| Article title: |
Who heads BLA? |
| First posted: |
Sat 13 May 2006 |
| Description: |
In the light of the activities of this organization and the subsequent intriguing reaction of the sub-nationalists following the federal declaration, a few questions arise. First, what is BLA and who heads it? Second, what is the source of financing of this organization? Third, what are the true motives of those who back this organization? Lastly, what is the permanent solution to the problems of Balochistan?
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Article text:
Arshad Khan
The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) has either claimed responsibility for, or is strongly suspected to have committed innumerable not so mindless terrorist attacks. The list of these attacks includes targeting trains, buses, railway lines, gas pipelines, government buildings and so on. The apparent focus of activity of this organization is to coerce both the state and the people into meeting its rather vague demands.
While the terrorist incidents committed by this organization received countrywide condemnation, Balach Marri, Akbar Bugti and their cohorts have always been at the forefront in praising these acts without ever showing any remorse for the loss of innocent lives.
Convinced about its involvement in the widespread acts of terror and sabotage, the government has recently declared BLA a terrorist organization. This declaration has evoked some interesting reactions from those who were in the forefront of praising it. Balach Marri has distanced himself from this organization while still praising its actions and ‘cause’. Akbar Bugti has also expressed more or less similar sentiments, while their spokesmen have said that the ban will not affect BLA as it was not a registered organization. What impressions can a common Pakistani gather about the involvement of these elements in the activities of this set up?
In the light of the activities of this organization and the subsequent intriguing reaction of the sub-nationalists following the federal declaration, a few questions arise. First, what is BLA and who heads it? Second, what is the source of financing of this organization? Third, what are the true motives of those who back this organization? Lastly, what is the permanent solution to the problems of Balochistan?
Insurgent groups fanning trouble in Balochistan during the late 50s, 60s and 70s notwithstanding, BLA in its present form is believed to be the brainchild of the erstwhile KGB and was built around the core of a sub-nationalist student organization during the years of Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. Informed sources reveal that this organization was created by two KGB agents and was meant to punish Pakistan for helping the Afghan resistance in fighting its forces in the late 70s and 80s. The BLA remained active and conducted sabotage activities in Balochistan during the Afghan war. After the defeat and subsequent dismemberment of the Soviet Union, the BLA became dormant as the main source of its funding; the Soviet Union, had itself disintegrated. With the shift of attention of the major international players towards this region in the aftermath of 9/11, it was revived again, this time around with the help of India and Afghanistan.
The revival required training the rank and file of the organization in terrorist activities for which the mountains between Kohlu and Kahan were chosen as they were under the traditional influence of Marris.
Before its reincarnation, the erstwhile Soviet Union provided the funding needed for the activities of this organization. After its recent revival, the source of funding remains discreet and complicated. As per informed sources, material support in the form of weapons, explosives, landmines, ammunition and communication equipment is provided by the Indians in a rather unconventional fashion. The RAW agents present in the Indian consulates in Afghanistan under diplomatic garb (Kandahar in particular) buy weapons from the Taliban through the local Afghan gun runners and have these transported to the designated locations in Balochistan using a complicated combination of mules and vehicles through the little known mountain trails. The recent arrest of one such Afghan national near Khuzdar with a large cache of landmines serves as a case in point. The methods of financing are even more complicated. Indian businesses located in the Gulf region serve as conduits for RAW to provide funding directly to the sub-nationalists. The money thus received is sent through ‘Hundi’ to various parts of Balochistan. Certain media sources also point towards direct transportation of hard cash in fishing boats by RAW agents to the coastal regions of Balochistan. However, keeping in view the increased vigil by the Pakistani coast guards, this route even if used in the past may be hard to adopt at present.
The answer to the third question pertaining to the motives of those backing the BLA lies in the tremendous prospects that development of this region offers for the economic development and consequent empowerment of the people of the province in particular and the entire country in general. This is where the interests of anti-Pakistan states and anti-state tribal chieftains coincide. The rapid development and the consequent economic opportunities offered to the people of the province will enable them to earn their livelihood in a dignified manner and not be dependent on the oligarchic sardars any longer, which is an anathema to the sardars. Similarly, the expected economic gains for Pakistan carry the potential to catapult the national economy to new heights, which is not acceptable to the Indian establishment as they view Pakistan as the lone stumbling block in their quest for regional hegemony. This mindset of the Indian establishment is even contrary to the interest of their own country. Should common sense be allowed to prevail and the Indian policymakers start listening to sane voices, particularly in the Indian academic circles, they will find that a stable and economically vibrant Pakistan is in the larger interests of India itself. Although the political leadership of India makes an occasional remark to this effect, their actions belie these verbal utterances.
What is the real solution to the crisis in Balochistan? The answers to this question can be numerous. Some commentators see a solution in a political dialogue. Agreed that mostly solutions reached through dialogue are the best, but then in this situation dialogue with whom? Ironically a number of commentators suggest a dialogue with the same elements who are brewing trouble. Even if a dialogue is conducted with the warring tribal chieftains, will it amount to a solution of the problem or succumbing to yet another blackmail by the evergreen trade union of anti-state and anti-development despots who are making a last ditch effort to serve the interests of the sworn enemies of Pakistan and their own personal interests in the garb of struggling for the rights of the poor? Can the proponents of dialogue with the militants name a country in this world that tolerates a state within a state? The government should consider the option of dialogue with the real representatives of the people and in the meantime do everything it can to eradicate the menace that calls itself BLA and the private militias of the warring chieftains. The government action should not only be restricted to the foot soldiers and leadership of BLA, the political sympathizers and spokesmen of the organization should also be brought to book for sedition. To address the longstanding sense of deprivation among the common people of Balochistan, the timely completion of mega projects should be relentlessly pursued. We must not forget that the economic development of this long neglected province is the only way out. The government should also consider speedy implementation of the parliamentary committee report on Balochistan. At the lower level, concerned governmental departments (both provincial and federal) should expedite repair and construction of the poor infrastructure of the entire province on a war footing, as without access, it is not possible to make facilities like education and healthcare, etc, available to the people who need them the most. Special emphasis should be laid on provision of vocational training as it will help decrease unemployment. As the President has said on a number of occasions, actions speak louder than words. Rather than embroiling in a war of words with the last remnants of the tribal oligarchy, it is better to do things that improve the daily lives of the common folk. Care should be taken to ensure that development activities are evenly spread through the entire province and all ethnic groups equally benefit from the mega development effort. On the external front, we should very clearly tell our Indian and Afghan interlocutors that friendly overtures and enmity cannot coexist for long, and our cooperation with India for getting access to affordable sources of natural gas from Iran and Central Asia, implementation of agreements like SAFTA and commercial ties (likely to be more beneficial to India) be made strictly conditional to an immediate and effective cessation of their support to lawless elements in Balochistan and elsewhere in Pakistan. Similarly, the Afghans should be asked to deny the use of their territory and discourage the anti-Pakistan elements within the Afghan establishment from fomenting trouble in Pakistan.
The writer is a freelance journalist
http://www.thepost.com.pk/OpinionNews.aspx?dtlid=39228&catid=11
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