisis should not be difficult, provided the country’s leadership accord it their top priority. General amnesty for militants and political dialogue supported by fast track implementation of the Balochistan economic package would defiantly help in addressing major grievances of masses. Peaceful political solution will also assist in defeating people playing in foreign hands and international conspiracy against Pakistan.