More on Balochistan

Niraj has a set of links to articles by B.Raman which will help in understanding why the Balochis hate the Pakistan Govt. From reading those articles it looks like another East Pakistan in the making. While major construction is going on for the Gwadar Port in Balochistan, the Balochis are kept away from the jobs and in their place Punjabis and Pashtuns whose loyalty were not suspect were moved in.
The Army is also building cantonments in Balochistan which the Balochis do not see favourably.

Under US pressure to restore law and order in Baluchistabn, Musharraf, with financial assistance from the US Central Command, has embarked upon a plan for the construction of three more cantonments in Baluchistan at Dera Bugti, Kohlu and Gwadar. Though these cantonments have been projected by the Pakistan Army as meant to enable the Army deal more effectively with the dregs of the IIF, the Baluch nationalists fear that Musharraf has been exploiting the US concerns to get money for strengthening the Army presence in the province to enable him to crush the nationalists at an opportune moment.[Unrest In Baluchistan]

Both the opposition and treasury senators are of the opinion that the cantonments are being built to supress the nationalists, while Musharraf thinks that it is absolutely necessary.
Due to their treatment as second class citizens, the Balochis are revolting and the Army is moving in to supress the revolt. But then there are contradicting reports coming about the military action. Now there is a new report

A tribal leader in the restive Baluchistan has accused Pakistan army of using tanks and helicopter gunships to quell “agitation against outsiders.” This contradicts official versions that no military operation was held in the province. Prominent Baluch tribal leader, Nawab Mohammad Akbar Khan Bugti, who heads the Jamhoori Watan Party, told reporters in Pakistan’s Hyderabad on Thursday that a number of areas in the province were devastated due to attacks by rockets, missiles and heavy bombing. Tanks, gunships, helicopters, army and para-military forces were being used right from Turbat to Gwadar in Baluchistan, Bugti was quoted as saying by the local media.[Tribal leader accuses Pak of using tanks, choppers]

One thought on “More on Balochistan

Comments are closed.