I'll be posting about Pakistan's Balochistan problem in parts for it won't be enough to understand the root of the cause in just a few paragraphs for Pakistan's Balochistan Problem (Part I)— The History behind Balochi Insurgencies.
For the context, I would first like you to hear about some shocking events that had left Pakistan with no other choice than to commence an Israel to Palestine like war upon its own territory Balochistan!!
More than 70 dead after militant attacks in Pakistan's Balochistan
QUETTA, Pakistan, Aug 26 (Reuters) - At least 73 people were killed in Pakistan's province of Balochistan when separatist militants attacked police stations, railway lines and highways and security forces launched retaliatory operations, officials said on Monday. The assaults were the most widespread in years by ethnic militants fighting a decades-long insurgency to win secession of the resource-rich southwestern province, home to major China-led projects such as a port and a gold and copper mine.
For more on the news of Balochistan horror, watch this video from Times Now.
This news from Reuters and all other MSM including India's, has unanimously defined it as a heinous terror attack on Pakistan. However, this attack is not the first one in the region. After 2005, these type of attacks have been going on in all of Balochistan, albeit with low number of casualties. There's no doubt that it was a terror attack and the crime of killing civilians on the basis of their ethnicity has been done with sheer barbarity.
The problem does not lie in the definition of terrorism. The problem is there in the unacceptance of it by a large country that's been reeling somehow for survival upon the grace of China's massive investment in the Balochi region. As matter of fact, Pakistan has already almost sold Balochistan to China with China using the Gwadar Port strategically for trade and as base for its military. That's one fact the world should realise, and the other is that Balochistan is far away land for its culture than rest of Pakistan. To understand about the differences in culture, first take a look at this map —
You can clearly see that Pakistan has always been divided by major ethnic groups settled in a particular region. The balochis are the only people who are spread at least across three countries, Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan. Balochistan is also the biggest state of Pakistan in terms of area almost holding about 44% of total area of Pakistan.
The economy of Balochistan is mainly based upon the production of natural gas, coal and other minerals like gold, copper, etc. Despite being rich in natural resources the people of this region are living in extremely poor conditions. Much of the population is illiterate, malnourished living without electricity or clean drinking water.
So, to root the problem of terrorism in Balochistan for Pakistan, if these are not enough for the people to join separatist groups like Baloch Liberation Army that has taken the responsibility of recent series of terror attacks accross Balochistan, Pakistan's history of acquiring Balochistan after independence from British rule has a lot to say on its current reasons to uprising demands for a seperate nation.
In 1947, the Khan of Kalat announced the formation of an independent state in Balochistan. After sustained coercive tactics by Pakistan’s leadership, the Khan of Kalat signed the instrument of accession in 1948. Interestingly, at the time of Pakistan’s independence, Gwadarwas part of the Sultanate of Oman. After prolonged negotiations with Oman, Pakistan was able to purchase Gwadar in 1958. This history of independence, resistance, and incorporation of territories through coercion had defined a lot of Balochistan’s political trajectory.
Additionally, in 1955, various provinces and ethnic areas in West Pakistan were subsumed into a single province under the One Unit scheme. The scheme resulted in considerable centralisation of power and negated the basic principles of federalism. After much opposition, it was abolished in 1970 leading to the emergence of provincial assemblies, including in Balochistan. However, this did not usher in an era of genuine federalism. The provincial governments were routinely dismissed, and Islamabad continued to have a significant say in the governance of the province. The lack of provincial autonomy aggravated the discontent in Balochistan, which went on in form of insurgencies and protests until Nawab Akbar Bugati became the Chief Minister of Balochistan in 1990.
Nawab Akbar Bugati was the first major leader from Balochistan and leader of Bugati clan who tried to solve Balochistan problem with Pakistan by diplomacy, dialogue and peacemaking. He tried for atleast 15 years before he also joined Balochi extremist groups. Parvez Musharraf, then President of Pakistan, On 26 August 2006, ordered Pakistani army to storm the stronghold of the chief of the Bugti clan.
In December 2005, only months before the military operationthat would be carried out against Bugti, Musharraf had said:
... there are two or three tribal chiefs and feudal lords behind what’s going on in Balochistan.The past governments have made deals with them and indulged them. My government is determined to establish its writ. It will be a fight to the finish.
The army bombings of Dera Bugti resulted in indiscriminate killing, and displacement of close to 1,60,000 people in the region, according to reports. The siege forced Bugti and his supporters to shift bases to Bhamboor hills where they would eventually meet their end. Dawn, a major newspaper from Pakistan, reported that the operation to capture Bugti went on for three days before it achieved its goal.
Bugti’s death, however, resulted in massive protests when entire Balochistan, from university students to separatist leaders, united against the Pakistani regime. All opposition leaders throughout the country condemned the killing. Bugti was not simply a separatist leader heading an anti-regime movement, but he had once been at the heart of mainstream politics, having served as governor and chief minister of Balochistan.
TIME magazine said of Bugti in 2006:
Bugti was not just a local, or even a Baluch hero, but a nationally respected politician whose cause resonated throughout the country. In using force to take out the small problem of an avowedly secular and anti-Taliban insurgent group (with reasonable demands, if not reasonable means), the military-led government of President Pervez Musharraf may find that it has simply highlighted the larger issue of military rule on the day before Musharraf’s hand-picked Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz faces a vote of no-confidence in Parliament.
The case of alleged murder of Akbar Bugti dragged on against Musharraf for a couple of years until earlier in January 2016, Musharraf was acquitted of the charges.
Bugti’s death on 26 August 2006 was condemned by all Baloch separatists and Pakistani opposition leaders.
‘I’d Rather Death Come to Me While I’m Fighting for a Purpose’
In a satellite telephone interview with the TIME magazine in May 2006, Bugti had rather prophetically said:
It’s better to die — as the Americans say — with your spurs on. Instead of a slow death in bed, I’d rather death come to me while I’m fighting for a purpose.
Akbar Bugti was 79 years old at the time of his death. By then he had already buried his sons and grandsons in the fight for Balochistan’s independence. Some sources claim that this fierce chief’s tryst with violence started as early as the age of 12 when he killed a man for the first time.
Eighteen years after Nawab Akbar Bugti’s killing, on August 26, 2006, Baloch insurgents undertaking a series of attacks on August 26-27, 2024, is not merely a co-incident. The Baloch Liberation Army has called it a homage to their leader. However, this totally barbarian terror attack killed at least 23 civilians, mostly petty Punjabi labourers and fruit dealers. In just one brutal incident the passengers were made to get down from a bus, their identity cards checked, and Punjabis were shot to death.