Najam Sethi's Doctrine and the Baloch Freedom Struggle

By Archen Baloch  06/01/2013 The people of Balochistan greeted 2013 with a bloodbath inflicted upon them by Pakistan military offensives on the eve of Christmas day 25th December. In this gory operation more 51 person were reportedly killed with several losses of livestock and properties. Different Baloch organizations having different identities, yet with a shared ideology and purpose - mostly called pro freedom forces – have engaged the occupying Pakistani state in a defensive resistance with sheer determination get rid of Pakistan’s occupation over Balochistan. The main expression of Baloch resistance is reflected in daily incidents occurring at the length and breadth of Balochistan whereby the state writ is totally challenged. The strength of the Baloch resistance can be measured by objective’s popularity among general public where the “Sarmachars” the freedom fighters, draw their sustenance in obscurity. The current Mashkay siege, Balochistan operation by Pakistan army and its brutal use of heavy war machines, including three Jets, seven gunship helicopters and seventy military vehicles is a case in point to gauge the popularity of the movement where no one but Pakistan itself has located the source of support for the freedom fighters. What has gone into the heads of the panic stricken Pakistani military establishment is the very nightmarish realization that Balochistan has virtually gone out of their immoral control. They realised the fact that without Balochistan, Pakistan would go back to ‘Stone Age’ because the immense geopolitical importance and the vast reservoir of natural resources, that Pakistan has been exploiting without any hindrance so far, has come to a halt. Fire power is no more an only option left for Pakistan to determine the fate of Balochistan. The major credible factor that Pakistan wants to use to take in the international community is a new found doctrine. Whereby the state thinks it might find a solace by posing as a genuine partner willing to work for peace with international community on terrorism. Each and every Pakistani writer and intellectual has tried hard to excel other in performing the feat of offering a best solution to Balochistan crisis how to grapple with the gruesome situation. The GHQ (General Head Quarters) of Pakistan army never listened to anybody for any solution to what they thought was best for Pakistan future: “Kill and dump Policy”. Army considered this inhuman tactic so far the only best policy that Pakistani generals pursued to deter Baloch insurgency until Najam Sethi doctrine of Isolationism came in picture on Feb 21, 2012. His guideline changed entire Pakistan army security doctrine and took a paradigm shift from east to west regarding Baloch insurgency. Najam Sethi is one among most prominent Pakistani pro-establishment Journalists. He visited Balochistan as part of ‘London Group’ in 70s and is well-aware of the nature of Baloch resistance. In his famous TV program, Apas ki Baat, the solution he suggested is to quell or even crush the Baloch liberation struggle was as follows: - Isolate “the Baloch insurgents living abroad” by adopting a strategy of carrot and stick. Show them carrot or olive branch by announcing general amnesty and stack does not work unless Push Factor of foreign support is in place. Put an end to national security state and stop the proxy war against India, America and Afghanistan. Sethi thinks they are the ones who are assisting Baloch insurgency. He suggests to the military establishment, when you establish good relations with them [the above name countries] and stop supporting the Taliban then they will also stop supporting “Baloch insurgents”. Unless Pakistan’s security establishment struck a peace agreement on East and West borders, there will be no peace in Pakistan and Balochistan crisis will not be resolved, Sethi believes. The same was also conveyed to India by Pakistan’s foot in mouth interior minister Rehman Malik while talking on alleged Indian interference in Balochistan he said, “We have non-state actors, you have non-state actors, so that we find a way forward.’’ He was attempting to imply that Pakistan was ready to lend her support in peace process if only Baloch are not abetted by neighbouring India. Then a follow up visit took place by retired Gen Talat Masood, an expert in defence studies. He was sent to convince the Indian intellectual societies against growing support for Baloch freedom movement. According to Masood, “Pakistan expects that with improvement in relations, India would cease supporting the insurgency in Baluchistan. In future, both India and Pakistan could play a constructive role in Afghanistan. They could cooperate in reconstruction activity and promote regional integration.” It must also be put on record that Baloch people have always rejected Pakistani’s allegations of foreign support to Baloch liberation struggle. Pakistan on its part has also failed to provide a single shred of evidence to back her claims. It can easily be said that allegation against Afghanistan, India and United States as fabricated as they are against Baloch freedom movement. In other words Pakistan is trying blackmail the aforementioned countries to accept her hegemony and continue to support her ignoring that fact when she breeds religious extremist from its Madrisas (religious school) and sends them to West to blow up buildings, busses and train stations in India and Western capitals. Exactly the same policy is being pursued by Pakistani security establishment, particularly about the Taliban issue with Afghanistan. Pakistan agreed to support a negotiated settlement of Afghan crisis. As a sign of good will gesture Pakistan started releasing the Taliban leaders from her detentions. Pakistan recently received a $688 million tranche from US as Coalition Support Fund on December, 28 last year. This amount was given to Pakistan to support the war against Taliban and Al Qaeda terrorists; and expect to receive more as reward for the support to a negotiated settlement of Afghan crisis. “Pakistan is working with the United States