Shia Killings and Baloch Nationalists: A response to Ali Ahsan
In a recent piece on LUBP, a sports enthusiast who has picked up the pen to write on Balochistan. Believing in hearsay and individual accounts on the happenings in Balochistan, he advices Baloch comrades to keep an eye on the anti-shia terrorists making inroads in Baloch nation.
The articles is contradictory and inconsistent on many counts.
First of all the title wrongly suggests as Baloch activists are unaware of or avoiding the very fact that state and its security institutions have orchestrated a plan to create rifts and divide Baloch nation on the basis of different dialects, religious affiliations and varying political standpoints.
While this is not the case. Baloch sarmachars are having an armed resistance and they often attack Army and FC convoys or those people actively supporting or involved in violence against Baloch activists. They have never been apologetic about their attacks on military institutions and settlers from other provinces who they consider are brought here to change the demographics on the Baloch lands.
While, one can not agree to their tactics and thinking and also can not support their violence against non combatant civilians, but the last thing they can be accused of is “acting in sync with the state backed sectarian militias, i.e SSP, LeJ, ASWJ.”
It has been repeatedly asserted that baloch resistance is not based on race and ethnicity as they never forgave those Baloch involved in the killings of hundreds of Baloch activists and youth. The suicide attack on the home of former interim Chief minister (now the advisor to CM in PPP led coalition Government) Mir Naseer Khan Mengal was claimed by the Sarmachars as Mir Naseer Mengal himself is considered enemy of the Baloch and his religious fanatic son Mir Shafiq Mengal is called “Butcher of the Baloch youth political activists”. His affiliations with banned sectarian outfits and his bigoted views on Baloch are a known fact.
BSO-Azad in their statement had declared Mengal as enemy of the Baloch as well as involved in the assassination various Ulemas of deobandi sects who have lashed out at him on his involvements in killing of innocents.
Representatives of various Baloch political and armed groups have condemned violence on the basis of faith in the strongest terms and have expressed their concerns on turning Baloch lands into a slaughter house for persecuted Shia hazara populations of the province.
The writer has some very interesting but mutually contradictory assertions here in this excerpt from Ali Hasan’s piece,
According to the author’s own opinion, it is important to understand the complete story of Shia genocide in Balochistan including: (a) Shia genocide in Balochistan cannot be seen in isolation from the Shia killings taking place in the rest of the country; (b) Shias of all ethnic backgrounds, not just Shia Hazaras, are being target killed by LeJ terrorists in Balochistan; (c) LeJ terrorists cannot be seen in isolation from ASWJ-SSP and the Taliban; and (d) LeJ terrorists have been able to make inroads in sectarian segments of the Baloch nation; and (e) role of FC and Pakistan army in discrediting the Baloch national struggle by radicalising them cannot be ruled out; (f) possible synergy between extremist Baloch nationalists and LeJ cannot be ruled out to further weaken Pakistani State’s writ in Balochistan; (g) the closer link between Baloch nationalists and rabidly anti-Shia Jundullah cannot be ignored.
Yes, Shia genocide is happening all over the country from Quetta to Parachinar, from Karachi to Gilgit Baltistan, the perpetrators of the crime are the same, influenced by the same ideology and backed by the same forces irrespective of race and ethnicity.
However no analogy can be drawn between the militants of Jundullah active against Iran, as Iran is a state ruled by the Shia mullahcracy, who can’t be absolved of brutalities against baloch in Iran, also Shah of Iran’s role can’t be neglected in pressurizing ZAB government for military action in Balochistan.
It is indeed unfortunate if Baloch resistance against the Shia aristocracy in Iran is degenerated to and influenced by anti-Shia tendencies, but in Pakistan the state involved in worst crimes against the Balochs is Sunni dominated and has Shia themselves as the persecuted community as well as facing the same fate as Baloch are facing by the hands of intelligence agencies.
That is why drawing any synergies between Baloch resistance groups and sectarian ectremists LeJ, ASWJ is indeed very insensitive and callous attempt.
Baloch are going through very turbulent times, they are struggling for their survival against tyranny, in an age while all the nations living here in the geographical ambit of the state have suffered one way or the other when they have raised their voices. Baloch are aware of the fact that these militant outfits are another face of the same atrocious military establishment and it will be used against them.
