What is it with us as a people? The flotilla issue caused people to come out on the streets everywhere from Peshawar to Karachi but as Balochistan burns ..there is relative silence..are we that disconnected from the Baloch?
Re: Balochistan: Why don't we care?
i think we are pretty disconnected from the baloch. but nothing motivates pakistanies like a good israel/palestine news story. around the time the flotilla was happening we had the ahmedi attacks, and then too the comparison was being made on the outrage over the flotilla vs killings inside pakistan.
who do you think is doing the killing of political leaders Zakk? and why now
Re: Balochistan: Why don't we care?
I know one reason: the situation in Balochistan is not clear to Pakistani people. There is confusion like who is responsible for what.
There are unanswered questions like 'are agencies retaliating for terrorist attacks? or are terrorist attacks in response to the excesses of agencies and government?'
Killing of teachers, peaceful political leaders is alleged on MI and Army by some.
While others blame them on Indian and American agencies sitting in Afghanistan with an open border in between. CIA had officially confirmed they had links with Baloch millitant group Jundullah. (they can't be called terrorist groups if CIA supports them)
Re: Balochistan: Why don't we care?
Balochis don't even think of themselves as Pakistanis. The day they take down the BLA flag and put back the Pakistani flag in schools then that day we should start caring.
and why now
Million dollar question
Re: Balochistan: Why don't we care?
some prominent luminaries (such as zaid hamid) have spread stories in Pakistan that USA and India are behind the Baloch issue - may be that is what is misleading people into this complacency.
some prominent luminaries (such as zaid hamid) have spread stories in Pakistan that USA and India are behind the Baloch issue - may be that is what is misleading people into this complacency.
It is an open fact that RAW funds,trains and supports Balochistan Liberation Army
It is an open fact that RAW funds,trains and supports Balochistan Liberation Army
+TTP
Balochis don't even think of themselves as Pakistanis. The day they take down the BLA flag and put back the Pakistani flag in schools then that day we should start caring.
Why is that??
Re: Balochistan: Why don't we care?
Not enough TV coverage. One of the reasons why I believe our media is still immature and gets way too ahead of its self is because they just do not know how to prioritize important issues and news. Also, they do not know which news should get how much of air time. Result is a nation that is confused and with more information about the happenings and less about the reasons and causes.
It is an open fact that RAW funds,trains and supports Balochistan Liberation Army
that's nonsense. that is the exact kind of denial and misleading that is behind the continuing malais. How many dozen bomb attacks have there been monthly in Pakistan?/ do you seriously think Indian agency can be that capable?
?/ do you seriously think Indian agency can be that capable?
Of course not, Indian agencies are angels all the way.
It is interesting even that this thread is going into a tangent like so many do..there is a seeming lack of intensity to the debate and as mentioned a lack of empathy?
To my knowledge there have been a few condolence references but no protests outside Quetta
COMMENT:Knight, not pawn: Habib Jalib Baloch —Dr Mohammad Taqi
http://dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\07\22\story_22-7-2010_pg3_2
More striking than Habib Jalib’s flowing long hair was his political maturity that was certainly beyond his years. This transition from a student politician to a statesman is rather rare in our part of the world
“Aiy haak ki may nagrin qawm e jis o gor int,
Aiy haak a pa maa taah e jatag shaklein zinday” — Mir Gul Khan Nasir.
“This soil has been our home, after death it has been our grave,
So, for evermore, I am this soil’s slave.”
In the parlance of nationalist movements in Pakistan, the motherland (watan) has often been described as the place where one’s home and grave are (kor and gor, respectively in Pashto, for example). The Baloch revolutionary poet Gul Khan Nasir’s above verse, however, took the concept to a new height. And in his death, on July 15, 2010, Comrade Habib Jalib Baloch immortalised the verse, the concept and the struggle that is befitting of this ideal.
In their February 2000 monograph titled ‘Knights, not Pawns: Ethno-Nationalism and Regional Dynamics in Post-Colonial Balochistan’, Paul Titus and Nina Swidler note that, “In the pivotal years of 1947 and 1948, the Muslim League was able to outmanoeuvre and suppress these ambitious young (nationalist) movements, but they did not die. In subsequent decades, Baloch and Pashtun nationalism became key elements in the political discourse and the equation of power in Balochistan, and they remain so today.”
These movements did not die simply because they have had in their ranks revolutionary dervishes like Ajmal Khattak and Habib Jalib Baloch. These knights have overshadowed almost all pawns that the Pakistani establishment has produced and used to derail the nationalist movements. Their shining armour has been nothing but dedication to their cause and its adornments are their intellect, humility and contact with their people. A sense of pride in their self-chosen, dignified poverty and shunning material incentives is the Teflon that kept every blemish away from their armour and person.
