Self-determination of Balochistan: Looking Back and Looking Forward

Self-determination of Balochistan: Looking back and looking forward

Each year on August 14th, the people of Pakistan start celebrating their independence day. On the other hand the people of Balochistan hold a “Black Day” because they never abandon and look back at their land and notice it has been forcefully annexed therefore looking forward to full fill their right of self-determination.

While looking back, the history of Balochistan tells us that  on August 4th 1947 the British government, Khan of Kalat (now Balochistan) and Pakistani rulers had signed an agreement that clearly states;

"Kalat State (now Balochistan) will be independent on August 5, 1947, enjoying the same status as it originally held in 1838, having friendly relations with its neighbors’. In case the relations of Kalat (now Balochistan) with any future government got strained, Kalat will exercise its right of self-determination, and the British Government should take precautionary measures to help Kalat in the matter as per the Treaties of 1839 and 1841." (By Hussain Bux Thebo  balochvoice.com March 3, 2007)

The original documents which has been signed and seal by The head of the Kalat, declared independence of Balochistan on August 11th 1947, the founder of Pakistan Mr. Mohammad Ali Jinnah signed that proclamation on August 12th 1947. It’s first clause reads the   “government of Pakistan recognized Kalat (Balochistan) as an independent and autonomous status has been different than the other Indian states “( By Dr. Inyataullah Baloch PHD the author of “The Problem of Greater Balochistan”) and the “The New York Time” reported that news. See the following clip. From the New York Times, 1947

The democratically elected (upper and lower) Baloch parliament unanimously voted against the merger of Kalat (Balochistan) into Pakistan on December 14th 1947 under the leadership of Mir Ghoz Baksh Bizenjo (Picture). The irony is the undemocratic Pakistani rulers blindly violated the constitution of Kalat (Balochistan) and the Baloch parliamentarian decision.

The most prominent Baloch leader Nawab Khair Baksh Marri always in the eyes of Pakistani rulers consider the most “dangerous”  Baloch leaders for the Pakistan, because from the birth of Pakistan he refused Balochistan to be part of Pakistan. “ The Baloch were not a party to the decision to join Pakistan. They did not join Pakistan through their free will or their political alliances.”  (Rashed  Rehman thepost.com January 15, 2008)

Above all the Pakistani rulers with their trumped-up excuses and lies, they individually approached the Khan of Kalat and convinced him to sign the accessions agreement which Baloch leaders consider illegitimate  and against international law.

Right after occupation of Balochistan his younger brother who was the former governor of  Makuran, the Prince Abdul Karim Baloch, resisted such an illegal move and disagreed with his elder brother Khan of Kalat. He started the first arm struggle against the Pakistani rulers who went to the hills with his fellows to Sarlat, Balochistan which is at border of Afghanistan.

With Pakistani rules and law the systematic atrocities and aggressive policies have continued for the last 61 years against the native Baloch people.  Baloch believe there is nothing to celebrate on Pakistan’s Independence Day. The dominating Pakistani military only believe that their method is right in dealing with the Balochistan conflict. The irony is the cycle of betrayal, and undemocratic approaches towards Baloch problems, which remains the same.  An Ex-Baloch senator, Sanaullah Baloch, once referred to the central government, “Accept us as equal federating units or we will try to get rid of you.” 

The plight of Baloch people has been hidden to the rest of the world, Pakistani media merely let the decades of burning issues of Balochistan lid out to the international community but the Diaspora of Baloch from Middle East, Europe and North America are trying to expose the ground reality of Balochistan to the world. Baloch individuals have utilized the internet to its fullest use for it has been an exceptional tool in getting the other side of the story out, but more importantly exposing and expressing their side.

Once a Baloch villager, Buzdar told the BBC ; “Our land (Balochistan) played an important role in making Pakistan a nuclear power but all we have got in return is poverty and poison.” (“Villagers fear of nuclear waste” BBC April 4, 2006) The villager Buzdar is right, because Balochistan makes up 43% of Pakistans landmass, it has rich-natural resources, with 750 coastlines and a population less than 10 million, yet it remains the most backward province, when compared to the three remaining provinces, Sindh, North West Frontier provinces , and Punjab. It has the lowest literacy rate, according to a report by the United Nations sponsored agencies in Balochistan. Their report  further confirms the very obvious fact that Balochistan is very far behind in many categories, such as literacy and has one the lowest per capita standing, ” Balochistan is below the recognized standard of illiteracy in many third world countries.” exclaims Professor Mansoor Kundi, a  political science professor at the University of Balochistan.

Baloch people have already faced five ruthless military operations, these occurred in the following time periods:  1948, 1958, 1960, 1973-77 and 2005.  On March 17th, 2005 innocent individuals were killed including Hindus, Baloch women, children, and the elderly. Nawab Akbar Bugti was barely missed by Pakistani security force who fired rockets while he was sitting in a meeting room talking with his tribes.