They also know that ASWJ leadership has been toured across the province in Army cover, and the threatening letters to those supporting Baloch nationalists groups were issued on behalf of these sectarian outfits by the Army.
In a recent visit of ASWJ chief Ludhianvi to Mangolchar and other areas, he was accompanied by an Army captain as his driver.
It will be better, if hearsay and naivete be avoided and one refrains from ridiculous charges of linking BLA to LeJ, in fact disgorging the same what was told to us by the weirdo nutcase Rehman Malik.
I have never been to quetta so I will post comments of My cousin(Major mirza now he is col) who was posted in Quetta between 2004-2007. Number of Balouch militants they caught were all anti-Shia and they were involved in 2003 & 2004 attacks on shia which left over 100 people dead and over 300 inured.
Author writes:
“It is indeed unfortunate if Baloch resistance against the Shia aristocracy in Iran is degenerated to and influenced by anti-Shia tendencies…”
IF??
Either you don’t know or you are are knowingly ignoring Jundullah’s anti-Shia attacks.
Further, how can you ignore that majority of those opposing clerics in Iran are Shias?
How can you justify that Baloch nationalists in Pakistan never condemn Jundullah’s cross-border operations attacking innocent Shia civilians? In fact they mourn and condemn if such militants are nabbed and punished.
This article is an example of justification of Shia genocide in the name of tribal ethnic fraternity.
It would have been good if the author would have asked Baloch nationalists and tribal leaders to take actual steps against black sheep within their own community instead of justifying, understating or denying their presence.
@Chowrangi
by your standards and understandings, Baloch nationalists here are killing FC wallas, Punjabi settlers and Pathan laborer for being Sunnis!
“This article is an example of justification of Shia genocide in the name of tribal ethnic fraternity.”
very ridiculous charges as well as how mindlessly tou are quoting and using terms like shia genocide.
“I have never been to quetta so I will post comments of My cousin(Major mirza now he is col) who was posted in Quetta between 2004-2007. Number of Balouch militants they caught were all anti-Shia”
I told the readers, the article is based on hearsay and personal accounts, got a place here at the blog for using the term “Shia genocide” repeatedly.
A friends of mine, who has his cousin at posted in Waziristan says, “those fighting there are aided by India with men and arms, as many among them were uncircumcised”
So I should hear to what the good captain says??
A major general posted in Swat heading forces against militants of TTP alleged that Indian weapons were caught from there, while it was a foolish charges repeated by the like of Zaid Hamid.
You have used term like “Baloch Comrade” am amazed at your confusion as in the comments, you wrote for you Baloch resistance leader, Dr Allah Nazar Baloch is same as Baitullah” it means in the next post, you will write “My Taliban Comrade”
Conspiracy laden mindset has conveniently covered itself under the guise of “Shia genocide” tag.
Author:
Do Balochs in Pakistan attack Sunni mosques or kill Sunnis due to their faith?
This is on your face.
“The attack reportedly targeted pilgrims marking Ashura, the Shia mourning day.”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-11997679
Arshad Sharif received threats after he started by showing a documentary on how Jundullah started in Quetta cantonment, how it spread across different formations of the military.
http://iaoj.wordpress.com/tag/jundullah/
Jundullah Unleashes Historical Attack Against Iran’s Shia Raffidah Regime
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVLZdSSdDxo
Keep defending sectarian monsters and internationally recognized terrorists. You are only harming the Baloch cause.
Ali Hasan??
Still don’t get why many people get my name wrong both on online and in real life!!
“They have never been apologetic about their attacks on …. settlers from other provinces who they consider are brought here to change the demographics on the Baloch lands.”
congrats for being involved in a genocide of your own, and expecting the rest of us to sympathise your attacks on teachers, lawyers, barbers, labourers, officers, businessmen etc that had been living in Balochistan for many generations and all of a sudden became declared to be “occupiers” and “enemies of Baloch state”.
http://www.dawn.com/2011/06/29/settlers-caught-in-crossfire-2.html
http://www.hrw.org/news/2010/12/13/pakistan-balochistan-militants-killing-teachers
Sarmachars killed Prof Safdar Kiyani just a day after he became VC of Balochistan University after having served at that institution loyally for over THIRTY years. Educationist and philanthropist Dr Fazal Bari was killed by Sarmachar and typically called “ISI agent”. Principal of Cadet College Mastung was killed in his own home by Sarmachar at a time when CC Mastung was becoming the best school in ALL of Balochistan!