to facilitate an Afghan-owned and -led reconciliation process,” Dawn News quoted Sherry Rehman, Pakistan’s ambassador to United States. Now in the scheme of things it seems that a concerted military and diplomatic milieu is in place to contain the freedom movement with a new doctrine of peace with neighbours - to crush the Baloch freedom struggle in isolation. I would rather call it Najam Sethi’s Doctrine. No wonder internally Pakistani writ has melted away in Balochistan. The very fact that International media and impartial observers are not being allowed to assess the situation in Balochistan registers the case in favour of Baloch freedom loving forces’ argument. They say they have psychologically defeated the state forces employed in on Baloch soil and the morally defeated Pakistan is now taking her anger at innocent civilian and non-combats of Balochistan. The fifth phase of Baloch resistance started almost eleven years ago, and it has achieved tremendous success both at home and abroad. During the course of these eleven years struggle, Baloch have successfully navigated their ship of freedom struggle in the unchartered waters amidst compromises of interests’ of world powers in the region where Baloch homeland is situated. The Baloch national struggle for freedom has also gained a solid ground in the form of popularity in general public and in international media after offering tremendous sacrifices. Peace is what that Pakistani state is interested in Balochistan the most at any cost, its Chief Justice ordered state officials to use every mean to bring peace in Balochistan during seventy one hearings on missing persons cases. But, it is on record; so far not a single culprit has been arrested in the cases of mutilated dead bodies of Baloch political workers, found dumped on roadsides and desolated areas in Balochistan. Even though the Chief Justice has gone on record and said that Pakistani state security apparatus are involved in human rights abuses in Balochistan. Last but not least, an addition filthy feature of containing Baloch struggle is the sectarian violence that Pakistan has introduced in the concerted atmosphere of Baloch restraint policy to smear the secular feature of Baloch nationalism. Pakistan’s military intelligence is trying hard to characterize it into a mixture of insurgency and sectarian violence by killing innocent Shia (Hazaras) and kidnapping the Hindu merchants communities in Quetta and other parts of Balochistan and Pakistani media is also at best in supporting such policy that help Pakistan to obscure Baloch secular forces. So far Pakistan has successfully prevented international media and human rights organizations from visiting Balochistan to assess the on ground realities. However, on Sept 10th last year, a high powered seven member’s delegation the UN Working Groups on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID) made a country visit to Pakistan with a limited access to Balochistan to assess the human rights situation there. As usual, to hoodwink the UN delegation, the state started to use its entire tools to create the impression that Balochistan crisis was an internal matter and that it could be managed by internal efforts. Given its so called judicial activism, the smokescreen of Supreme Court’s concerts in Baloch missing person’s cases was used to prevent United Nations from taking a pragmatic step against human rights violations. The impression was created that Baloch are satisfied with Pakistani federation and its judicial system for delivering justice to them. It is not the case that Baloch did not explore the democratic or peaceful mean of struggle. Yes they did, but the opposite not only did not listen to them but always pushed them against the wall by accusing them as being foreign agents. The peace in term of security took a new meaning in the mind of Baloch leadership when they felt that their national identity and resources are unsecured within Pakistani compressed federation as they had already exhausted all their options seeking democratic solution within Pakistani federation. In 1991 when Nawaz Sharif was about to resume his second term of office in Islamabad, two full mandated leaders, Nawab Akbar Khan Bugi and Sardar Atuallah Khan Mengal did their Yatra (visit) to Islamabad with a good will gesture, their aim to find a permanent solution to Balochistan’s chronicle conflict with Islamabad. The then political workers, now the leaders, were hoping that Punjabi leadership would recognize that gesture and a new social contract would be agreed upon within Pakistani federation. Pakistani rulers disappointed the aforementioned Baloch leaders and they came home empty handed. Later we learned that Punjabi military Junta had no trust in Baloch leadership which has been a clear policy of Pakistan since the occupation of Balochistan. Pakistan wants to loot and plunder Balochistan’s natural resources and keep the people of Balochistan backward and enslaved. Punjabi establishment wants Baloch land minus Baloch people. The Baloch youth have harsh memories of Pakistan’s brutalities against their elders and families. They have learned bitter lesson including not trusting Pakistan at any cost. The question is that why the Baloch should waste their time, energy and political resources in convincing and entreating the Punjabi generals and politicians. Why should they ask an undemocratic and artificial state to respect democracy and recognise the Baloch people’s ownership their resources? They will prefer to go for the bigger achievement which worth every effort and struggle and worth dying for – that is a free united and democratic Balochistan. The new Baloch generation is not welling to abdicate their ancestral rights of being the sole sovereign rulers of their own homeland Balochistan. They want to breathe in new air of freedom as they have started to smell the fragrance of it. They want to see a new dawn and they have already started to see the light after dawn. The Baloch are adamant to continue their struggle for freedom because they have nothing to lose but the shackles of slavery and the bondage of occupation.

