Chicago Summit, Afghanistan exit strategy and Pakistan army

Amidst well-coordinated bold terrorist attacks, a growing indication of strong logistical and planning support from places beyond Afghanistan’s boundaries, and early morning Presidential press conferences, both sides in Afghanistan are claiming a victory. What is certain is that international force will start withdrawing from Afghanistan sooner than later. It therefore, should not be surprising if Pakistan’s army is busy in damage control with regard to its relationships with Taliban.  Traditionally Pakistan and Iran have been on the same page when it came to suppressing Baloch nation, whose land is divided between the two countries, but in Afghanistan they have had their differences on the choice of partners. But during the recent attacks on NATO supply line by the so called non state actors or ISI’s implementing partners and subsequent block on NATO supplies by Pakistan’s Army, the Iranian President rushed to Pakistan and following two issues were at the forefront of the agenda,

·         Coordinated military action against Baloch nationalist and Jundullah on Pakistan and Iranian occupied part of Baloch homeland respectively, to facilitate development of gas pipeline between two countries.  

·         Pushing their respective militant groups in Afghanistan and agreeing on a power sharing mechanism after withdrawal of international forces.

As was expected Pakistan’s military has decided to reopen NATO supply line but not without additional conditions. The GHQ in Pakistan is one of the best pundits of American foreign policy and internal politics simply because it’s the American tax payers money that for generations supported the lavish life style of Pakistan’s army generals from Ayub Khan to General Kiyani, off course the ISI chiefs including the mastermind behind Haqqni network, Hameed Gul, have also been amongst top beneficiaries. Therefore Pakistan army was not expected to let go of such an important source of funding and the fact of the matter is that Pakistan’s army prefers to play the middle man. Their longstanding relationship with pentagon and west has convinced them that they can, and always have, played on both sides.

Another important issue that made Pakistan’s generals (parliaments committees are a joke) to reopen the supply line was growing international and especially US concern on human rights violations in Balochistan. Again Pakistan’s army generals realize that their brutalities against Baloch civilians during President Musharraf’s era were completely brushed under the carpet by west because of their halfhearted and dual role in war against religious militants in the region hence they have decided to travel the same path so that the genocide of Baloch nation could go on without any reaction from western democracies. Besides Pakistan’s regular army and FC the ISI sponsored group “Defense of Pakistan” has also announced Jihad against Baloch civilians and political activists. One of the major organizations in Defense of Pakistan is Jammat u Dawa that has already decided a comprehensive multifactorial “Balochistan plan” which comprises of attacking Baloch nationalists, student activists, journalists and freedom fighters on one end and establishing free medical treatment camps on the other. It must be noted that Pakistan’s military and its allied religious militant groups do not allow local and international neutral NGOs to operate in Balochistan but Jammat u Dawa, despite its militant wing and announcement of war against Baloch, has been granted access by Pakistan’s secret agencies. 

 Meanwhile, Baloch are being hunted by Pakistan’s military and paramilitary forces in their own homeland as well as Baloch diaspora overseas is threatened, intimidated and constantly ridiculed by Pakistan’s consulates throughout the west. Likewise pro-Pakistan groups in the west are busy stepping up their hate campaign against small number of Baloch diaspora in the west. Baloch under Pakistan’s occupation are worried about their well-being and are economically crippled. It’s becoming exceptionally hard for Baloch nation to feed their children. Internationally Baloch diaspora are the least funded and supported group of all stateless people in the world. Among stateless people in the western cities such as Kurds, Tamils, Palestinians, Kashmiris, Baloch diaspora has the lowest per capita income. It is ironic that Pakistan continues its forcible occupation of Baloch homeland and genocide of Baloch nation and yet it claims billions of dollars from international community to give them access to routes that travel entirely through Baloch homeland to southern Afghanistan. In Pakistan thousands of Baloch civilians have been targeted by military operations and at least 300 students, activists, and nationalist leaders have been killed in custody by Pakistan’s secret agencies. Internationally Baloch do not have a single office in the entire North America a region that spends billions of dollars of Pakistan’s army that is the brutal killer of Baloch civilians.