Sarmachars killed my BEST FRIEND, Mir Muzaffar Hussain Jamali shaheed – a school principal and social worker hailing from Jaffarabad and living in Kharan for last 10 years, on 26 May 2012 and killed his 2 young nephews and injured his young daughters. And of course, BLA/BLF conveniently called him “riasati mukhbar” and “ISI agent”
http://dawn.com/2012/06/12/the-lone-star-state-of-balochistan/
http://tribune.com.pk/story/384563/kharan-school-principal-12-year-old-nephew-killed-in-targeted-attack/
and now we see the Baloch dimension in Shia Genocide.
BLF killed two senior members of National Party – Maula Bakhsh Dashti and Nasim Jangian.
Yeah good luck with hitting your own feet with an axe. I blame BOTH the “Deep State” and the “Sarmachar” for making the lives of common Balochistani a living hell.
and as far as Shia killings go
Like I said AGAIN and AGAIN
the VERY CLOSE proximity of LeJ and Sarmachar groups operating in and out of Quetta (Sariyab Road) and Mastung is TOO CLOSE to be a mere coincidence.
If nationalists and their supporters are so repulsed by me stating the obvious then they should INVESTIGATE such matters, identify isolate and expose these elements operating inside their own localities, rather than bitching and complaining about Shafique Mengal all the time.
Either Sarmachar are AFRAID of LeJ (who isn’t?), or they are apathetic towards their presence within their strongholds, or they are collaborating with them on a need-to-need basis to challenge and destalibilise state control.
If Shia Iran and Wahhabi Taliban can do that in past, then why not in this case?
Take your pick.
@Chowrangi
The problem is, you are too simplistic on the issue, because you look at the issue with your narrow sectarian angle,drawing binaries of either supporters or defenders.
I have responded to this misleading piece, which has linked anti-Shia violence in Balochistan against the Shia Hazaras to Baloch nationalists groups involved in armed resistance against the state.
While I have mentioned the name of Shafiq Mengal, son of a tribal elder, a Baloch himself, but also the assassin and killer of Baloch as well as one abetting Anti-Shia sectarian outfits aka LeJ etc.
This clearly indicate that, am not denying involvement of ethnic Baloch in violence against Shias. What I am denying is associating this violence to the Baloch nationalists fighters.
Read it again,then start applying your narrow binaries.
Arshad Sharif received threats after he started by showing a documentary on how Jundullah started in Quetta cantonment, how it spread across different formations of the military.
http://iaoj.wordpress.com/tag/jundullah/
“How Jundullah started in Quetta Cantonment” is an answer to your queries on Jundullah
Is it Shafiq Mengal supporting Jundullah terrorists?
http://criticalppp.com/archives/16363
Give me a single link in which BNF or any other Baloch nationalist in Pakistan condemned Jundullah’s sectarian attacks on Iranian Shias.
Keep justifying and denying Jundullah’s anti-Shia attacks.
@Ali Ahsan
Sorry for the spelling mistake.. Corrected
Dont acts like Molvis, using excerpts from my post to mislead. Read it again,
Baloch sarmachars are having an armed resistance and they often attack Army and FC convoys or those people actively supporting or involved in violence against Baloch activists. They have never been apologetic about their attacks on military institutions and settlers from other provinces who they consider are brought here to change the demographics on the Baloch lands.
While, one can not agree to their tactics and thinking and also can not support their violence against non combatant civilians, but the last thing they can be accused of is “acting in sync with the state backed sectarian militias, i.e SSP, LeJ, ASWJ.”
I do not support any atrocity on against non-combatant civilians, whether it is on the basis of ethnicity or faith.
I disagree to this and wrote against it
http://criticalppp.com/archives/131356
In fact agree to my mentor and Baloch intellectual Mir Muhammad ali Talpur who writes,
“I support the Baloch cause because my conscience tells me it is the right thing and for the same reason, I will speak the truth. Moreover, I will not be silent if atrocities are committed in my name. We need to face the truth otherwise we will end up living with our illusions.”
