The dark side of self-determination
For someone closely involved in promoting Kashmiri self-determination in the United Nations and other forums, one can imagine the chuckles of satisfaction in the Indian Ministry of External Affairs at the affixation of this term to a Pakistani province. Finally, it would be said, these Pakistanis are being paid back in the same coin; the latter day champions of self-determination should now prepare to experience its destructive potential.
Indian satisfaction would be understandable but entirely misplaced given the fundamentally flawed premise on which the very concept of Balochi self-determination rests. Taken to its logical conclusion, the indiscriminate application of this principle could end up unravelling many modern states whose demographic composition does not conform to the strict criterion of nationhood.
The postcolonial period saw the emergence of numerous states which were home to diverse cultural and ethnic groups at varying stages of integration and development. If self-determination is valid for Balochistan, it is equally relevant for the Kurds in Iraq and Turkey, the Basques in Spain, the tribes of north-eastern India, the Chechens in Russia and many more. Seen from this prism, self-determination can become a deadly tool in the hands of powerful vested interests to cause disintegration of lawfully constituted states as happened recently in Sudan.
The concept of self-determination, operationally sanctified by President Woodrow Wilson, was essentially meant to provide a political platform for subjugated countries and regions to achieve freedom from their colonial masters. This powerful principle inspired the colonised peoples of Africa, Asia and the Middle East to liberate themselves from the clutches of imperial domination and acquire independent statehood. Historically, self-determination was seen and accepted as a rallying cry for freedom from colonial rule. The axiom that peoples have a right to choose their own destiny has to be read in this context.
Over the years, some variants of self-determination emerged following the liberations of the forties and the fifties. Kashmir and Palestine are the obvious examples. In both cases, the differences in their specific historical antecedents notwithstanding, a distinct group of people were kept under forcible occupation against their express wishes and in defiance of international law as enunciated in the Charter of the United Nations. In the case of the Palestinians, a historically settled nation was driven from its homeland and their land occupied by use of force. In Kashmir, the people of the former princely state were denied the right of choice specifically granted to them by the United Nations Security Council.
Kashmiri and Palestinian self-determination is legally and historically valid, its non-fulfilment being a stigma on the credentials of those who pride themselves as the custodians of human rights and superior civilisation norms
By equating Balochistan with Kashmir and Palestine or the erstwhile colonies, Dana Rohrabacher has tried to wilfully emasculate the universally accepted definition of self-determination. He has sought to use this inherently anti-imperial tool to legitimise the disintegration of lawfully constituted states. If left unchecked, this insidious variant of a great concept could become a vehicle for destabilisation and fragmentation to the detriment of the established concepts of statehood.
How should Pakistan respond to this turn of events? Naturally, the worrisome situation in the province will have to be decisively addressed. To be credible, the proposed All Parties Conference would need to be inclusive and result-oriented. Reiteration of good intentions unaccompanied by ground action would be self defeating. Robust federal intervention would need to be carefully modulated since in a conflict situation the line separating the legitimate from the unlawful is often blurred.
Press reports indicate that the Foreign Office intends to raise this issue internationally. This would be a gigantic blunder and, if anything, would help place the issue of Balochi self-determination on the global agenda. We should take a lesson from Indian mishandling of Kashmir in the multilateral arena. Had India shown the wisdom of avoiding knee jerk reaction whenever the issue was raised Kashmir might not have resonated for so long in conference halls around the world. By its overreaction, India played right into our hands.
Pakistan must avoid this path of folly. The temptation to pursue a muscular approach should not override the subtler demands of statecraft. We have made our views known to the US administration which has already distanced itself from the Congressman’s initiative. These demarches should be followed up quietly but focus must remain on the urgency of alleviating Balochi grievances. Diplomatic overkill must be resisted lest it helps transform a purely domestic matter into an international issue.
Despite the spurious nature of Dana Rohrabacher’s resolution, the fact remains that it has been tabled in the legislative chamber of a mighty superpower which has crucial strategic interests in this region. The resolution adds another layer to Washington’s already considerable leverage which can be appropriately orchestrated to advance these interests. How earnestly Pakistan chooses to resolve Balochi complaints and the nature of its contribution to the Afghan reconciliation process would most likely determine the resolution’s future trajectory in the US Congress.
The writer is Pakistan’s former Ambassador to the United Nations and European Union. He can be contacted at [email protected]
PART- I. Success or failure of Self-Determination demand by any region in the world depends mainly on three factors: one is, the degree of international big powers' force in its favour or against it. Second is, preventive strength of the country out of which the region is demanding self-determination and third is, how much pressure the region demanding self-determination can exert in any manner whatsoever. Self-Determination is not allowed to any region under any existing legal procedures.No legality is involved in it.
