Warlike situation in Baluchistan

Quetta, April 7
A near warlike situation prevails in Pakistan's largest province of
Baluchistan, claims the chief of the Baluchistan National Alliance
(BNA), Yousuf Naskandi.

Interacting with media persons in Karachi, Naskandi said Baluchistan
was passing through a "very dangerous time", and added that if "this
third war of the Baluch nation with Pakistan continues, the fate of the
province could be sealed forever." While hoping that Baluchistan
remains a part of Pakistan, he said that the Baluch people who were
nationalists, were under severe strain and may be forced to consider it
if the present situation continues.

Naskandi said he was surprised over the federal government's reluctance
to take strong action against insurgents, who were " blocking link
roads between Karachi and Quetta, resulting in businessmen being
affected badly." Meanwhile, other Baluch leaders and analysts have
claimed that Pakistani paratroopers deployed across sensitive parts of
the province, have suffered undisclosed, but heavy casualties while
confronting the insurgents and Baloch nationalist groups.

During the past few weeks, the situation in Quetta and in other parts
of Baluchistan has remained tense, and a key factor for this, has been
the federal government's domineering behaviour with Baluch leaders and
its handling of matters concerning the province.

Last Wednesday, for instance, Karachi's law enforcement personnel and
intelligence units abruptly ended a daylong siege of the Clifton area
residence of Sardar Akhtar Mengal, the chief of the Baluchistan
Nationalist Party (BNP), with the arrest of two of Mengal's guards and
his driver.

BNP leader, Senator Sanaullah Baluch told media persons over the phone
that all roads of Baluchistan have been closed and confirmed that the
BNP will continue with its protests against the Musharraf regime till
their demand for provincial autonomy is not met.

According to Mengal and other Baluch leaders, their struggle is against
the alleged usurpation of Baluch land by the "Punjab- dominated"
Pakistan Army, and the federal government's desire "to exploit the
natural resources of Balochistan".

"The struggle will continue till we get freedom, and we will not
backtrack from our armed struggle till an announcement of the formation
of the Baluchistan State is made, or alternatively, till the United
Nations does not accept the Baloch nation as an autonomous nation,"
said Dr. Imdad Balouch, the president of the Baluchistan Students'
Organisation (BSO).

There is no doubt that the Musharraf-backed federal government is on
the defensive, and this can be judged by the street power exhibited by
the Baloch people over the last week, especially by the BNP. For
instance, five days ago, over eight thousand BNP supporters attended a
rally addressed by Mengal, and shouted anti-government and anti-Punjab
establishment slogans.

The Baluch has woken up and is ready to join hands with anybody
supporting their cause for autonomy. - ANI