But also supports the resistance fighter, Sarmachars as,
“The Sarmachars have not betrayed the Baloch but have upheld their rights and dignity in spite of suffering immeasurably at the hands of the state. They have thwarted the state’s plan to deprive the Baloch of all their rights, resources and historical legacy. The Sarmachars with their sacrifices have assumed the role of hope, voice and protectors of the Baloch people. The real betrayal of Balochistan is from those who have either kept quiet or abetted those denying the Baloch their rights. Castigating those who resist injustices only exonerates the state of its crimes.”
As in persian we say,
آنگاه که حتی گوشت را می بندی تا صدای خرد شدن
@Chowangi
Give me a single link where any of the Baloch resistance groups have supported violence against Shias in Balochistan.
If BNF mourned Regi’s killing, no one among Baloch intelligentsia or other groups supported their call. BNM rejected it by clearly stating,”BNM believes that the Baloch issue has nothing to do with religion nor can it go an extra mile to join hands with ethnic Balochs living in Iran who do not recognize Baloch nationalism and solely talk of religious rights. BNM is equally disillusioned with BNF leadership for not taking it into confidence while unfolding its schedule of protests in support of Jundullah and said that it could not support a Sunni movement which did not keep in consideration the Baloch identity.”
If you have aceess to Baloch activists sites blocked in Pakistan, you will not find a single word in support of LeJ and ASWJ or condoning violence against Shias, any attack on Shia processions anywhere.
Author:
This is what Malik Siraj Akbar wrote. The problem is much more than Shafiq Mengal which you tried to justify or cover up.
Quote
By Malik Siraj Akbar
Balochs living in Pakistan’s provinces of Balochistan and Sindh reacted very irritably towards the decision of the Iranian government to hang Abdul Malik Regi, the chief of banned organization Jundullah, by terming it as an act of repression by a regime that is bent upon crushing its Baloch population.
All available forms of condemnation, such as issuance of newspaper statements, arrangement of press conferences, protest rallies and condolence references, were used to censure the hanging of a leader who fought for the rights of the Sunni Baloch minority population residing in Iranian Balochistan. The outpouring of condemnation was so overwhelming that even an impressed Jundullah spokesman went on to appreciate the Balochs living in Pakistan for their moral and political support offered to the Iranian Balochs at the critical juncture.
In Eastern Balochistan, the Baloch National Front (BNF) was on the forefront of all protest rallies held in the province to condemn the execution of 28-year Regi who was wanted by Teheran in more than seventy cases. The Front observed three days of mourning and organized a number of programs to vent its frustration of Iran’s behavior towards its Baloch population.
Unquote
http://gmcmissing.wordpress.com/2010/06/29/how-much-support-for-jundullah-is-too-much/
Of course some, not all, Baloch later realized that it was their fault to support Jundullah.
While some Balochs accepted their fault, you still continue to support and justify Jundullah’s sectarian terrorism against Shia Muslims by connecting them it with secular Baloch struggle.
This is an open and shut case. I won’t comment on this thread any further.
@Sheherzade Adil
“using excerpts from my post to mislead. Read it again”
pot calling the kettle black, bibi 😉
“In fact agree to my mentor and Baloch intellectual Mir Muhammad ali Talpur who writes,
“I support the Baloch cause because my conscience tells me it is the right thing and for the same reason, I will speak the truth. Moreover, I will not be silent if atrocities are committed in my name. We need to face the truth otherwise we will end up living with our illusions.” ”
well guess what? you ARE living in your illusions!
‘ “The Sarmachars have not betrayed the Baloch but have upheld their rights and dignity in spite of suffering immeasurably at the hands of the state. They have thwarted the state’s plan to deprive the Baloch of all their rights, resources and historical legacy. The Sarmachars with their sacrifices have assumed the role of hope, voice and protectors of the Baloch people. The real betrayal of Balochistan is from those who have either kept quiet or abetted those denying the Baloch their rights. Castigating those who resist injustices only exonerates the state of its crimes.” ‘
Sarmachars have unleashed all hell on ANYONE and EVERYONE they consider not supporting their cause enough, not agreeing with their points of view, and being appropriately labelled “ISI spies” “riasati mukhbars”.
You know what such tactics remind me of? The TALIBAN!
They call themselves “soldiers of Islam” and they call their opponents as “wajib ul qatal kafirs”. They have frequently beheaded and killed many unarmed civilians and called them “Amreeki jasoos” in their statements to press.
