Pakistan’s Double Game…. Options for international community

Pakistan since the early days of Charlie Wilson’s War in Afghanistan has been one of the major recipients of US military aid. Pakistan military established close contacts with extremists around the world during Afghan war but ISI did not abandon those contacts after the war. Following the disintegration of USSR “ISI” became the real Government in Afghanistan and the country was turned into a safe haven for international terrorists.
But this was not enough for ISI or Pakistan army’s generals thus started the militarization or Talibanization of Pakistan. The Jamait E Islami and Jameet e ulma e Islam and other fanatical groups were fully supported and strengthened hence they became custodian of “ideology of Pakistan” which is nothing more than war propaganda used by ISI to ensure continuous supply of extremist organizations to fight in Kashmir and Afghanistan. Thus Jamait E Islami and Jameet e ulma e Islam and other such organization gave birth to another group of organizations such as lashkar e taiba, and others that have a prefix lashkar attached to them. This nomenclature “Jamait” (which means an organization) and Lashkar (which means a group) was of specific interest to ISI operatives. From the Madersas which were, and still are, ruled by Jamait E Islami and Jameet e ulma e Islam extremists are enrolled into these two organizations and are further brain washed by these organizations and only the most radical elements amongst them are selected to join the Lashkars (the groups). These selected radical elements are trained , financed and used by ISI these Lashkars are what Pakistan army generals proudly refer to as Non State Actors.
Now the organizations such Jamait e Islami and Jameet e ulma e Islam are not only running the huge madersa system in Pakistan but through ISI financing and support they have also become political parties.

Under the constant military regimes in Pakistan, only one group of print and electronic media was allowed to grow. Hence it’s not surprising that biggest ISI sponsored news paper in Pakistan has a strange name “Jang” which if translated means “WAR” and the TV channel of the same organization goes by the name of “Jeo” which means “LIVING” put the two together and it becomes the Ideology of Pakistan “living the war”. The question is which war? It’s a war against India, a war against secularism, a war against democratic nations. Recently a telephonic conversation between a very influential anchor of the above mentioned media organization and a Taliban extremist has surfaced. In this conversation the Taliban team leader requests guidance from this media anchor (Hamid Mir) about a person that is under their custody. Hamid Mir (the famous anchor) advises the Taliban team leader to further interrogate that person. This shows the extent to which ISI controls each and every walk of life in Pakistan.


The Pakistan army has occupied Balochistan which accounts for more than 45% land and most of natural resources in Pakistan including the natural gas resources. Baloch are freedom loving, secular people who never believed or joined the ISI war machinery and instead have been demanding the freedom of their homeland from Pakistan. Hence Pakistan army is conducting the most systematically planned genocide of Baloch nation through means of chemical weapons, gunship helicopters, forced disappearances, torture cells, no political rights, and no medical and other services. Not surprisingly Pakistan military also choose to conduct its nuclear tests inside Baloch population in Balochistan.

Historically, the western powers have always sided with Pakistan army against the Baloch nation hence Pakistan has freely used surveillance and military equipment against Baloch nation that was handed over for use against Taliban militants. But this time around the entire command and control system of Taliban militants is based in Quetta and despite repeated requests for international community Pakistan army has declined to take any action against Quetta Shura. Baloch National Struggle for freedom provides an excellent opportunity to international community for intervention in the region and eradication of Taliban support system established by ISI in Quetta surely Baloch would well come such a move. The other option would be to support appointments of (the so called) liberal minded generals on key position and hope that they will somehow change the system. The temporary gestures of commitment to international peace are nothing more than false promises by Pakistani generals and world has seen that from Zia to Musharaf, they simply Do Not deliver and they don’t want to.

The Baloch leaders Nawab Khair Bakhsh Marri, Hyrbiyar Marri, Brahumdagh Bugti and Dr. Allah Nazar are all willing to sit on Table for independence of their homeland with international community. It’s time the international community abandons its long standing policy of supporting Pakistan Army and starts looking for new options of stability in Afghanistan. The independence of Balochistan and stability in Afghanistan are intertwined because without cutting the Taliban supply line from Quetta (Balochistan) there can be no peace in Afghanistan.