Nuclear armed Pakistan army is far more dangerous than any other militant organization in the world especially when many of its high level officers have been arrested in the past few years trying to mastermind a religious coup within military. Empowerment of Baloch nation is essential to resist Pakistan’s sinister designs for the region and to establish a neutral, liberal and stable state along the borders of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Western leaders and Governments have not supported this idea thus far, but it must be kept in mind that with the fall of liberal, peace loving Baloch nation in the region Afghanistan will regrow into a ghost that it once was and will haunt world peace for centuries.

Baloch stay away from Pakistan’s Pro-Taliban “All Parties Conference”.

The coordination between various stakeholders in Baloch freedom movement may not be ideal, but a recent decision by Baloch leaders in different parties to stay away from Pakistan’s pro-Taliban “all parties’ conference” seems to be a joint decision. Baloch have been campaigning against the Pakistan military sponsored talibanization in Pashtun districts of Balochistan since early days of Afghan war during Pakistani General Zia Ul Haq’s era. The absence from “APC” shows that Baloch are not interested in Pakistan’s pro-Taliban policy , and seek an end to Pakistan military’s support to Pro-Taliban religious elements.

Pakistan army and its secret agencies have intensified its “kill and dump” policies in Balochistan despite various reports and warnings by international human rights organizations. Mere reports seem to have little effect on Pakistan’s military and it continues with its crimes against humanity in Balochistan, where young Baloch students, political activists, lawyers, journalists, doctors and social workers are forcibly disappeared and their mutilated bodies’ surface on roadsides.

When the Prime Minister of Pakistan traveled to Quetta and delivered his eloquent speech about reconciliation, the same week Baloch nation received 6 mutilated dead bodies, that speaks volumes for Pakistan’s reconciliation and political process in Balochistan. Until and unless United Nations and international community decides to intervene and take notice of Pakistan’s atrocities against Baloch nation, Pakistan military and secret agencies will continue their “kill and dump” policies in Balochistan.

Pakistan rejects human rights reports and commandant frontier constabulary vows to intensify “Action” In Balochistan

If there were any misconceptions in any one’s mind that Pakistan was going to abandon its systematic genocide of Baloch nation just because; Amnesty, Human Rights Watch, Asian Human Rights Commision or even United Nations for that purpose , condemned the brutalities of Pakistan’s forces in Balochistan. These should be clear by now as the commandant of Pakistan’s Frontier Constabulary has announced recently that soon there will be “Peace” in Balochistan.

The salient features of Military’s peace process in Balochistan has included,

• An onslaught on Baloch homeland soon after the creation of Pakistan

• Occupation of Baloch homeland by force against wishes of Baloch nation

• A military action against Baloch tribes in 1970s with resultant migration of thousands of Baloch tribes to Afghanistan (especially the Marri tribes)

• Nuclear tests inside Baloch civilian population

• Intensification of military operation against Baloch nation in 2000 and military attacks on Dear Bugti, Kohlu, Awaran, Noushki, Punjgur and other areas in Balochistan.

• Target killings of Baloch leaders, students, lawyers, activists and professors

• Enforced disappearance (abduction) of more than 14000 Baloch civilians

• Torturing and shooting of more than 250 Baloch students, activists ,journalists , lawyers, and political workers


After all of the above when finally international community has started paying attention to gross human rights violations in Balochistan, Pakistan’s generals instead of apologizing for the heinous crimes against humanity are promising to intensify the genocide of Baloch nation, and yes they call it “peace”. It’s the same similar peace that Pakistan is promoting in Afghanistan, Kashmir and even in Mumbai through its “Partners in Peace Process” these partners include such terrorist organizations as Taliban, Jammat E Dawa, and others.


At this moment Baloch nation and families of enforced disappearance victims are looking towards international community to do more than just words…..

Seven Dead Bodies of Young Baloch Students surface in Balochistan, why doesn’t the Chief justice take notice???

