A Baloch leader expressing solidarity with government in case of a foreign attack can only be welcomed and responded to positively. Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) President Nawabzada Shahzain Bugti has said his tribesmen were fully prepared to fight against India in case of war. “Bugti tribesmen would fight against Indian troops ahead of Pakistan Army. Our tribe is ready to defend Pakistan,” these were the words uttered by the Baloch leader. The statement shows the loyalty of the Baloch people towards Pakistan. Shahzain Bugti has shown his good will and patriotism, and now it is government’s responsibility to address the concerns of Balochistan for the betterment of the province and its citizens in education, health and social development sectors. Their loyalty with Pakistan should not be questioned in any case. While it is encouraging that the Baloch leadership is becoming a part of mainstream politics, yet talking about war is not a sensible approach as all conflicts need to be resolved through talks.
This is arguably a remarkable turnaround. It definitely shows a radical change in the politics of this section of the Baloch leadership that has been engaged in a resistance movement for the last few decades. The history of Balochistan since Pakistan’s independence is marked with repression and resistance. The matter could have been resolved if tackled wisely during the initial years of independence. The Baloch people have been facing victimisation and the abuse of their basic rights for decades. At the early stages of Pakistan it was easier to resolve the conflict that with time became a diehard resistance movement. Successive regimes have tried to quell this resistance in Balochistan with military force again and again, which only succeeded in hardening the alienation of the Baloch people. This resulted in the demand for independence in response to mounting repression. Has the state questioned itself: why are the people in Balochistan calling for freedom? There are a large number of reservations that have not been addressed yet. Many areas in the mineral rich Balochistan are still deprived of basic utilities like gas, whose huge reservoirs exist in the province at Sui.