The late Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, a civilian ruler, on February 12th, 1973 dismissed the democratically elected government of Balochistan. In that government there were two prominent Baloch leaders late Mir Ghoz Baksh Bizenjo who was the governor of Balochistan and Sardar Attauallah Mengal, the Chief Minister of Balochistan.

From 1973 to 1977, a bloody military operation in Balochistan occurred. Pakistani and Iranian military forces indiscriminately started mass killings of innocent nomad Baloch where 5,000 Baloch were murdered in cold blood, and 3,000 Pakistani soldieries lost their lives. But Baloch people still cannot qualify as genocide victims. Under their military might, Pakistan is facing mass killings and disappearances of individuals who simply seek to defend their rights.

Mr. Sleg Harrison, interviewed the Baloch leaders and The Prime Minister of Pakistan late Mr. Bhutto, during 1977, for his book,  In Afghanistan’s Shadow: Baluch Nationalism and Soviet Temptations, late Mr. Bhutto told him about Shah of Iran.  “He (Shah of Iran) felt strongly that letting the Baluch have provincial self-government was not only dangerous in itself. For Pakistan, but would give his Baluch dangerous ideas….we will not close our eyes to any secessionist movement-God forbid-in your country.” 

From such dire situations, the relationship between Baloch leaders and their respective ruling regimes has been widening rather than making amends. In such a murky situation, Baloch leadership  can hardly convince the politically conscious Baloch that any progress is in the horizon, pertaining to Balochistan autonomy.

Late Mr. Bizenjo (former governor of Balochistan) widely referred as “The Father of Balochistan” because he was actively involved in politics throughout his political career. One of his colleagues, Sardar Attaullah Khan Mengal said this about him “The man can’t live with out politics. I can do without it, but he has to have it all the time or he will perish.”  He participated in five Pakistani parliamentary elections; he was a moderate Baloch leader who was willing to compromise with the Pakistani rulers for the sake of Baloch rights. But his attempt of duplicating Gandhi’s non-violent approach which freed India from its chains of slavery was deemed very unsuccessful.

Throughout his political career he worked with the Pakistani progressive and democratic forces until his death. Always keeping his integrity, Mr. Bizenjo refused to sell himself and his beliefs. Operating on of the most corrupt political environments, his financial background was not that strong compared to rivals who selfishly dipped into the bank of dishonesty and corruption.

But the irony was Pakistani rulers intentionally sidelined him even when they knew he was the most democratic personality in Islamabad. In comparing to the other leaders of his country he told Mr. Harrison during 1977 in his interview that “This is not our (Baloch leadership) fault; it is because of the failure of the authorities in Pakistan to deal with the problems (of Balochistan) in reasonable manner.”  

I would say, perhaps Mr. Harrison concluded the best way about the late Mir Bizenjo, he writes “ In my view, he (Late Mir. Bizenjo) is one of the ablest politicians in Pakistan and could have played a major role in Islamabad but for his Baluch identity and his commitment to the Baluch cause.”  I think that’s why Pakistani rulers intentionally side lined him because of his identity and being Baloch leader from Balochistan.

He kept his interest of his people his first priority, and carried the soul of every Baloch who travelled every corner of Balochistan. He tried to meet with all walks of people anywhere, any time, be under a shade of palm trees, huts, corner of river and front of the shop he openly listened to their pain and showed his sympathy regardless of being powerless. But this was a symbolic act of any democratic leaders that’s why he touched his people heart around Balochistan.

Mr. Harrison expressed his views further about the personality of late MR. Bizenjo he writes” As a result of his education at Aligarh, (I would say oxford of sub-continent) Bizenjo received much greater exposure...of pre-independence political life in the sub-continents than his parochially educated Baluch colleagues, with the notable exception of Oxford-educated Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti.( former governor and premiers of Balochistan.)

Indeed Mr. Harrison analysis are true about the Oxford- educated Baloch Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti That great leader spent about 57 years with Pakistani rulers and in parliamentary politics of Pakistan, trying to achieve the Baloch rights just like the late Mir. Bizenjo the  rights of Baloch people. 

He also served as governor and premiere of Balochistan, he was well known amongst his well wishers and opponents as a tough negotiator, straightforward, and never bowed down, and nor did he give up his own principle which he believed in until his last day. For instance during his govern ship in 1973, he had conflicts and disagreements with late Prime Minister of Mr. Bhutto and he resigned his premiership but did not compromise his principles. A second time, once he knew he was being betrayed by his close Islamabad trusted Punjabi leaders in the name of “Parliamentary Committee” by Senator Mushahid Husain Sayed from Punjab and Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, the leader of ex-governing Pakistan Muslim League, instead of accepting their terms of negotiations for the interest of “Baloch cause” he refused to give up his principle till his death.