International Human Rights Organisations should take notice of Pakistani atrocities in Balochistan: Khalil Baloch

DECEMBER 28, 2012

 

Archen Baloch

Occupied Balochistan: The chairman of Baloch National Movement (BNM), Khalil Baloch, has announced a nationwide protest movement, on Tuesday, against Pakistani barbarism and ongiong military offensives in Balochistan.

He alleged, “Pakistani occupying military have been conducting a brutal army operation in Mashkay of Awaran district using heavy weaponry against unarmed population.”

He said the use of indiscriminate air power against unarmed innocent Baloch people showed that the colonial state was utterly frustrated over the increasing Baloch popular movement for freedom.

Addressing the press Mr Baloch said, “during operation in Mashkay and Awaran regions of Balochistan the occupying forces attacked the house of Baloch leader Dr Alla Nazar and his relatives. Pakistan’s security forces abducted Shah Baig Baloch, brother-in-law of Dr Allah Nazar and Naeem Baloch.”

He urged Baloch nation to bring unity in their ranks and be mentally ready to face the enemy’s repression and atrocities against their children and other vulnerable sections of Baloch society.

He strongly criticised world powers including America and Iran for supporting Pakistani state, adding that “their aid to Pakistan is being used against Baloch nation.”

He further said previously the aid that Pakistan received in the name of war on terrorism has been used against Baloch national resistance in an effort to eradicate the Baloch National identity and loot Balochistan’s natural resources without facing any resistance.

He alleged that, “Pakistan has perpetrated worst type of human rights abuses during Awaran Mashkay siege in which children and women were killed and injured.”

He urged the international human rights organization to take immediate notice of human rights violations in Balochistan.

Baloch Freedom fighters will defend Baloch national identity and dignity: Gowahram Baloch

 Archen Baloch    October  4, 2012

Occupied Balochistan: The Spokesperson of Baloch Liberation Front (BLF) informed Baloch media that at the behest of the head of Death Squads, Shafee Mengal and Sanaullah Zehri, Pakistani occupying forces are committing war crimes against Baloch nation by conducting aerial bombardment on civilian population, as result of this barbaric aerial bombardment a child along with two elderly women embraced martyrdom.

According to Baloch Liberation Front (BLF), spokesperson the occupying forces have subjected the area of Gidar with intense search operation backed by Gunship helicopters since Monday. He said that Pakistani occupying forces were harassing the common villagers, blocking the all commuting roads.

cheHe said that Baloch Sarmachars, the freedom fighters of BLF, confronted the coward forces of Pakistan army in Gidar’s mountain and inflicted heavy losses on enemy forces, among them eight were from Shafeque Mengal and Sanaullah Zehri Death Squad and twelve from  Frontier Corps (FC) personnel. “Baloch Freedom fighters leave no stone unturned in defending Baloch national identity and dignity” said Gowahram Baloch. Informing the Baloch media he said that the occupying forces of Pakistan army are terrorizing the local population besides looting the belongings of poor villagers in the Gidar village. Expressing the resolve of Baloch Sarmachars, BLF spokesperson said that they relentlessly pursue the path freedom by conducting guerrilla war against occupying enemy forces of Pakistan on Baloch soil.

Baloch National Movement delegation informed UN WGEID about state atrocities against Baloch people

SEPTEMBER 17, 2012 

 By Archen Baloch

Occupied Balochistan: In a statement the central spokesperson of Baloch National Movement said that a delegation of BNM, headed by Vice chairman Sayed Yousif Baloch had a meeting with UN visiting team to Balochistan in Quetta and apprised it about the current situation of Balochistan: the human rights abuses, state sponsored atrocities and the Baloch Nation Crisis.

