- Balochistan govt delegations for action against hardcore criminals and dialogue with Baloch separatists, drones to be used for intelligence gathering
- Dr Baloch meets Prince Suleman in London, persuades him to return to country, join mainstream politics and play a role in resolving Balochistan issue
With the ‘soft-launch’ of development projects in Balochistan, the efforts to woo back disgruntled Baloch have picked momentum as two separate Balochistan government groups have reached London and are engaged in direct and backchannel contacts with the rebel Baloch chieftains living in self-exile.
Well placed sources in federal and Balochistan governments told Pakistan Today that initial contacts with the Khan of Kalat were successful and his return was on cards.
Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch is already in London while a delegation led by chief of Barick in Sarawan and National Party’s senior leader Nawab Mohammad Khan Shahani has also reached London to take part in the dialogue process.
TWO-PRONGED STRATEGY FOR BALOCHISTAN:
An influential official in the Balochistan government told Pakistan Today that that the provincial government was implementing a two-pronged strategy to deal with the situation.
“Development work in Balochistan and Karachi would start with full force early next year once the peace process is over and targets have been achieved. Till then, the Balochistan government would try to achieve desired targets of the reconciliation process and operation against militant forces,” the official said.
“The strategy includes action against hardcore criminals and dialogue with the Baloch separatists. Since we have already achieved drone technology, unmanned drones would be used for intelligence gathering against the insurgents in western and north-east parts of Balochistan where militants are active,” the official added.
Pakistan has already prepared locally designed drones named “Shahpar” and “Buraaq”. Pakistan has also developed missile capable drones called ‘Shadow Drones’ which are smaller in size as compared to predators.
“Moreover, a lucrative amnesty scheme has been announced for rebels who are being encouraged to renouncing insurgency and join the mainstream. The rebel Baloch chieftains are being approached with an offer to return and join the political process. They are being assured for redressal of their grievances,” the official said.
Upon query, the official said that if the Baloch separatists fail to take advantage of this offer, they would become irrelevant in the changing scenario.
“A delegation of Balochistan government would hold direct talks with Khan of Kalat Prince Mir Suleman Dawood while Dr Malik is trying to mobilise backchannels to engage with other rebel leaders including Mehran Marri and Brahamdagh Bugti,” a source in the Balochistan government said.
Chief of Jhalawan Nawab Sanaullah Zehri would also leave for London soon after Eidul Fitr. He is also likely to meet with Khan of Kalat and other estranged Baloch leaders, the official said.
The source said that Prince Mohyuddin, an uncle of Khan of Kalat, had reached London in advance and had played a key role in convincing Prince Suleman Dawood for having a meeting with the Balochistan government delegation.
Khan of Kalat is one of those disgruntled Baloch leaders who stay away from insurgency. Soon after the killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti, Prince Suleman had left for London and formed a government in exile. He also had announced to approach the International Court of Justice against the decision of his predecessor, Khan of Kalat Mir Ahmed Yar Khan, who had ceded the princely state of Kalat to Pakistan on the request of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah in 1948.
“Once Khan of Kalat expressed willingness to meet the delegation of the Balochistan government, Nawab Shahani had left to meet him,” the source said and added that Khan of Kalat wanted some concrete assurances for his return.
“Dr Malik Baloch has also met Prince Suleman in London and persuaded him to return to the country, join the mainstream politics and play a role in resolving the Balochistan issue. The prince told the chief minister that he would consult members of the grand Jirga which had sent him abroad for pleading the case regarding restoration of Kalat as a sovereign state,” the source said, adding that Nawab Shahhani, Advisor to Balochistan CM on Finance Mir Khalid Langau, Minister for Agriculture Sardar Aslam Bizenjo and other members of the delegation had personal influence on Prince Suleman and they would try to convince him to return to his native country.
Asked whether the return by Khan of Kalat would have any impact on insurgency, the source said that though Khan was not directly involved in insurgency, his return would have great impact on argument of the other insurgent groups.
When contacted, Jan Mohammad Buledi, the spokesman for Balochistan government, told Pakistan Today that it was heartening to note that political and military leadership were on the same page on the reconciliation process.
During his recent visit to Quetta, the chief of army staff (COAS) also expressed full support to the reconciliation process launched by the civilian leadership, he said.
Asked if there was any success in the amnesty scheme launched by the Balochistan government, Buledi said the scheme was getting initial success and many commanders had either surrendered or had silently renounced the insurgency.
“Since there is no tribal culture in Makran, the insurgents are silently abandoning the insurgency. They don’t like to accept the government’s announced lucrative package due to their self respect. We welcome their decision,” he added.
COALITION DIVIDED OVER PROSPECTS OF PEACE PROCESS:
However, a Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader from Balochistan seems skeptic of the success of the reconciliation process in the province.
Asked for the prospects of success in dialogue with estranged Baloch leaders, PML-N Senator from Balochistan Mir Nematullah Zehri told Pakistan Today that he could only pray for the efforts of Dr Malik Baloch who has left for London to woo back the so-called estranged Baloch leaders.
“I have serious doubts that Dr Malik Baloch would be able to convince those politicians who are getting dollars from enemy states for raising false slogans and fool the innocent Baloch youth. Not only the number of such rebels has now restricted to only a few but also they have no public support left with them because they have lost their argument. It is ironic that they don’t want to live in Pakistan but they are happy in slavery of countries hostile to Pakistanis. These rebels are no more relevant as majority of Baloch people are loyal to Pakistan,” said Senator Zehri, who happens to be the younger brother of PML-N Balochistan President Nawab Sanaullah Zehri.
Interestingly, while casting doubts over success of Dr Malik’s London trip, Senator Zehri expressed optimism of return of Khan of Kalat.
“We welcome the government’s step of launching huge developmental works in Balochistan. Nawab Sanaullah Zehri is going only to meet with Khan of Kalat and hopefully he would be able to convince him to return to Pakistan,” he added.