How can ANYONE support these ‘sarmachars’ PRECISELY that they have been very active in targeting, kidnapping, killing, threatening, and injuring countless civilians?!
BRA is responsible for the killing and maiming of countless Bugti tribesmen in Dera Bugti using landmines planted in cotton fields, roads, streets, and playgrounds for last many many years. Hundreds of these maimed injured end up going to Dera Ghazi Khan and Multan hospitals for emergency treatment, many of them can barely survive the trip. BRA killed unarmed Bugtis who were heading to a local shrine and conveniently called them “members of Aman Force” to justify the murder. Yet they are “heroes”
BLA killed the likes of Justice Nawaz Marri just days before he was to be sworn in as BHC Chief Justice back in 2002 and his family nominated BLA cronies – including that famous DHA Karachi resident who bickers about the “State” and raises chickens – for the assassination in the FIR. BLA killed teachers, lawyers, writers, activists, philanthropists in urban Balochistan and yet they are “heroes”
BLF has made Panjgur-Turbat a living hell for anyone. They have killed labourers, travellers, office clerks, and innocent men women and children and called them “riasati mukhbars”. Yet BLF founder Dr Allah Nazar is worshipped in song and dance as “O nar e mazar, shir en jagar, allah nazar allah nazar”.
How is that different to the Taliban and their supporters??!
People of your leaning have been vehemently critical of the Army/FC/ISI for their abuse of power and wrecking the lives of countless people. But why merely state “one can disagree with tactics” when it comes to holy cow sarmachars??!
Two wrongs never make a right and the conduct of terror groups across Balochistan would make ANY sane person puke at the thought of supporting these groups.
You still unable to produce a single proof in support of the author’s and your claim linking Baloch resistance groups fighting against Pakistan Army and FC.
As an Urdu phrase says it, “Sawal Gandum, Jawab chanaa”
more concerned about the happenings in Iran and not Pakistan. Thank You
@Sheherzade Adil @Chowrangi
“If BNF mourned Regi’s killing, no one among Baloch intelligentsia or other groups supported their call. BNM rejected it”
Now this makes come me to ANOTHER taboo point about the Balochistan crisis.
Lets start by naming the many “stakeholders” within the nationalist-separatist ranks:
BNF, BNM, BRP, BNP (and its many factions), BSO (and its many factions), NP, JWP, and of course Mir Suleman Daud still thinking its 1940s when his own family thinks differently etc.
then you have the armed groups:
BLA, BRA, BLF, LeB and so on.
and one can only think: these are a LOT of groups supposedly vying for the same – if not similar – things. Yet there seems to be very little cohesion and unity?
On the surface everything seems lovey dovey among the sarmachars, below the surface there seems to be chaos, confusion, disinformation, and mistrust.
Now before you call me some “ISI-funded conspiracy theorist”, answer me this ONE question: What the hell are these so many groups, factions, and divisions doing for the “Baloch cause”??
tribal, political, regional, and even personal disputes among these parties is obvious. so what does that tell you?
@Ali Ahsan
Still you have nothing in support of your claim, linking Baloch resistance groups to sectarian monsters aka LeJ/ASWJ except hearsay and your sources in the Army. While the conglomerate of Deobandi-Salafi Jihadi, sectarian groups aka JuD(which has ASWJ as part of it)shares your anger against Baloch resistance groups.
“Violence should never be the preferred option but one is forced to ask if the Vietnamese and Algerian leaders were wrong to resist US and French colonialism, or was Allende wrong when he died fighting and came to symbolise the Chilean people’s resistance to the Pinochet dictatorship? I also wonder what would have Spartacus and his companions thought if they were told that by resisting the Romans they were betraying the slaves.”
Hahaha, I guessed you will come up with this one, as its the favourite one among those maligning Baloch resistance and who couldn’t understand, how armed struggles are fought. Still you will be unable to cite any major incident of internal clash between them all.
The Baloch struggle is a genuine struggle and they have suffered at the hands of the Pakistani state since 1948. Their leaders have been killed, jailed and exiled and their youth tortured and killed. All those with conscience will agree.
However, the Baloch must also be wary of extremist trends. If unchecked, such trends will derail their genuine struggle for rights. By supporting a sectarian organization like Jundullah, they are harming their own interest.