According to details Mr Baloch has presented a letter along with a documentary book, “Titled: The Brutal Counter Insurgency and State Terrorism of Pakistan”, to UN working group on behalf of the central general secretary of the Party. The book highlights the state terrorism, the mass murder of Baloch People, enforced disappearances, and their subsequent killed in custody and dumping of their mutilated bodies. The BNM was given 30 minute for their presentation on this occasion the vice chairman of BNM Sayed Yousif Baloch said that Baloch crisis was not merely a humanitarian crisis; it was rather a pure illegal occupation and regaining Baloch sovereign state.

He emphasised that all reasons and circumstances must be explored as to why Baloch were being made victims of enforced-disappearances and subsequently killed in cold blood? He said it was incumbent that the UN conduct an in-depth investigation of Baloch crisis to find out why the situation is so extremely volatile? He said that Balochistan was not a province of Pakistan, it was rather an occupied territory and it is crisis is totally different from that of FATA and other region. He remarked that the Baloch nation would not abandon its freedom struggle even if Pakistan was not committing Baloch genocide and atrocities. He said that his Party deliberately does not describe the abducted Baloch People as missing persons because they have been abducted by Pakistani security apparatus in broad day lights in presence of their family members and other eye-witnesses. They main reason behind their abduction is the outright demand of liberation of their homeland from Pakistani occupation.

The massive number of custodial killings and dumping torture and bullet-ridden bodies on roadsides confirms the fact that they want to constrain the Baloch freedom struggle through human tragedy of massive scale infliction of pains and create terror in the minds of People in effort to pressurise them from taking part in Independence movement. The statement issued by BNM further said the state security forces for employing evil designs and mediums to defame and deter the Baloch resistance.

Baloch leader Sayed Yousif said that it is unfair to say that the Pakistan state atrocities begun in 2000 in Balochistan because Pakistan attacked and occupied Balochistan on 27 March 1948. He said, “The invasion of Balochistan was against the will of Baloch masses; hence the beginning of Pakistani state atrocities against Baloch nation.” He said that Balochistan was an independent state and the British were an important historical eye-witness of Baloch sovereign state. The BNM leader said that Pakistan, a member state of the UN, has violated the UN charter when it forcefully annexed the independent Baloch state in 1948.

He said, “The United Nations team must not look at Baloch crisis as a humanitarian crisis only, but rather it should see through the historical, geographical and cultural background of the Baloch crisis which is directly related to the fact that Baloch were an independent nation.”

He urged the UN to use its influence in resolving the long bloody conflict in accordance with Universal laws. The Baloch leader said that no organization, including United Nations can resolve the issue of enforced disappearances unless United Nations and International Community morally support the Baloch National Struggle for freedom. He most of the victims of extra-judicial killings, enforced disappeared, target killings were members of pro-freedom Baloch political parties. Among them prominent was Ghulam Mohammad Baloch, who was the central chairman of Baloch National Movement. The UN had taken notice of his killing in cold blood but they so far failed to pressurise Pakistan to arrest his killers. Zakir Majeed, the vice chairman of Baloch Students Organization Azad, Jalil Riki, the information secretary of Baloch Republican Party and all others belonged to freedom movement and were prominent member of their respective parties. He after freedom Balochistan will become a responsible member of the United Nations and work for world peace and prosperity, unlike Pakistan which is a security risk for world Peace.

We Been Given only Two Hours to Meet UN Working Group on Baloch Missing Persons: VBMP

By Archen Baloch
Quetta: The leader of Voice for Baloch Missing Persons, Waja Nasrulllah Baloch complained that they have been given only two hours to meet the UN Working Group on enforced Disappeared Persons in Balochistan. He said that the head of Judicial committee retired Justice Javed Iqbal is speaking the language of secret agencies by lessening the number of Baloch Missing Persons. The long march announcement of Dafae Pakistan Council against United Nations’ visit to Balochistan is a ploy of secret agencies.
 In a joint press conference with Mama Qadir Baloch at Judicial Street, the leader of VBMP said that they had already expressed their reservation about the appointment of Retired Justice Javed Iqbal as the head of Judicial Committee for The Missing Persons. At the behest of secret agencies,  Javed Iqbal has, as usual, presented United Nations Working Group with Misleading figures about the number of Missing persons in Balochistan.
His misleading statement that the number of Missing Persons is 26 is the true reflection of his morbid interest of seeking the empathy of secret agencies to confirm his employment.  He said that 94 Missing Persons cases were being heard by the same bench of which the Justice Javed Iqbal was a member during the time when he was a standing judge in the Supreme Court.
He said that they had already expressed their concerns that the UN mission would not be allowed to visit Balochistan. Today the Defae Pakistan Council issued a statement saying that it would start a long march against UN working group’s arrival to Balochistan.  Previously the same Defae Pakistani Council once announced that it would start a long march to stop Nato Supply line, but when the military approved it, and then the long march also was cancelled. Now once again the DPC has announced its long march against UN working group’s arrival in Balochistan at the behest of secret agencies. But we condemn it with strongest possible terms. He said the UN mission is arriving Quetta on Sept 14th and on Sept 15th we’re programmed to meet the mission. But we have been allowed only two hours to present the cases of missing persons which is extremely not enough. We appeal the UN mission to visit the inner and far off regions of Balochistan where military operations and enforced abduction of Baloch political workers had taken place.
 To assess the actual humanitarian situation, UN must meet the affected families so that the truth comes out.