PART-II. Mr.Shaukat Umer, the writer, seems to an accomplished man. I am nobody. But I can not accept his differentiation between Balochistan and Kashmir though Palestine is on different footings and does not come under the idea of 'Self-Determination' . The Maharaja of Kashmir wanted India's help in taking the invaders out and he acceded to India(UN resolution was power play of big nations). Balochistan was invaded by Pakistan and the ruler was forced to sign accession letter under duress. But the promises made to Kashmir and Balochistan were similar, rather same. The question remains as to how much the International powers were successful against India and how much they will succed against Pakistan. Rest of the things, beyond the above 3 factors, are just useless thaughts passing through one's mind.
PART-III. Jis ki laathi, uss ki bhains. This is the only principle that works.
I feel for the ppl of Balochistan. We Indians feel ur pain and our hearts are with u. Inshallah u will get ur independence one day.
people who controling a Kashmir by force should give self determination right as UN resolutions before even talking about Balochistan – its not an disputed area but internal mater of Pakistan!
I must correct you.
Kashmir is an integral part of India LEGALLY. India is not holding anything by force.
It is Pakistan which is holding a part of J&K ILLEGALLY, and by force.
If you keep repeating a falsehood, it does not become true.
we pakistanis feel for the muslims of india, for people of kashmir, for the nagas, moists, assamese. all those who are oppressed by the indian state. where does that leave india if we go by the above logic
You are feeling for nagas,moists, assamese and all those who are oppressed by Indian. That is very good and it projects you as an angel. Please, let me know, why have you no feelings for the atrocities being committed by Pak army and ISI on the people of Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtoonwa where people are just vanishing and also being killed day and night. Instead of moists, you have to be concerned about, JeM, Let, JuD, Lashkar-E-Jhanvi, TTP taliban, Haqqanis etc. etc. It is very strange that Angels like you do not consider Balochs and Pakhtoons as human beings. Here I do not want to talk about Governor Salman Taseer, A christian Minister and a journalist Shahzad(Killed by ISI) whose demise was commended in Pakistan. Common people like me expect more from Angels like you. As far as muslims of India are concerned, Pakistanis have been trying for the last 65 years to instigate them against their own country, India but have failed. Take care of Pakistan, that will be sufficient.
Baluchistan issue cropped up as a result of the assassination of veteran pro Pakistan politician Akbar Bhugti at the hands of our last dictator. If the government supported by the entire nation is able to bring the dictator to justice; I believe much of the issue will be resolved.But who is going to bell the cat is a million dollar question. Merely asking for apology by those who were not associated with his killing won't serve the purpose.
There is a very important factor regarding Kashmir which seems ignored in this piece.
The UN resolution about self determination in Kashmir stipulates that Pakistan will first vacate the area of J&K forcibly occupied by it. Pakistan never fulfilled this precondition; a fact conveniently overlooked by all Pakistanis.
The process of self determination in J&K has blocked by Pakistan. Over and above that, Pakistan continues to send terrorists into the valley, and then blame India for the unrest. Paid agents of Pakistan kill Kashmiri leaders not agreeing to Pakistani plans.
Correction:
Please read as follows:
The process of self determination in J&K has been blocked by Pakistan.
i agree fully with Lal. this is not a legal issue but of power politics. pakistan’s ability to retain balochistan will depend on the interplay of foreign interests and the govt’s ability to contain them. the way pakistan is messing up the situation pakistan should be prepared to say goodbye to the province in the near future.poetic justice for its obsession with self determination.
I am a kashmiri and i want right of self-determination. India has been killing us through the barrel of gun. Our women are being rapped, teenagers killed and youth tortured in jails. We are living in an atmosphere replete with fair and dark. Indian troops do not spare even children and old-aged people. Our hearts have become weak due to the fear created by indian troops. Pakistan has been providing us moral, political and diplomatic support. Had pakistan not been there, our condition would have been more pathetic. But now pakistan seems to have abandoned us. Pakistan has to support us because she runs into our blood.
Are you equating scores of UN resolutions to a Resolution 'tabled' not 'passed' in US House of Representative?
there is no dark side!
My heart goes out to baloch ppl. I cry for them everyday. We indians are with u in this fight against this evil country Pakistan. US UK , the west in general have taken notice of ur plight. Inshallah u will be free from oppression of Pakistanis just like the Bangladeshis are today.
The world must take notice of the plight of the country of Baluchistan now. India US and the western allies must help rescue the country from Pakistani occupation. If it can be done in libya, it can be done here too. The brutal regime must be defeated. Jai Hind!
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