Killing of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti by the Pakistani Army has exposed President General Parvez Musharraf's weakness. The General might have finished him along with his security guards to prove that his writ runs in every part of Pakistan. But nobody is under illusion that Balochistan's tribal people can be ruled by an external regime. Somehow British Empire conquered Baluchistan technically in October 1887 but the Balochs continued to live their tribal life autonomously.

In 1948, Pakistan annexed all the four areas of Balochsitan ruled by local Nawabs who belonged to different ethnic groups. There have been continuous efforts for integration of Baloch nationality. They fought Pakistani Army at least four times during the last 58 years. They never conceded victory of Pakistan whole-heartedly or liked becoming integral of Pakistan. Even today, Pakistan's writ does not run beyond Quetta and military cantonments. Balochs rancour several grievances against Pakistani regime. These grievances are galvanizing and integrating different ethnic tribal groups against the Pakistani regime. Baluchistan is the least developed State of Pakistan. Areawise, it is the largest and accounts for 42 per cent of the total area of Pakistan. Its people are discriminated against Pakistanis for recruitment in any sphere. In all economic indices, it is far behind other States though it has highest mineral wealth including natural gas, which is being exploited by Pakistan without giving anything in return.

Bugti was forced to live away from Quetta to save the Baloch movement from annihilation. His hideout was over 200 km away in a cave. Pakistan used its Air Force to kill him. Violent protests took place particularly in Karachi where a few thousand Balochs stay.

The then Soviet Union captured Afghanistan with an eye on sea route. Soviet occupation and Afghan war is now history but what Soviets could not achieve, the Chinese have done through strategic partnership with Pakistan. It is essential to note that north side of Baluchistan is surrounded by Afghanistan and NWFP. Eastwards, it is Punjab and Sindh. It has a very long seacoast opening at Arabian Sea. Pakistan has only Karachi port, the other is being constructed with Chinese help in Gwadar in Southern part of Baluchistan. It would be shared by China and Pakistan not only for commercial purposes of trade with the African countries and other markets but also as a naval base.

A world-class airport is also under construction near Gwadar. Pakistani strategists are preparing a plan to have a special economic zone and a modern city, largely populated by Punjabis. Their intentions are very clear, as most of the labour and other human resources engaged so far are either Punjabis or others. Balochs have not been employed even as unskilled labour force in these areas. Most of the work contracts have been awarded to Punjabi contractors.

Firstly, Balochs are sparsely populated with concentration in or around Quetta river valley. The Balochs anger, which was very much against Pakistan in general, and Punjabis in particular, have found Chinese as another target. A large number of Chinese technocrats have been working in Gwadar. Last year Balochs killed many Chinese engineers and other technicians. The Chinese embassy pressed Pakistan Government for security of their personnel.

The rail and road connectivity under construction would connect Sinkiang with Balochistan's port city of Gwadar. The strategic partnership between China and Pakistan is not in the field of nuclear armaments only but China has greater stakes in the promotion of its commercial enterprises as well as naval encirclement of India. Chinese are doing the same on Myanmar front and have embarked on diplomatic manoeuvring in Bangladesh. Baloch fear all these Chinese-dominated developmental activities.

Many Baloch leaders have been dreaming of greater and independent Baluchistan but their efforts failed time and again. In early 70's rebel Balochs fought bitterly and sustained their struggle for quite long, causing much casualties to Pakistani Army. In this background, the killing of Bugti and his people is equated with the elimination of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and genocide of 1969, resulting in killing of over 20 lakh east Pakistanis.

Over one crore refugees crossed over to West Bengal. It ultimately divided Pakistan and the sovereign nation of Bangladesh came into being. It also proved that the religion of Islam cannot be the glue to modern nation states.

Pakistan's strategic thinkers outside the Government may be thinking of total Baloch alienation. Today their fear may look exaggerated; it also looked so when they had suppressed Bengali-speaking Muslims with heavy hand. After Bugti's death, his grandson has risen to take over the command of the Baloch nationalist movement. Today Musharraf may celebrate but tomorrow he may repent as they are repenting loss of hegemony over Bangladesh.

Courtesy: dailypioneer.com, September 03, 2006