63 years, four martial laws and six major military operations later, the Baloch struggle for autonomy, self-governance and the right to self-determination continues while the fringes of the movement now demand outright independence from the downright knaves of the establishment. It is highly unlikely that silencing a voice of reason like Jalib Baloch will succeed in gagging the demand for rights. In the poem quoted above, Gul Khan Nasir goes on to express the resolve of his people:
“Dastanai bebanday ta ke chammani bebanday,
Kohani zirab a che pa aram a na nenday.”
“Tie our hands behind our backs or blindfold our eyes,
our seething furious mountains will always make us rise.”
By physically eliminating the moderate leaders, the oppressors of Balochistan stoke the fury of mainstream individuals. We keep hearing the ‘foreign hand’ being involved in Balochistan and how the ‘evil’ nationalist chieftains seek and get help from India or Afghanistan. Selig Harrison, however, noted decades ago: “In contrast to [Khair Bakhsh] Marri who is uneasy and ambivalent about seeking Soviet or other foreign help for an independence struggle, [Ghaus Bakhsh] Bizenjo stated that ‘in a crisis, naturally we will seek help from somewhere, and if we get it, we will accept it. When a nationality is fighting for survival, what do you expect?’”
One should bear in mind that Marri was considered the hardliner and the late Bizenjo was considered the perennial moderate. In fact, so great was Bizenjo’s penchant for talks that instead of Baba-e-Balochistan (father of the Baloch nation), his detractors called him ‘Baba-e-muzakraat’ (negotiation). Jalib Baloch belonged to the same league of towering intellectuals of a moderate political persuasion of the likes of Bizenjo. While Jalib remained committed to the political process, his assassination might push those with similar views to the fringes.
I had an opportunity to briefly interact with Jalib Baloch during the lawyers’ movement. We shared a good laugh at an APDM rally in Islamabad when I asked if Nur Muhammad Tarakai’s sartorial preferences had inspired him to don the long black overcoat. As most obituaries have pointed out, he indeed was a humble, soft-spoken and unassuming man who appeared younger than his age. However, more striking than his flowing long hair was his political maturity that was certainly beyond his years. This transition from a student politician to a statesman is rather rare in our part of the world. In this, he ranked right up there with the greats of the past like Ghaus Bakhsh Bizenjo and contemporaries like my good friend Afrasiab Khattak of the ANP.
One can argue about Jalib’s political views and what he perceived as the correct means to achieve the rightful place for the Baloch people in the political economy of Pakistan and the region. However, what he would not have wanted is the bickering that has apparently broken out between various Baloch political and resistance groups.
The obscure group, Baloch Musallah Defai Tanzeem might have accepted the responsibility for Jalib Baloch’s murder but history points its finger towards forces that have been implicated in the systematic killings of their political and intellectual opponents from Hassan Nasir, Zahir Rehan, Shahidullah Kaiser, Mir Lawang Khan, Asadullah Mengal, Nazir Abbasi, Ayaz Sammo, Munir Baloch and Maula Bux Dasti to Abdus Samad Khan, ZA Bhutto, Dr Najibullah, Nawab Bugti and Benazir Bhutto.
Once Sardar Ataullah Mengal said, “That man [late Bizenjo sahib] cannot live without politics. I can do without it, but he has to have it all the time or he will perish.” I would plead with Sardar sahib, Nawab Marri and other senior Baloch elders and leaders that without their taking up an active role in politics to help banish the factionalism among the Baloch, the chances of everyone perishing together are very real. The state apparatus is going full steam ahead with its colonisation of Balochistan while the civilian government stands by. Without a swift agreement on a minimum common programme, the Baloch may not survive this wave of oppression. No armed resistance can succeed without a robust political leadership.
S T Coleridge once wrote:
“The knight’s bones are dust,
And his good sword rust,
His soul is with the saints, I trust.”
I have no doubt that Habib Jalib Baloch’s soul is with the saints but it is up to the Baloch leaders to protect his life’s work from tarnish and rust. Knights must not become pawns.
The writer teaches and practices Medicine at the University of Florida and contributes to the think-tanks www.politact.com and Aryana Institute. He can be reached at [email protected]
What is it with us as a people? The flotilla issue caused people to come out on the streets everywhere from Peshawar to Karachi but as Balochistan burns ..there is relative silence..are we that disconnected from the Baloch?
We should care about a lot of things in Pakistan. But the problem is, people have very short memories. As soon as the media spotlight is turned of, no one cares.
