We may keep arguing who gave the right to the US congress’ committee on foreign affairs to discuss the human rights situation in Balochistan but that will not serve the main issue. Balochistan is facing a fourth mutiny in the last 60 years; obviously it can’t be ignored as a trouble area for the army to take care of.
In the past, a number of committees and commissions in Pakistan have deliberated on the situation in Balochistan and come up with tons of proposals, only to eat dirt in the army’s and bureaucrats’ offices.
The Human Rights Watch (HRW), while taking no position in the US congress hearing on demands pertaining to an independent Balochistan, has come up with a number of recommendations. It is necessary that this issue not be pushed under the carpet. When the use of force couldn’t stop 52 percent of Pakistanis to break away from Pakistan in 1970 (creation of Bangladesh), then how is it possible that the army alone can find an everlasting solution to Baloch grievances.
Without mincing words, the HRW criticised all the parties including Baloch nationalists and rebels who are involved in the bloodshed and revenge practices. Therefore, regardless of Pakistani government’s official stand on the US committee meeting, HRW recommendations should be taken seriously to save the country from further disintegration.
The HRW recommendations are as follows: 1) The Pakistani government shall not allow its forces to get involved in extra-judicial killings and disappearance and illegal or undocumented detentions of Baloch nationalists. 2) The US shall threaten to severe contacts with the Pakistan army, ISI, Frontier Constabulary (FC) who are allegedly blamed for killings and disappearance of Baloch nationalists. 3) The US funding/ training of those agencies shall be cut who are found responsible for human rights violation in Balochistan. 4) Baloch nationalists and rebels should stop attacks on civilians especially on the non-Baloch population. 5) Attacks on teachers, professors (mostly Urdu and Punjabi speaking) and educational institutes should be stopped. 6) Baloch nationalist organisations shall take action against their members who are involved in killing of civilians.
Time is running out for the Pakistani government for political manoeuvring. The hearing in the US committee shows that the matter is getting international attention. It’s better if an internal matter is resolved internally by dialogue. Otherwise, the past is there as precedent.
MASOOD KHAN
Saudi Arabia