Pakistani generals had already set the grounds for eliminating Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, simply because he was trying to expose their lies and blunders toward Baloch rights and did not accept their false given hope through the ”Parliamentary Committee.” This is the pattern of Punjabi leaders towards Baloch for the last 6 decades.

He did what the legendary Baloch heroes before had done; fight till your last breath on the hills of Balochistan to protect his ancestral land and resources.  Only one week before, BBC reporters interviewed him through satellite phone from the hills of Balochistan about the “Parliamentary Committee” outcome and the result of the negotiations with the Pakistani rulers,   He replied. ” They are communicating with us through the use of cannons, fighter jets, deep penetration bombs; these are such great dialogues that they are having loud discussions with us.”  (BBC August 16, 2006)

Its worth mentioning here that, the United States provided, sophisticated and modern weapons for “war on terror” against the Taliban,  Pakistani military used against the native Baloch during that military operation.

New York Reporter who visited the operation area in the hills of Balochistan, writes “Indeed huge craters and fragments from American-designed MK-82 bombs lay beside a badly damaged school in village of Mararar(Balochistan) the results of bombing raid the Baluch fighters said occurred at the beginning of March” (In  remote Pakistan province Civil War Festers” New York Times By Carlotta Gall April 2, 2006)

On August 26th, 2006 he was assassinated by Pakistani generals. How the Death of a Leader Creates a Bigger Problem for Pakistan But he knew and was exactly expecting such outcome from the ruthless enemy.  Before his death he said “Let us before we die, gather up our heritage, and offer to our children.” That’s what he proved by sacrificing his life for “Baloch cause”  Similarly a young Nawabzada Balach Marri,[i] a former provincial assembly member of Balochistan, became a history maker in the Baloch national struggle. He was cowardly assassinated by Pakistani intelligence agencies who was fighting to defend the Baloch national wealth and their land against the illegal occupiers.Top Baloch rebel leader killed

There is no doubt Nawab Akbar Bugti and Nawabzada Balach Marri their symbolic act was similar to the legendary hero Mir Mehrab Khan 11 on November 13, 1839, had fought against the Britsh Empires invasions in Kalat along with his Baloch forces till his last breath for this ancestral land. So they have filled the gap or hole of long Baloch national struggle once again in the 21st century, particularly their sacrifice for the “Baloch cause” which inspired thousands young Baloch whom joined the Baloch national struggle including his 27 year old grandson Nawabzada Bramdagh Bugti;  who is fully determined to carry his grandfather’s legacy, a quest for self-determination of Balochistan.

Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti truly analyzed Baloch people’s understanding about their national cause who said “The Baloch are conscious of their past; very much conscious of themselves… and this consciousness is increasing.” We truly see that consciousnesses through;

On one hand Baloch are up and in arms as is the “Baloch Republican Army”, “Balochistan Liberation Army”, and “Balochistan Liberations Front” on the hills of Balochistan.

On another hand, the true Baloch parliamentarians leadership is leaving no stone unturned to let the central government know through his provincial “controlled” assembly of Balochistan the biased and imposed polices has no room among Baloch leaders and they know through such parliamentary politics there is no hope for  self-rules of Balochistan.  So, they are there to expose its undemocratic and aggressive polices towards their people and that struggle will continue by looking forward to get their rights-of self-determinations. 

Because Pakistani authority, leaders, academia, intellectuals, and media for the last 61 years  twisting Balochistan true history by labeling Baloch leaders “separatist” such label is false and irrelevant to the Baloch leadership.

“ They paint Baloch as “separatist” which is wrong because Balochistan has never been part of India…Baloch are fighting for their liberation not separation that was East Bengal…which separated from Pakistan because Pakistani military did not accept Bengali people’s mandate for their majority rule and started genocide of millions of Bengalis and rape of hundreds of thousands of womens. “  Says a senior Baloch intellectual’s and poet,  Abdul Samad Ameeri (Balochi-culture August 16, 2008)

The best road map for resolving the historical grievances of Baloch people will be through the United Nations observer, along with the international community observer, and an expert monitoring team. They should be given the opportunity for a referendum. So let them decide about their future for themselves; by simply asking one question, are you pro-independence for Balochistan or pro-Pakistan?

The outcome of such Baloch pool will determine the future of Balochistan, whether they want to remain with-in Pakistan or want their own ancestral land. The other option is continued failed negotiations with the Baloch leaders and a cycle of betrayal.

Every year on August 14th, Pakistanis celebrate their countries independence on the contrary Baloch despise it for it is another year still under Pakistani rule. Perhaps the martyred  Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti’s saying “Peace in Balochistan, things of distant past” maybe the truth for the future for many more years to come.