Courtesy Daily tawar

Nothing expected from Supreme Court, Pakistani institutes have no sympathy with Baloch; they’re just killing the time.

By Archen Baloch 29/07/12

Occupied Balochistan:  Utterly disappointed by the current Pakistani Supreme Court hearing on Baloch missing persons’ cases, the elderly Baloch human rights activist, Mama Qadeer Baloch, who lost his own son because of human rights activism, said that no one would listen to what Supreme Court says, even if it constitutes a full bench hearing, let alone the three member bench headed by chief justice himself. Speaking to a private TV program Mama said that they summon the IG of Frontier Constabulary in the court and conduct the hearing in private, but we know nothing about what transpired between them!

Mama Qadeer, who heads the protesting family members of Baloch missing persons at BVMP’s forum, Baloch Voice for Missing Persons,  said that Baloch people are rounded up from all around Balochistan, and no one knows about their whereabouts, but when we submit their cases with proofs in the courts, the result is nothing more than a of mockery of human dignity! He said no high up have been arrested among colonels and majors of Pak armed forces nominated in the cases of missing persons.

Pointing towards conspiracies against missing persons cases, he rejected the misleading information regarding the number of missing persons claimed by some ISI backed organizations. He said his forum has the presence of missing persons’ family members and the numbers of missing persons. He also said some unknown persons visited his protesting camp and threatened him to put an end to protesting camp, or otherwise face the consequences. He said that in Islamabad and Karachi they have also been threatened for holding protest camps there! But, he said he would continue the protesting camp till the last result.

Meanwhile, Dr Mannan Baloch, the General Secretary of Baloch National Movement (BNM) said in the same TV show program that Supreme Court is a Pakistani state institution and Nothing comes out of its verdicts to benefit Baloch. He said it is obvious that it works to protect Pakistan.

Reiterating his party stance, he said Baloch are fighting for their freedom, adding that now it has become clear to international community what sort of conspiracy Pakistan pursuing to deter Baloch from their freedom struggle. He said these institutes have no sympathy with Baloch nation; they’re just killing their time by orchestrating such fake demo. He said Pakistani state machinery has now become hyperactive against Baloch movement because the Baloch crisis has internationally been recognized. He said the enemy has now started showing some fake sympathy with Baloch in a bid to divert international community attention towards Baloch crisis. But, he said that Baloch cannot be taken in and they continue their struggle till the last victory!

Courtesy Dailytawar

The Objectives of Raja Perviz’s Visit to Balochistan

JULY 15, 2012 

 Archen Baloch

Now the offering apology has become a political tradition for any newly elected Pakistani Prime Minister visiting Balochistan. Pakistani rulers have never been in love with Balochistan, albeit political exigencies have always been the motive behind such visits. In other words, Pakistan’s every affair related to Balochistan is based only on compulsion. Last day’s visit of the newly elected Pakistani prime minister to Balochistan is reflected in the same tradition.

In the cabinet meeting of the provincial government he assured peace and prosperity to the participating provincial officials. However, contrary to what PM assured, the provincial chief minister was trying his level best to satisfy Raj about the supremacy of the parliament and the stability of the democratic government. According to the analysts PM visit to Balochistan has been carried out under peculiar objectives. Though the Current government has a numerical majority in the Parliament, which might help them to have an upper hand over the current crisis of the institutional confrontations; yet they’re desperate to restore their lost credit in the eyes of Public by knocking every door they could!

The prime of objective of Raj’s visits to Balochistan is to take Balochistan public into confidence regarding their confrontation with the judiciary; because, to win this battle, the chief justice has already taken up the cases of missing persons in an emotional discourse.

The impression is that the chief justice or the Judiciary has a soft corner in their heart for Baloch masses. After comprehending the situation, Raja has been prompted to visit Balochistan, otherwise the situation in Balochistan isn’t as such that a guest prime minister like Raja Perviz Ashraf can solve it or comprehend it.