Both Ali Ahsan and Shehzade have valid arguements. My request is to keep discussion civil and productive. Personal details about Ahsan’s sport’s hobbies detracts from this discussion.
As waja Talpur says
“Baloch nationalists, realising that slow track genocide and demographic changes envisaged by mega projects like Gwadar could soon turn them into a minority in their own land, made a conscious choice of using force to counter threats to their survival as a nation because they realised historical and political arguments for their right to independence were futile as the powers that call the shots here heed nothing but force.”
The Graffiti near Sonmyani firing range in Distt lasbella tells another story,
http://criticalppp.com/archives/78434
“When Nawab Akbar Bugti’s daughter in law, Barhamdagh Bugti’s sister and Mir Bakhtiar Domki’s wife was shot down in Karachi along with her daughter, soon graffiti by the LeJ appeared in District Lasbella Balochistan saying, “Domki, hum arahey hein”(Domki, we are coming to you). LeJ has sent threatening letters to people affiliated to Zikri sect and warned them against supporting Baloch resistance groups like BSO-Azad etc. It is needless to say that its none other than LeJ complicit in violence against Hazara and non-Hazara Shias of Balochistan.”
“Recently when SSP (ASWJ) has been facilitated back to the mainstream by making them part of the ISI formed Difae Pakistan Council (DPC) to reconcile with the rogue assets of LeJ, who were instrumental in perpetrating attacks on the offices of ISI, SIU and FIA as well as a lethal attack on GHQ. Malik Ishaq of LeJ assisted them to get GHQ attackers surrendered(have you heard something of Aqeel alias Dr Osman trial).
They have been assigned the task to polarize population in Balochistan by massacring Shia hazaras as well as killing possible political rivals in their own (deobandi) sect. It started from Jamia Farooqia new campus, on a 2 kilometer distance from Hub chowki.”
http://criticalppp.com/archives/81652
@Sheherzade Adil
“Still you have nothing in support of your claim, linking Baloch resistance groups to sectarian monsters aka LeJ/ASWJ except hearsay and your sources in the Army.”
Oh bibi…. my point was simple: LeJ and ‘resistence groups’ tend to share the SAME areas and localities and the same community. They are almost like neighbours in Saryab Road Quetta and Mastung.
Such areas have been hub of nationalist politics for years, and now they have become hubs of anti-Shia killing and planning. Many Shias have been killed in Saryab Road by LeJ.
These are places where even law enforcement is hesitant of maintaining a permanent presence. So I ask, if the nationalist groups are so anti-LeJ why have they allowed their own community and strongholds to become dens of sectarian monsters?
http://www.paktribune.com/news/print.php?id=96274
“Still you will be unable to cite any major incident of internal clash between them all.”
I’ve already mentioned the murders of Maula Bux Dashti and Nasim Jangian of NP by Allah Nazar’s BLF if you weren’t paying attention. Also the immense hatred certain nationalist groups have had for decades towards ‘Baba-e-Balochistan’ Mir Ghous Bakhsh Bizenjo himself is an open secret.
But that’s just the tip of the iceberg 😉
Khair Bakhsh Marri once said “If Balochistan were to become independent in today’s geo political regional situation we would be such a weak state that any of the powerful nations like the US or Russia could dominate us, as we would be economically and militarily weak. It is better to live and negotiate with a weak master (Pakistan) than a powerful master who would dictate its own terms and conditions for strategic and vested interests.”
Source: http://www.sungi.org/custom-1/Balochistan_Booklet.pdf “Lack of Democracy and Socio-Economic Development of Balochistan” (Page 30)
so I guess the chickens roosting in his DHA Karachi villa must be saying some sense
“Domki, hum arahey hein”(Domki, we are coming to you)
you sure they werent talking about Shia Baloch leader, and past LeJ target, Allama Maqsood Ali Domki here?
http://archives.dawn.com/archives/138311
@Ali Ahasan
my point was simple: LeJ and ‘resistence groups’ tend to share the SAME areas and localities and the same community. They are almost like neighbours in Saryab Road Quetta and Mastung.
“Such areas have been hub of nationalist politics for years, and now they have become hubs of anti-Shia killing and planning. Many Shias have been killed in Saryab Road by LeJ.
