Altaf Hussain’s Misperception about Balochistan

Sajjad Shaukat

Every responsible politician of the country knows that Pakistan has been facing multiple crises of grave nature in wake of suicide attacks and target-killings. At this critical juncture, instead of emphasizing national unity, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Chief Altaf Hussain said on January 19 that there are "plotters who are bent upon sowing the seeds of hatred between the Baloch and the MQM…these conspirators are trying to pit the Baloch against the MQM." Under this misperception, he further alleged, "Balochistan is a province and should not be treated like a colony." Ignoring ground realities, he also demanded that the military operation should be brought to an immediate end. Especially, it was his is telephonic address to eminent Baloch personalities whose sympathies, Altaf wants to gain at the cost of Pakistan.

Altaf's address evoked an instant reaction a participant who drew his attention to the Gutter Bagheecha dispute between the Baloch of Karachi and the MQM in which noted Baloch persons were shot dead.

At the same time, while urging the government and the rebel Baloch nationalists to resolve differences through dialogue, MQM leader left no stone unturned in manipulating the drastic situation of Balochistan where terrorist events such as attacks on government buildings, kidnappings, blowing the gas pipelines and target-killings have become a routine matter.

In fact, through his duplicity, Altal Hussain has been implementing the shrewd diplomacy of Machiavelli who advises the leaders to have a lion-like image outwardly, and act upon the traits of goat inwardly. In his sense, a good leader should be a good opportunist. Although Machiavelli suggests this cunning diplomacy in order to protect the overall interests of the state, yet Altaf has started applying the same for disintegration of Pakistan's federation.

However, the main of Altaf Hussain's statement was to give an indirect signal to the separatist elements so as to intensify their anti-Pakistan move.

As regards the province of Balochistan, we cannot blame MQM chief without some concrete evidence. In this regard, silence of Altaf over the foreign conspiracy against Balochistan clearly shows that he is encouraging the anti-state elements, and his integrity is doubtful.

It is notable that in 2008, Pakistan's government had launched a successful approach of reconciliation particularly with the Baloch landlords. The level of violence had fallen to the minimum. It was in these circumstances that the then Corps Commander, Lt-Gen Khalid Shamim Wyne had claimed on November 9, 2008, "We have moved from the insurgency phase to the reconciliation phase, however, if foreign elements continue to infiltrate in Balochistan, they could stir trouble and undermine our efforts to restore peace." His observation proved quite true as covert support to the militants by the secret agencies like Indian RAW, Israeli Mossad and Afghanistan's Khad with the tactical aid of American CIA succeeded in sabotaging the peace process in Balochistan.

It is of particular attention that after meeting the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the sidelines of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit at Sharm el-Sheikh, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani remarked on July 18, 2009 that during the talks, he also raised the issue of Indian interference in Balochistan.

In this context, on April 23 last year, in the in-camera sitting of the Senate, Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik displayed documentary evidence of Indian use of Afghanistan to create unrest in Balochistan. The main aim of in-camera session was also to show the engagement of CIA against Pakistan.

In the recent past, Pakistan's Prime Minister Gilani and Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi have openly stated that India and some external elements are backing the Baloch separatists. During the ongoing military operations, ISPR spokesman, Maj-Gen. Athar Abbas, while showing to the media larger quantity of arms and ammunition, revealed that foreign hands has been helping the insurgents of the Frontier Province and especially those of Balochistan.

Apart from the above facts, as to why MQM chief is taciturn in relation to the external plot against Balochistan which is part of the conspiracy against Pakistan because the latter is the only Islamic nuclear state-not tolerated by the US, India and Israel. In this respect, by covertly backing the Baloch nationalist leaders, foreign elements have been fulfilling a number of covert designs. While foreign agents kidnap and kill the political leaders in Balochistan and elsewhere, but Baloch people, openly, accuse Pakistan's intelligence agencies in this context. This is what these external plotters intend to achieve. Another purpose is to gain the sympathies of Baloch general masses for Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) which has been fighting for secession of the province. In this regard, on July 23, 2008, Akber Bugti's grandson, Brahmdagh Bugti told the BBC that they had the right to accept arms from anywhere including India.

There is another CIA and Indian-supported separatist group, Jundollah (God's soldiers) which is also working against the cordial relationship of Pakistan with China and Iran. In the past few years, its militants with the cooperation of foreign agents kidnapped and killed many Chinese and Iranian nationals in Pakistan.

In this regard, question arises as to why MQM leader Altaf did not issue any statement about the involvement of RAW and other foreign agencies which are tying to separate Balochistan in order to fulfill their anti-Pakistan aims.

The unrest actually started in Balochistan when various projects such as construction of Gwadar Deep Sea Port, Mekran Coastal Highway, IPI gas project etc. were undertaken by the previous government to develop the backward regions of the province. The sole aim was to eliminate frustration among the people by providing infrastructure and employment opportunities.

The Baloch Sardars (feudal lords) who are being backed by external powers started opposing all the developmental projects. These Sardars who were running their own private jails and 'farrari camps' resisted the government plans as they did not want to give up the old system of feudal lords, which the world had witnessed during the Middle Ages. However, Baloch Sardars became hostile towards any initiative which could give a greater blow to their so-called prestige entailing brutalities, being perpetrated on the innocent people. These Sardars contacted the foreign elements which were already conspiring against Pakistan.

Meanwhile, MQM chief's opposition to the military operation in Balochistan is quite illogical. It was Pak Army which eliminated the farrari camps and private jail of the Baloch Sardars, and thus set free hundreds of innocent people.

Notably, as to why strategic game, being played by India and America is not known to Altal Hussain who does not take cognizance of the fact that Balochistan with its ideal geo-strategic location with Gwadar seaport could prove to be Pakistan's key junction, connecting rest of the world with Central Asia. It is due to multiple strategic benefits that the US which signed a nuclear deal with India in 2008, intends to control Balochistan as an independent state in counterbalancing China and containing Iran. Owing to these reasons, Washington and New Delhi are creating instability in Pakistan by supporting Baloch separatists to complete their hidden agenda.

In that backdrop, on October 15, 2008 Pakistan and China signed eleven agreements to enhance bilateral cooperation in diverse sectors including energy, trade and space technology. China also agreed to supply two nuclear reactors to Pakistan. From time to time, both Beijing and Islamabad conclude various agreements to further strengthen their mutual cooperation.

Besides silence of Altaf on the kidnappings and killings of Iranians and Chinese engineers in the last three years also displays his double standard which itself indicates that he is only deepening rift between the people of Balochistan and the Centre.

It is noteworthy that on August 8, 2007, Major (Retd) Tanvir Hussain, the parliamentary secretary for defence accused the American CIA of killing Chinese nationals in Pakistan to harm the cordial relations between Islamabad and Beijing.

Despite the recently announced Balochistan package, and the settlement of issues, relating to National Finance Commission in favour of Balochistan by the government, Altaf Hussain's misperception is not without sinister designs. He may criticise the policies of the government to increase his vote bank, but in order to get the sympathies of the Baloch by encouraging them through his own self-assumed perceptions amounts to incitement of the Baloch people for secession which in fact proves his conspiracy against Pakistan.