+TTP
Don't forget..
Norther Alliance Mujahideen..
Tajik's, Hazaar's and certain fractions of low life scum too (commonly known as Taliban).
We should care about a lot of things in Pakistan. But the problem is, people have very short memories. As soon as the media spotlight is turned of, no one cares.
Don't know about that..was there ever a spotlight on Balochsitan..with the exception of the odd programme by Talat Hussain and Nasim Zehra it is largely a non issue in the medias eyes and even when it is covered there isn't much interest.
Re: Balochistan: Why don't we care?
Because people are confused about the Balochistan issue. THe political forces have not come out clear and open on this.
Media adds to the confusion.
At one hand all the media pundits stress dialogue with Baloch leaders, so do the political parties, but, there is no one to have a dialogue with. THose responsible for violence are not willing to have a dialogue, its time to that a similar consensus be reached against militants in Balochistan.
Re: Balochistan: Why don't we care?
Much of Pakistan's Arms industry is in the Punjab and NWFP provinces:
1.Armament Research & Development Establishment Rawalpindi, Pakistan
2.Defence Science & Technology Organization Rawalpindi, Pakistan
3.Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT)
etc
Just 1 in karachi,Pakistan Navy Dockyard.Karachi, Pakistan
My idea is to construct a branch of Heavy Industries and Aeronautical complex in Balochistan.This will open up a lot of jobs,new roads for access will be made and new towns in unpopulated areas will be constructed.Since new cantonments will be built thus more schools,colleges,hospitals,Police stations,power stations etc will be built also.A lot of population that sits idle and listen to BS from anti pak elements will be put in use bt the GOP for itselfThe local hirings for work for Government of Pakistan with allowances and good pay and benefits like free medical etc will give the locals a better image of the GOP.The defence industry will be blostered as well.
Moreover, recruitment in Armed forces should be doubled from this area from then on ,since most people who join armed forces are from other provinces.Thus the combat personnel strength will improve also and atleast 1 to 2 more divisions can be included in army by using man power from this area (im not saying 2 balochi ppl divisions,army keeps the different origins people in a unit e.g. baloch regiments consists of a lot of punjabis) and equipment made from Heavy Industries.An Airforce command centre can also be made with atleast two squadrons.Since the Government will invest in this area and made sensitive organizations here thus it will by itself come under strict eye of GOP and thus anti-pak elemnts will have trouble functioning in this area.A close eye on Iran can be kept as well.
The factories/infrastructure cannot be buld in a day.It will take atleast 6months to 1.5 years approx to be get constructed.This will demand labour from the neighbouring areas.So jobs already start to come up.The skilled labour can be had from the fact that the FSC passed students could be given courses/diplomas in meantime for abt the 1.5-2 years time so that they get a basic know how of what they are going to do and for that a traning institude can be opened.The second option is to bring skilled guys from Taxila/kamra etc for sometime who teach the fresh guys their responsibilities.Also chinese experts can take part in traning new guys.
Why make sensitive industry in balochistan? U want to give Balochi people confidence or not,that they are also a part of this nation and the security of this nation is also their responsibility.The BLA leaders teach that Pakistan doesnt own them,they teach them GOP is againt them etc,we need to counter it in a good way and utilizing the people as well aslo.
We have just 1 brigade in Khuzdar and 1 in Chamman and 2 divisions in Quetta.Thats not a lot of army.Its time we make people realise that army is for their own security.By making them a part of defence industry and armed forces the suspicion and fears will go away.Same is answer for 2 squadrons.
Wherever a cantonment is built,automatically some garrison academy school or army public school emerges,along with an FG colelge etc so educatoin will be catered for.Army has its own CMH(Combined military hospital) which is open to civilians also.These things will come in the package and dont need to be made seperately.
Can u trust Iran?and if u can then how?im not saying Pakistan goes against Iran or we are enemies of Iran so we need more army in baluchistan.Anti-Pak elements are BLA,RAW backed,CIA backed groups operating in balochistan.Do u think they will go un noticed when more infrastructure and that also defence related is built in Baluchistan.
Re: Balochistan: Why don't we care?
The Baluchs are target from 60s.
A group not educated more than intermediate is doing that all.
They think them most learned in the world.
They decide fate of our nation.
God help us.
Re: Balochistan: Why don't we care?
The Baloch are good people from my understanding. However, they are traditional in their views and culture. They dislike interference by outsiders which has caused that region to be neglected severely economically, socially, etc.
It doesn't help when you have corrupt politicians in power. However, he was democratically elected hence Pakistanis deserve misery for electing such an ignorant, uneducated fool.