Baloch & Balochistan

The Afghan Crisis, A matter of Concern for America and Russia By Hafeez Hassanabadi - Translated by Archen Baloch There is no doubt that the history of Russian diplomacy has witnessed lots of ups and downs, because they take their decisions after considerable deliberations. Before taking any step they always bear in their minds the Russian proverb that “the more the higher you fill down, the more the pain is”. The possible safe why out is always is in their mind whenever they want to inter into a relationship in a vertical flying position. However, a few years back, regarding their relationship with Pakistan, the Russian were seen as a bet hasty, some people were suggesting that as America is quitting the area, therefore Russia should take its place. If things are seen in a wider perspective, that perception seems to be a childish conjecture or still it is, but in the presence of that concept, the Russian warm up with Pakistan was a s...

  Let bygones be bygones Mir Mohammad Ali Talpur The Baloch are seeking to undo the historical wrong committed against them on March 27, 1948, and all the injustices that stemmed from that Prime Minister (PM) Raja Pervez Ashraf talking to reporters in Gwadar recently said, “We should forgive each other,” and that we should move towards a new era of development and progress in Balochistan. He added, “All of us should forget the past mistakes and atrocities committed by the previous government in Balochistan and move forward to achieve the goal of development and make it a developed and prosperous province.” It is all very convenient to blame the previous government while forgetting the slow burn genocide that has continued under the PPP-led government’s watch; it is a case of a very, very selective amnesia. Representing the terra nullis school of thought he added, “Balochistan had big potential for growth and development and exploitation of its natural resource...

Dust and ashes  Mir Mohammad Ali Talpur Consensus against the Baloch in the establishment has always been unanimous because of its desire to exploit Balochistan’s resources, its huge land mass and long coastline The Supreme Court exercise, which ostentatiously began for addressing Baloch grievances regarding missing persons, has ended up prescribing more of the same medicine. The interim order has thoroughly exposed itself as the establishment’s policy statement, which encourages employing brute force to coerce the Baloch to remain compliant and submissive to the dictates of the state. Declaring the incompetent Raisani government — which is but a tool in the hands of the Centre and the army — illegal because it has not yet been able to suppress the Baloch struggle for their rights is not surprising. The order demands of the Centre to replace it with a more uncompromising direct rule. The Baloch do not really care either way. A person asked someone’s opinion ...

  The same bread with the same broth By Mir Mohammad Ali Talpur Illegalities committed under the cover of the constitution or judicial approval does not make them either palatable or morally acceptable The army through General Kayani has stated its position on the Balochistan issue in a one-liner that says, “Army fully supports any political process as long as it is within the Constitution.” This was in response to the Balochistan National Party President Akhtar Mengal’s recent moves and statements during his visit and the reactions to it. This short army statement has set the parameters for those who would try to deal with the issue of Baloch rights and the consequences therein to the Baloch for demanding their inalienable rights. This ISPR statement also warned that any steps taken in violation of the constitution would be unacceptable. This means that the Baloch should not ever cherish hopes for change in the state’s policies. For since March 26, 1948, when...

Mengal’s Myopic Political Vision By Adenag Baloch The dilemma with Balochistan National Party (Mengal) has always been that it has never had a crystal clear approach to Baloch nationalism. The party has failed to define the border of its vision of Baloch nationalism. It has always adopted a shuffling stand regarding its demand of“right to self-determination”. The surprise came recently when Akhtar Mengal ended his self-imposed exile to return to Pakistan to help the Supreme Court of Pakistan in tracing out all enforced-disappeared persons. The act came at a time when a UN WGIED delegation ended a fact finding visit in Pakistan and Balochistan.   However the real purpose of Mr Mengal’s visit is much more than just to assist the court [of occupying state]. Perhaps the case of enforced-disappeared person was used as an excuse to provide a reason to come back and to start campaign for Pakistan coming elections. Since the start of the fifth War of liberation, the Baloc...

Baloch Freedom fighters will defend Baloch national identity and dignity: Gowahram Baloch. Eight members of State Sponsored Death Squads, Twelve Personnel of Pakistan Army killed, Gunship Helicopter Chelling on Civil Population Continuing. By Archen Baloch Occupied Balochistan: The Spokesperson of Baloch Liberation Front (BLF) informed Baloch media that at the behest of the head of Death Squads, Shafeeq 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. He said that Baloc...