Pakistan’s ISI controlled media, Jamat e Islami and the parliament can’t stop its propaganda against Baloch nation especially when a foreign ambassador, human rights activist or journalist tries to visit Balochistan. But the same forces ignore the continued brutalities of Pakistan’s forces against innocent Baloch civilians. Even the death of seven young men from BSO- (azad) whose tortured dead bodies surfaced a few days ago could not force Pakistan’s rubber stamp parliament to at least condemn the brutalities of military, intelligence agencies and FC against Baloch nation.

Even the hyperactive chief justice of Pakistan, who seems to be interested in everything from transfers and postings of officials to making political statements, is silent about Balochistan. The house of Nawab Akbar Bugti’s son and son in law have recently been attacked by Pakistan’s Frontier Constabulary in an attempt to force them into withdrawing the murder case against Pakistan military that is currently in the court. And yet Pakistan’s Chief Justice famous for his sue motto notices has failed to even take notice of the issue.

These killings by Pakistan’s intelligence agencies and forces have been carried out after the reports, released by different international human rights organizations, which strongly criticized Pakistan’s forces and Government for torturing and killing innocent Baloch civilians. That shows how much Pakistan’s nuclear armed army cares about human rights and international reports.

Balochistan under military siege

International reporters can travel to Gaza and cover news and conduct interviews and Palestinian politicians and people have the right to peaceful political assembly. On the other hand Baloch people in Pakistan and Iranian occupied Balochistan (the homeland of Baloch) have no human rights. The army and its secret agencies continue their siege of Balochistan. Baloch towns continue to be bombed and secret agencies continue their “Kill and Dump” policies despite repeated warnings and notices by international Human Rights organizations.

Pakistan’s ISI controlled, so called free media is very busy weeping for Taliban’s and advocating for Kashmiri militant groups that it cannot even mention the forced disappearances of hundreds of Baloch youth , political activists and innocent civilians. Close to 200 hundred mutilated dead bodies of Baloch activists have been discovered on roadsides in Balochistan who according to their relatives and eyewitness were abducted by Frontier Constabulary, secret agencies and ISI sponsored death squads but Pakistan’s media completely ignored this burning issue.

International news agencies are not allowed, international humanitarian workers cannot enter Balochistan, international human rights groups cannot enter Balochistan and even the diplomatic staff from other countries is not allowed to visit Balochistan. The ISI controlled media does not mention the human rights violation by military in Balochistan but when US ambassador visits Balochistan all of sudden Foreign Office, Jammat e Islami, ISI and Pakistan’s media all become interested. Because ISI does not want the international community to see how Pakistan’s forces are conducting a systematic genocide of Baloch nation and how common Baloch is living under siege of Frontier Constabulary. In comparison the situation in Balochistan is worst then Gaza but so far the international community has failed to take notice of human rights situation in Balochistan.

Baloch intellectual, writer, and historian Professor Saba Dashtiyari gunned down by ISI death squad.

The ISI death squad have been abducting and killing Baloch students, lawyers, leaders, political activists, doctors and human right activists in different cities of Balochistan for a long time now. In the small towns it’s a different story all together where Frontier Corps and Army conduct large scale operations during which artillery and rockets are freely used against innocent civilian Baloch population.


But apparently this was not enough and hence the secret agencies have started killing individuals who are working on Baloch history, culture and literature. Professor Saba Dashtiyari was a highly respected Baloch intellectual and a Professor in the only university in Balochistan, but that did not deter ISI death squad’s from targeting him. As usual an unknown Islamist group claimed the responsibility for the killing.


Balochistan university, is an anomaly in Pakistan’s universities because it is not controlled by pro-Taliban Jihadi group Jamat e Islami. Instead secular student bodies are far more active and prominent in this institute and that could be a contributing factor for Professor Saba’s killing, because Pakistan’s military and secret agencies have being pushing for Talibanization in Balochistan for a long time and Baloch intellectuals and nationalists like professor Saba Dashtiyari have been protesting against it. Professor Saba’s death could be a message to all Baloch nationalists in the university that they should either embrace Pakistan sponsored Talibanization or be ready for consequences.


