As the diplomatic exchange with Pakistan gets sharper by the day, India is discussing concrete steps to put its new policy on raising alleged human rights violations in Balochistan into place, and the external affairs minister has been consulting former diplomats on its foreign policy implications, a report in The Hindu said Saturday.
“India has a strong human rights record, and we are naturally concerned about human rights violations in Balochistan. How this is expressed in our diplomacy, you will have to wait and see,” said MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup on Friday.
But while the MEA says it ‘won’t divulge’ its game plan at the moment, government sources confirmed to The Hindu that the measures under discussion range from enlisting Indian embassies and missions worldwide to raising the issue of ‘rights violations’ by Pakistan, easing visa restrictions on Balochis visiting India. This is in light of the Indian cabinet’s recent notification about giving facilities to ‘persecuted’ minorities from neighbouring countries, as well as allowing them more ‘political space’ in India.
In the next few days, officials of the Home Ministry, External Affairs Ministry and PMO are expected to finalise details of announcements to be made on Balochistan. It will also decide whether the Baloch issue will be raised at the UN General Assembly this September, even as Pakistan says it intends to raise the issue of violence in Kashmir at the UN.
When asked if the measures planned by the government include setting up a Baloch government in exile, similar to the Tibetan government in exile based in Dharamshala, MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup said last week, “Let us not jump the gun. MEA will do what it has to do.”
Other Baloch leaders say they hope to travel to India for a show of strength at a ‘public rally’ in the next few weeks. In Washington, the Indian ambassador Arun Singh and other officials have been invited at an event to mark the 10th anniversary of the killing of Baloch leader Nawab Bugti on Friday.
Last Saturday, Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj held a meeting with retired diplomats who have served as national security advisors, to discuss the PM’s remarks on Balochistan, as well as the likely impact on ties with Pakistan and China, given that Beijing’s infrastructure projects in Balochistan could be affected.
“Once we raise the expectations of Baloch groups, they must not be dropped if and when relations with Pakistan improve”, an official said.