These are places where even law enforcement is hesitant of maintaining a permanent presence. So I ask, if the nationalist groups are so anti-LeJ why have they allowed their own community and strongholds to become dens of sectarian monsters?”
In fact, attacks on Shia hazaras in Baloch dominated localities had the purpose to create that rift aimed by the security establishment, which still is non existent among the Baloch resistance groups. No one has denied presence of LeJ foot soliers among the baloch as have mentioned Shafiq Mengal and his likes, but problem comes when it is linked wrongly to their nationalists factions.
Who killed Maula Baksh Dashti?
QUETTA: A hitherto unknown group identifying itself as the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has accepted responsibility for the killing of former chairman of Baloch Students’ Organization (BSO) and ex-district nazim Kech District Maula Baksh Dashti.
According to the details, Mir Habatan, a spokesman of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), an organization never known before in the past, accepted responsibility for the killing of Maula Baksh Dashti, a former district nazim of Kech and a central leader of the National Party.The spokesman made this claim while making a phone call via a satellite phone to the local media.
Dashti had been shot dead by unidentified attackers on his way to Turbat district on Sunday, an assault which also left two of his colleagues injured.
Dashti’s killing was responded with complete shutter down in major parts of Balochistan.
Senator Abdul Malik Baloch, the central president of the National Party, has strongly condemned the killing of Dashti and termed his killing a great loss to the party.
http://www.thebalochhal.com/2010/07/peoples-liberation-army-claims-responsibility-for-dashtis-killing/
We know who is behind these hitherto unknown Organisations?
You are reading Rehman Malik too seriously….
“Who killed Maula Baksh Dashti?”
read this:
http://www.examiner.com/article/thousands-pay-homage-to-dashti-at-rally-n-turbat
It was BLF but to avoid widespread anger, they used a fake name in press to accept responsibility. The same has been stated by NP leaders Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo and Dr Abdul Maalik as well time and time. Confirmed also by Baloch writer Ahmar Mustikhan in his multiple writings about Balochistan for Examiner.com
Now I dont need to rely on Rehman Malik to understand Balochistan my dear.
“but problem comes when (LeJ) is linked wrongly to their nationalists factions”
that’s fair enough if you disagree with my premise that LeJ and nationalist factions close proximity does not need to automatically imply their collusion/cooperation in anyway.
it may surprise you, but I don’t actually object to that point of view and I respect such an opinion as long as it is properly presented and explained.
I will agree that there is more than what meets the eye and we need to be honest about it. My own knowledge is incomplete and I have no problem to accept it, and for that I request people to be more open about it.
But remember I have merely stated that such a factor MUST be thoroughly investigated and discussed openly with full honesty and facts.
To say that this is ‘disinformation’ as other people have attempted to malign me (and calling me an Abdul Nishapuri close when my public credentials are open for all!) is uncalled for and unprofessional and dishonest to boot.
But make no mistake about it, indiscriminate violence – by State or Sarmachar or Shia killers – pisses me off and you will find me very hard to deal with on that issue.
I have lost a very good friend in this chaos of Balochistan. I feel that pain very personally myself.
Your personal loss and anger should not be a motive to drawing wrong analogies(remember Imam Ali, who refused to kill one who spit on his face) and comparisons, Baloch too have lost their dearest like Sangat Sana Baloch, Jaleel Reki, Habib Jalib, Maula Baksh Dashti, Ghulam Muhammad Baloch, Lala Munir Baloch and hundreds of others.
Dr Ayesha Siddiqa last week stated that promoting LeJ in Balochistan is a strategy by the security establishment to damage and misrepresent Baloch nationalist struggle.
As gross human rights violations, Hundreds of missing persons, Killing and Dumping of the activists, aerial bombings on Baloch populations have drawn world attention. State wants to malign that struggle with sectarian infiltration and misrepresenting it by linking it to Baloch fighting groups.
Those people who insists on Shia genocide and abhor usage of ethnic terms like Hazara genocide are falling to the same blunder by identifying sectarian monsters as Baloch , Pashtuns or any other ethnicity.
Here the same blog and its editors have criticised Khaled Ahmed on calling Shia Hazara killings as ‘Pashtun reprisal” which is not the case.
We are living in an age, where politics and resistance with clear ideological leanings is a rear commodity, same is for Baloch nationalists who have their bits of degeneration when insisting on the ethnic lines to be qualified to live in Baloch majority districts.