 A ray of hope?   Mir Mohammad Ali Talpur There is no denying that Sardar Akhtar Mengal has influence but his capitulation has alienated many Baloch people and his powerbase will erode rapidly Sardar Akhtar Mengal’s unexpected capitulation and appearance before the Supreme Court (SC) has pleased a few but angered a majority of the Baloch. He has climbed down from his position of demanding an independent Balochistan. In the Daily Times of May 8, 2009, its then Quetta correspondent Malik Siraj Akbar reported Akhtar Mengal’s speech from the western Panjgur district bordering Iran. Mengal said that the ultimate goal of his party (BNP-M) was to seek Balochistan’s independence from Pakistan, for which the party was striving to prepare the ground and ensure unity among all Baloch nationalist political groups. The BNP-M chief said the Baloch had become tired of the unabated military operations and the excessive exploitation of their natural resources by the ...

  A must listen interview with Mama Qadeer Baloch (Voice for Baloch Missing Persons) from Shall by Samandar Askani, conducted on September 29, 2012, discusses his stance on Baloch missing persons, Baloch cause and Akhtar Mengal's appearance in the Pakistani Supreme Court and his activities. https://www.box.com/s/nl7fq0aa81hs8mk0i54e

U.N. urges Pakistan to further investigate missing persons By Ashley Fantz,  CNN-- The United Nations is urging Pakistan to look deeper into reports that thousands of people inside the country have been illegally detained or disappeared. A U.N. delegation spent 10 days inside Pakistan at the invitation of the government, and interviewed families of the missing. The group issued a detailed report on their findings Thursday . In many cases, the group found, families were often intimidated or threatened against reporting cases to authorities and were given empty promises that if they didn't, their loves ones would be returned to them. The U.N. commission that receives reports of missing has more than 500 cases in its docket for all of Pakistan. But that number, the working group notes, "may not be reflective of the reality of the situation." "According to various official and unofficial sources met during the visit, it is in the pos...

  Republican Rep. Ted Poe wants to de-friend Pakistan. The Texas congressman has proposed a bill that would take away Pakistan’s status as a major non-NATO ally, saying the country’s “treachery” has led to the deaths of too many American men and women. “It’s time to break with Pakistan,” Poe said Friday when introducing the bill. “Pakistan is the Benedict Arnold nation in the list of countries that we call allies. It’s time to remove a designation that brings privileges it does not deserve.” Short of revoking Pakistan’s ally status, Poe thinks the United State should at least stop giving the county quick access to sophisticated U.S. weaponry. He is not the first Republican lawmaker in recent days to propose legislative punishment for Pakistan. Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul last week unsuccessfully tried to pass an amendment to cut off aid to Pakistan, saying the U.S. doesn’t have the money, especially for a country that has imprisoned one of its own citizens, D...

Baloch crisis isn’t merely a humanitarian crisis; rather, it is a pure matter of sovereignty of Baloch nation. Sayed Yousif Baloch . 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. On behalf of the central general secretary of the Party, a letter along with a documentary book, The Brutal Counter Insurgency and State Terrorism of Pakistan, was presented to UN working group, which highlights the state terrorism, the mass murder of Baloch People, enforced disappearances, and their subsequent mutilated dead bodies thrown on roadsides. The BNM delegation for 30 minutes briefed the UN on Baloch issue. On this occasion, the vice chairman of B...

Balochistan situation is his highly critical   By Archen Baloch Balochistan situation is his highly critical. Another mission of 25 members would soon Visit Balochistan: UN Working Group. The leaders of Voice for Baloch Missing Persons have submitted a list of 2300 Baloch missing persons to the visiting United Nations mission in Quetta City of Balochistan yesterday. VBMP delegation headed by Nasarulla Baloch and vice chairman Kareem Baloch apprised the UN Working Group about the extra-judicial arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances gross human rights abuses and a list of 2300 missing persons was presented to the UN mission and told them that the number of missing is in thousands. But the total numbers of missing persons who have been documented so far are 1321 which have been enforcedly disappeared by security forces in Balochistan. Nasurulla told the press that they had apprised UN mission about the mutilated dead bodies numbering more then 45...