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Conflict in Balochistan 44
of people including of Masoori Bugti and Ghulam Qadir.
There were further complaints of
extortions carried out by members of the Marri
tribe under the instructions of Balaach Mari.
All interlocutors representing the government
expressed their helplessness in the face of “nogo”
areas in the Dera Bugti and Kohlu areas.
At the same time, most interlocutors, including
government functionaries, conceded that the
malaise lies in the systems of governance and
that escalation of violence would not solve it.
It could lead to greater loss of lives of innocent
people.
In this spirit, the former Prime
Minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, formed
a special Parliamentary Committee
unanimously approved by both Houses of the
Parliament on September 23,2004. It was a
Open pipelines at Sui.
first step in the right direction. As reported
earlier, the Committee’s recommendations
have so far not been followed and Islamabad appears to have hardened its position. The HRCP team sadly
learnt that Islamabad, now believes that the ‘low-intesity’ approach to Baloch insurgency had failed and that a
change of tactics was necessary. 26
The Bugti and Marri leaders expressed their willingness to hold meaningful talks. 27 They agreed that
issues could only be resolved politically, but they continue to blame the military-backed government, of breach
of trust and for surreptitiously preparing for a full-fledged armed conflict.
As violence escalates, serious accusations are being made by all parties. New factors are being
introduced to the conflict and controversy. The federal government has openly accused the Baloch nationalists
of having foreign support. In turn, the Baloch nationalists have accused the military of having ulterior motives to
their plans of development and of disinformation to conceal their actual designs. Press reports quote the
Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed of looking into the possibility of involvement of Al-Quaida elements
in the Sui incidents. 28 Such accusations are absurd.
Baloch nationalists have also accused the government of using a poisonous substance to pollute the
water reserve in Dera Bugti and during their operations in Kohlu. The government denies this vehemently.
HRCP found no evidence of the use of poisonous gas. However, a number of people in Dera Bugti complained
that the bombs used in the military operations burnt and melted objects and flesh.
The government continues to maintain that there is no army operation or action in Balochistan. The
President, the Prime Minister, the Information Minister and Governor Balochistan as well as the Chief Minister
of the province are reported in the press denying any army “action” or “operation”. They claim that the use of
force by the government is in relation to the law and order disturbances created by a few “miscreants” and
deny bombing civilian targets
A brief historical perspective
There is a history of armed conflict and of military operations in Balochistan, starting in 1948. The
Khan of Kalat, was compelled through an army action to accede to Pakistan, after he declared independence
for the princely state of Kalat..
Tensions again led to an armed uprising after one unit was declared in West Pakistan. The federal