From Bangladesh to Balochistan

Asif Haroon Raja

When Pakistan came into being in August 1947, from among five federating provinces, East Pakistan was the most under developed province followed by Balochistan, Sindh and Frontier provinces. Punjab was relatively more developed and prosperous because of well developed communication infrastructure, better literacy and technical skills, fertile land, plentiful water for irrigation and sophisticated canal irrigation system built by the British and hard working lower class. Elite civil service, police and armed forces had majority from Punjab and Urdu speaking Mohajirs. Inequity in development status of smaller provinces vis-à-vis Punjab became the chief reason for giving rise to grouses among the former.

East Pakistan was subverted by Indian intelligence agencies from 1948 onwards and Mujibur Rahman became the vehicle to further their ends. India succeeded in its designs because of mishandling by our rulers and failing to attend to some genuine and mostly perceived grievances of Bengalis against the State. Propaganda warfare and subversion of youth by Hindu teachers and professors in schools, colleges and universities was never countered. They were brainwashed into believing that Punjabi dominated central government had turned East Pakistan into its colony and West Pakistan was prospering at their cost. Awami League rejected maximum provincial autonomy and sought confederation during Yahya-Mujib parleys in March 1971. Great majority of people of eastern wing had desired removal of their grievances but had never preferred separation and that too under tutelage of India. Terrorized into submission, they reluctantly flowed with the tide of Awami League stimulated independence movement.

By the time India launched its military instrument on 21 November 1971, Bengali nationalism as well as abhorrence for West Pakistan had peaked. More than half the battle had already been won on psychological operations plane. Small force of West Pakistani 45000 (both army and paramilitary) together with Razakars trying to defend the motherland was hugely outnumbered, isolated, fatigued and demoralized and their weapons and equipment badly worn out. Biharis and pro-Pakistan Bengalis were later on declared as collaborators and ruthlessly massacred and persecuted. Euphoria of Bangladeshis soon transformed into despair since independence did not bring any change in their fortunes. In fact, for first 20 years of their independence their plight became pathetic. Rapid decline in living conditions made them realize that they were tricked and led up the garden path. It sparked unrest and led to massacre of Mujib and his 23 family members in 1974. India has become highly meddlesome in internal affairs of Bangladesh. To ensure its monopoly, India impedes its progress, foments trouble and treats it as its 29^th state. There is large segment in Bangladesh that still ruefully recalls old days of united Pakistan with nostalgia and detests India for its unwanted interference and bossy attitude.  

After achieving a huge success in 1971, RAW was assigned to carryout subversion in Sindh. Existing grievances between old and new Sindhis were exploited and deep cleavages drawn between two communities giving rise to ethnic based nationalism and regional politics. Tussle between Punjabi and Pathan settlers in Karachi and Urdu speaking Mohajirs was accentuated to create bad blood between various communities. By early 1990, Sindh became a wounded province and ideas of Sindudesh and Urdudesh were planted among nationalists. Military operation against MRD movement in interior Sindh in 1983 duly backed by India and against MQM in 1992 and again in 1995-96 stemmed nationalist fervor to some extent. In the aftermath of 9/11, interests of USA and India colluded in Balochistan. Emphasis therefore shifted from Sindh towards Balochistan. Since early 2002, RAW, CIA, Mossad, MI-6, RAAM are collectively assisting separatist movement in Balochistan. Huge quantity of war munitions and funds are being regularly pumped in.

Christen Fair, a reputed US journalist has exposed Indian covert operations in Pakistan. For Balochistan, Indian consulates in Kandahar and Zahedan are playing a key role. Situation in Balochistan was deliberately worsened by getting three Baloch nationalist leaders killed by Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) in last April since they were on verge of spilling the beans about Brahamdagh led BLA sponsored by foreign agencies. Captured suicide bombers from Dera Bugti made damning revelations of involvement of runaway Brahamdagh Bugti, RAW and RAAM in training terrorists in camps in Afghanistan and launching them in Balochistan against assigned targets. Riasat 25 and 33 detachments were specifically created for fomenting unrest in Pakistan. Commander Raziq Achakzai turned Spin Boldak into forward launching pad for unleashing terrorists and supplying arms and ammunition in Balochistan. Afghan officials facilitate border crossing of RAW agents. Shahgarh-Kishingrah route in Indian Rajasthan is also frequented for same purpose. RAW chief VM Varma and RAAM chief Amanullah Saleh hold frequent meetings in New Delhi and Kabul to coordinate clandestine operations in Pakistan. CIA and Mossad also take part in some of Pakistan-specific meetings.  Baloch miscreants are richly paid by foreign agencies and lifestyle of heretofore unknown BLA members belonging to Marri tribe has become opulent. Other shady organizations having no base are on papers only. These include Baloch Republican Army (BRA) representing Bugtis, Lashkar-i-Balochistan, an armed group of Mengals and Baloch Liberation Front (BLF) representing many Baloch tribes. Purpose is to make the world believe that movement is wide based.

A systematic campaign is in progress under patronage of RAW to brainwash Baloch youth, inculcate in them Baloch nationalism and turn them against concept of Pakistan. 20 teachers were sent in 2008 from Balochistan to Afghanistan for receiving training to subvert school/college syllabus in Balochistan as had been done in East Pakistan through Hindu teachers and professors. Pakistan History, social and Islamic studies in particular is being distorted. In many schools in Baloch dominated districts like Mastung, Kalat, Naushki, Sui, Dera Bugti and Kahan, students no more sing national anthem or display Pakistan flag or eulogize services of Quaid-e-Azam. Hatred against Punjabis, army and federal government is inculcated on grounds that they are plundering the resources of Balochistan and thriving on Baloch natural resources.

Pattern of propaganda themes is on lines played by Awami League in East Pakistan. Nawab Bugti is lionized as a Baloch hero and BLA projected as a vehicle struggling for emancipation and independence of Balochistan from the yoke of parasitic Punjabis who have colonised their province. BRA is eulogized for confronting the army. It has claimed responsibility for all acts of terror including target killings of Punjabi settlers. It is holding 21 police officials and 14 laborers as hostages since 30 July and has already killed 12 policemen and threatened to kill remaining abducted persons if arrested Baloch dissidents involved in anti-state activities are not immediately released. Pillions riding masked gunmen belonging to BLA are carrying out target killings of Punjabi settlers and Persian speaking Hazaras. Punjabi settlers have migrated from rural districts and are now moving out from Quetta as well.

PM Gilani showed photos of Brahamdagh meeting Indian officials in Afghanistan and India and RAW officials meeting anti-Pak elements to Manmohan at Sharm-al Sheikh. He was provided clinching evidence of Indian involvement in terrorist attacks on Sri Lanka cricket team on 3 March and on Manawan police academy on 30 March in Lahore rendering Manmohan speechless. Holbrooke and Gen Stanley McChrystal were also apprised of Indian activities. Pakistan should now do away with its harmful policy of appeasement and press India, Afghanistan and USA to hand over Brahamdagh, wind up his clandestine HQ in Kandahar, close Pakistan specific Indian consulates and camps training terrorists in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, socio-politico-economic steps should be undertaken in real earnest to remove genuine grievances of people of Balochistan. Media should play its role to wash away effects of negative propaganda bred into the minds of youth and inculcate in them nationalism and patriotism. A fervent celebration of 14 August Independence Day in Quetta on 10 August was a healthy activity to put to shame few anti-state elements aspiring to declare independence of Balochistan.