| 14-11-08 00:00 |
Foreign hand: conspiracy or fact |
By Gloria Caleb
"We've moved from the insurgency phase to the reconciliation phase,
but all's not well. If foreign elements continue to infiltrate
Balochistan, they could stir trouble and undermine our efforts to
restore peace," says Lt-Gen Khalid Shamim Wyne, the corps commander,
indicating that in spite of the militants' ceasefire, external forces
have a role to play in destabilising the province.
For years, with only intermittent phases of peace in the province,
the Pakistani establishment has been on its toes tackling insurgent
elements in Balochistan. While the government believes that the
trouble has been fomented by foreign elements with the aim of
acquiring control over Balochistan' s plentiful natural resources,
some independent analysts say that the insurgency is entirely the
work of internal elements. Says former senator Sanaullah Baloch: "The
unrest in Balochistan is the outcome of home-grown frustration. "
Yet others like Baloch nationalist leader Hasil Bizenjo indicate that
it is a mix of both — outside influence and internal issues. While
dwelling on the lack of basic facilities that have fuelled Baloch
discontent, he adds: "The vested interests of many powers have
focussed attention on Balochistan, the energy hub of the area. The
establishment should tread carefully."
With plans for an Iran-Pakistan- India pipeline passing through the
province, the development of the Gwadar Port, and its proximity to
Iran, it is obvious that Balochistan has attracted the attention of
regional and world powers alike.
But political and economic rivalry between the major global powers
has also kept interest alive in Balochistan. China's close economic
cooperation with the Pakistan government and its many projects in
Balochistan have not gone down well in the US.
"The US believes that China's involvement in Balochistan will give it
greater access to the Gulf and Iran," says defence analyst, Lt-Gen
(retd) Talat Masood. Which is why there is a body of opinion that the
US is using Baloch territory in Pakistan to fuel trouble in the
Iranian Sistan-Balochistan province by supporting the Jundullah, a
militant group fighting for Baloch rights in Iran.
"The US is playing a double game," says a Baloch analyst, requesting
anonymity. "On the one hand it provides the Pakistan army with
weaponry to target the people of Balochistan to protect its oil
investments. On the other it supports the Jundullah to tackle Iran."
Although confronted with Iranian fears regarding the development of
the Gwadar Port and the competition this would present to Tehran's
facilities, Pakistani officials refute theories that Iran may have a
hand in the unrest in Balochistan. "There might be movement of
insurgents across the border but it is definitely not government
[Iran]-instigated, " says Lt-Gen Wyne. But he is not willing to rule
out Indian and Afghan involvement in Baloch militancy.
"There is extensive involvement on the part of India and
Afghanistan, " says Maj-Gen Saleem Nawaz, inspector-general, Frontier
Corps, Balochistan, although he says that at this point there is "no
insurgency" in Balochistan.
He accuses Indian and Afghan elements of propagating the theory of
insurgency in Balochistan, adding, "perhaps India and Afghanistan
plan to turn it into one". He confirms the presence of militant
training camps in Kandahar and Nimruz in Afghanistan.
His military colleague Lt-Gen Wyne asserts that a transfer of weapons
takes place through the extremely porous border area with Afghanistan.
"Since there are more Pakhtuns in this area than Baloch, the former
smuggle weapons to Quetta or other parts of Balochistan. These are
then transferred to the Baloch [militants]. "
Lt-Gen Wyne further questions the presence of Indian consulates in
Kandahar.
"Consulates are meant to facilitate trade and travel. The consulates
in Kandahar are doing neither. What is their purpose?"
Talat Masood, agrees that India could have a hand in brewing trouble
in Balochistan.
"The Indians coul |
|