After professor Saba’s death his pupils and colleagues used to meet in front of his office and residence in the university to burn candles and remember this great person, but Government has quickly issued a notification prohibiting such gathering. This in fact is an official order for everyone "Not to Remember" professor Saba. It is ironic that his killers are free to move about in army cantonment but those who mourn his death may get arrested and punished.

Baloch Struggle for Independence, provides an opportunity to fight Pakistan and Iran sponsored terrorism

If there ever was doubt in any one's mind regarding Pakistan army's role in promoting terrorism, it should be clear now. There are many many safe heavens like the one where Bin Ladin was found, being run by Pakistan's ISI especially in Quetta and other pashtoon areas of Balochistan.


Baloch nation has been protesting since ever that Pakistan's army is not interested in fighting the likes of Bin Ladin and Mulla Omar because ISI considers them important strategic assets and all funds provided to Pakistan military are being used to conduct a systematic genocide of liberal Baloch people who are fighting for the independence of their homeland from Pakistan and Iran.

Baloch nation can play a pivotal role in detection and eradication of ISI's safe houses in Balochistan where Talibans leaders from Afghanistan are being protected. But organizations like BLA,BLF and BRA need surveillance equipment and resources to launch an effective campaign against ISI presence in their homeland. These organizations are currently doing the same but their efforts can not match the resourcefulness of Pakistan's army at present.

Building the capacity of Baloch national entities to fight against Talibanization and ISI presence in Balochistan could prove to be an effective strategic decision to fight Talibans not just in Afghanistan but actually across the border.

Abdul Malik Reiki another Baloch Leader killed by Iran’s fascist Government

Baloch homeland is occupied by different countries like Pakistan and Iran and Baloch nation is forced to live under the fascist regimes of Iran and Pakistan. Baloch homeland is divided between Iran and Pakistan by a false international border “Goldsmith Line”. But Baloch on both sides of “Goldsmith Line” are treated in the same way. Iran and Pakistan keep on exploiting natural resources in Baloch Homeland but deny even the basic human rights to Baloch nation. Lack of freedom of speech and use of force against innocent Baloch civilians has forced Baloch nation on both sides of Goldsmith line in Balochistan and Siestan to take up arms in self defense.
Both Iranian and Pakistan Governments have a similar policy when it comes to exploitation of natural resources in Baloch Homeland and suppressing Baloch Struggle for Freedom. Baloch nation on both sides of Goldsmith line has been fighting for its independence from Iran and Pakistan. Pakistan Government has targeted many Baloch leaders including Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, Mir Balach Marri, Ghulam Muhammad Baloch and many others including thousands of innocent civilians, kidnapped and tortured Baloch political activists and Baloch students.
In Siestan (western Balochistan occupied by Iran) Jundallah initially organized its resistance movement on demands based on equal rights for minority SUNNIES (Baloch) in a Shia majority country. The Baloch in Iran are denied all basic human rights including the right to speak in their mother tongue (Balochi). Abdul Malik Reiki became the voice of Baloch nation in Iran. He was very popular on both sides of Goldsmith line even though he was using a religious tone still it was obvious he was fighting for rights of Baloch nation.
There was a witch hunt going on, on both sides of Goldsmith line Pakistani and Iranian Governments were desperate to kill this voice which was demanding rights for Baloch nation and was targeting fascist Iranian regime. Finally Iran was able to intercept a flight in its air and arrest Abdul Malik Reiki once he was arrested it was obvious he would be hanged. Iran hangs large number of innocent Baloch people every month how was such a fascist regime going to give Abdul Mali Reiki a fair trial.

But Baloch Struggle for Freedom will go on despite the killings of leaders on both sides of Goldsmith line in fact it’s the blood of martyrs that has strengthened and sustained this struggle. Killing of Abdul Malik Reiki has sparked anger in Baloch nation and there are also signs that Jundallah has in principal agreed to organize its struggle on a secular ideology. The ultimate objective of Baloch Struggle on both sides of Goldsmith line is creation of an independent Baloch State “Greater Balochistan”.