NEW DELHI: As the diplomatic exchange with Pakistan gets sharper by the day, India is discussing concrete steps to put its new policy on raising awareness about 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’ stated today.
“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 Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Vikas Swarup, yesterday.
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 raise the issue of human rights violations by Pakistan, easing visa restrictions on Balochis visiting India, on the lines of the Cabinet’s recent notification on facilities extended 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, Ministry of External Affairs and PMO are expected to finalise details of announcements to be made regarding Balochistan. It will also decided whether the Baloch issue will be raised at the U.N. General Assembly this September, even as Pakistan says it intends to raise the issue of violence in Indian occupied Kashmir at the U.N.
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, 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, ‘The Hindu’ has learnt.
Others present at the meeting said that the former diplomats had made two suggestions. Firstly, that a clear distinction be made between India’s support to Baloch people on the issue of human rights violations by Pakistani forces, and that of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), which India has full claim over.
They also said that policy of raising the Balochistan issue could be effective only if it is sustained. “Once we raise the expectations of Baloch groups, they must not be dropped if and when relations with Pakistan improve,” an official said.