China’s growing interest in Afghanistan and its implications for the region.

The Chinese government has kept its distance from international community when it comes to cooperation in Afghanistan but that does not mean it’s not involved in Afghan situation especially from Pakistan’s perspective. Pakistan’s military intelligence through its half hearted cooperation with international community has been able to continue receiving aid from civilized world but on the other hand its Afghanistan control cell at Quetta is a buzzing with activity now a days. The ISI is conducting massive contractor level negotiations with what it calls the assets or “good Taliban’s” these are based on post international community withdrawal situation in Afghanistan.


During post 9/11 era china could not move into Afghanistan but it has increased its presence in Balochistan, the homeland of Baloch nation which is currently occupied by Pakistan and accounts for 45% land of Pakistan. Balochistan is currently the focus of China as it intensifies its search on global energy resources for future use. Balochistan has huge natural gas and oil resources .What makes it more attractive for China is the presence of Baloch sea port “Gwarder” where China has invested heavily.

Pakistan is looking to create a pre 9/11 type of situation in Afghanistan where its paramilitary forces along with Taliban controlled the country and Pakistan military ruled Kabul. With Chinese presence in Gawader Pakistan is looking to have access to central Asian countries and have Talibans in Afghanistan as its contractors to fight Indian and Baloch presence in Afghanistan and even fight in Kashmir. The Pakistan’s inter services intelligence strongly believes on using Talibans and other militant organizations against India as its only reliable means of continuous war against India, something Pakistan army refers to as “strategic depth”.

The Baloch national struggle for independence has been a major obstacle to Chinese presence in Balochistan as Baloch perceive ChinaPak collaboration in their homeland as yet another tool for genocide of Baloch nation. Baloch groups have attacked many Chinese personnel in Balochistan resulting in many deaths. Pakistan army has been prompt in intensifying its war against Baloch nation to revenge the death of Chinese intruders in Balochistan. As a result Baloch cities have been completely destroyed, civilians killed, leaders attacked and killed, writers, teachers, students, political activists kidnapped tortured and killed.

It’s a critical moment in Baloch nations struggle for independence as Pakistan is using its entire military muscle to crush Baloch demand for freedom and sovereignty. Baloch nation is fighting as best as it could but eventually Pakistan and China will overcome this resistance if international community continues to support Pakistan army. Such an outcome will have grave repercussions for international community in Afghanistan and Iraq because Pakistan will turn Afghanistan into a heaven for terrorists again. The terrorist organization involved in Mumbai attack could be seen as a test case its activities were banned in Pakistan on international community’s pressure but it’s completely functional and working in full capacity and there are confirmed reports that this particular organization has established another huge training camp in Pakistan controlled Kashmir. There should be no doubt that once Pakistan and China over come Baloch resistance in Balochistan and international forces are withdrawn from Afghanistan, Talibans and militants will rule that region once again.

Baloch nation is looking towards international community to support its right to exist and stop the grave human rights violations by Pakistani army. Baloch political leadership led by Nawab Khair Baksh Marri, Nawab Brahamdagh Bugti, Mir Harbiyar have been willing to discuss an international mediation on independence of Baloch nation. A test case of cooperation by Baloch leadership, was the release of US citizen John Solecki who was working in United Nations and was abducted by a Baloch group on the request of United Nations Nawab Khair Baksh Marri, Nawab Brahamdagh Bugti, Mir Harbiyar Marri made several appeals to kidnapers asking them not to hurt an international civil servant working in Balochistan. Mr. Solecki was finally released by kidnappers without any harm.

But it seems that international community does not have a coherent plan for Afghanistan and their strategy consists of handing over the situation to Pakistan military forces and withdrawing at the earliest. This makes it understandable why international community is not concerned about human rights violations conducted by Pakistan army in Baloch territory. But Baloch nation at present is fighting for such rights as freedom, dignity , equality , freedom of expression, non discrimination and liberation of Balochistan from pakistan is the only possible mean for Baloch nation to achieve their basic human rights.