Pashtuns labourers, small traders and hotels and tea stall owners have been forced to leave areas with influence by Baloch armed groups as Wadd, Awaran, Turbat etc.
They might have their own reasons as they are fighting a monstrous enemy aka Pakistan Army, but hostilities against non combatants can not be identified by any means.
As a Baloch columnists recently wrote, “what is the difference between a terrorist and a Sarmachar, terrorists acts to spread havoc and fear while Sarmachars have objectives before them as well as they respect principles of human rights”
@toeyzoy
“what is the difference between a terrorist and a Sarmachar, terrorists acts to spread havoc and fear while Sarmachars have objectives before them as well as they respect principles of human rights”
Like I have mentioned time and time again, much of the conduct of BLA BRA BLF LeB etc does NOT fall in the ‘respecting principles of human rights’ line.
Otherwise they would have NEVER:
1) bullied, attacked, and killed teachers, journalists, labourers, travellers, settlers, critics, barbers, on political/ethnic excuses for the last 10 years or so
2) more or less ethnically cleansed most of the Baloch areas of the Punjabi/Seraiki/Urdu-speakers living there for many generations on the excuse of ‘being a minority in our own homeland’.
So what does that tell you?
In former East Pakistan, What people remember today is not the crimes committed by “Mukti Bahini” but the atrocities by Pakistan army are still remembered.
I will love to see same anger and furore in your tone and an upcoming post on the atrocities of Pakistan Army in Balochistan against the Baloch since March 1948 till today.
Then I will reply to your question
Read this very excellent piece, while keeping your personal issues aside. It has an answer to what you ask.
criticalppp.com/archives/53848
History is always written by – and glorifies – the winners. Losers always get the short end of the stick.
The atrocities committed by both sides was equally condemnable and abhorring. Pak Army’s conduct was disgusting in East Pakistan. But the winning side doesn’t care as long as they reach their objectives by any means necessary.
In Balochistan, no one is a winner but everyone is a loser. And that’s what most writers and critics have failed to realised. This conflict will never see the end as all sides are too stubborn to budge.
Its not about history writings, winners or loosers, its about the violence inflicted by a state and its organised institutions and a reprisal.
When state is involved in Ethnic cleansing and genocide, and is interested more in the land and resources and care less about the people, we need to question the state and not castigate the victims.
How killing and disappearances of hundreds of Baloch can be equalled with acts of violence by the Baloch Sarmachars, while I believe in non-violent political resistance and don’t support violent tactics but will not blame the victim for what has been done to them since decades.
The State wouldnt have been able to reach where it is now in Balochistan without the tacit approval/support of the various local political elite factions found across Balochistan – each of them vying for their own self-importance and interest in cahoots with the State at various points in history.
Lets not forget that the new found martyr Baloch hero of 2006, Nawab Akbar Bugti, had personally persuaded Bhutto to dismiss the NAP govt in Balochistan and urged him to launch military operation because he started to contest the control held by KB Marri, Attaullah Mengal, and MGB Bizenjo by 1973 for his own personal gain.
We all agree that 1970s was the most bloodiest era for all of Balochistan, far worse and more deadly than even today by some accounts, and for that Nawab Bugti was despised but then he becomes a hero in 2006.
Lets not also forget the Khan of Kalat himself had frequently sought Pakistani assistance to maintain his quest for power and influence and was happy to be a governor and ambassador till his death.
The current Balochistan Govt is also playing both sides and gaining personal gains without even bothering to take control and take responsibility.
Every side is benefiting from this war, only the common man is losing his life and livelihood. And the same opportunistic people at home and abroad, pro-Pakistan and pro-Independence, in power and in rebellion, in Islamabad and London, in Geneva and Karachi, in Quetta and Dubai, in Panjgur and Mashkay, in Dera Bugti and Kohlu, are all cashing from it.
Because this war has made them all famous and they love it. They will cry for the innocents who die – many of whom just want this shit over so they can move on with their lives – but without the dead they are nothing of importance.
That, my friend, is Balochistan.
Jee Ba Tra and Khoda Hafiz.
Because all of us were and so busy while using move (and working with the arrival of your new baby somewhat over four weeks later), we didn¡¯t soda open the ones boxes for quite a while.