LAHORE - Baloch separatist leaders carrying out militancy from abroad in Balochistan with the backing of the states hostile to Pakistan have no significance. They can get a deal when they end militancy and decide to become part of mainstream, said members of security establishment during background interviews with The Nation yesterday over the issue of bringing the Baloch rebel leaders back.
They, however, were of the view that the political leadership should be allowed to play its due role to convince the separatist Baloch leaders to become part of mainstream and stop playing into the hands of enemies of Pakistan, adding the military leadership is fully backing the political initiative and awaiting its results.
The security agencies can take action to bring the rebels back through other means available in the international laws to catch most-wanted men around the globe if the political efforts fail.
The separatist sardars are in no position to dictate their terms with guns to the heads of an average and middle class Baloch, said the security establishment members.
The results of “Puraman Balochistan” programme (Peaceful Balochistan) launched in the restive province with the efforts of military and civilian leadership has yielded fruits and many commanders of Harbiyar Marri’s Balochistan Liberation Army, Brahamdagh Bugti’s Baloch Republican Army, Dr Allah Nazar Baloch’s Balochistan Liberation Front, Javed Mengal’s Lashkar-e-Balochistan and several small militant outfits’ commanders have surrendered to the security forces and became part of the mainstream.
Brahamdagh Bugti is currently in Switzerland awaiting grant of political asylum, Harbiyar Marri is in India and left Britain last year, fearing a possible deal between security agencies of Islamabad and London of swapping Imran Farooq’s murder suspects with Marri.
Khan Suleman Dawood Khan is also in London, while Javed Mengal was in Afghanistan who is now reported to have moved to Middle East sheikhdoms, they added. The persons who desire a negotiated peace in Balochistan will be welcomed and given an extra-mile, but the people who want to take the state hostage at gunpoint will be dealt with strictly if they continue to pursue militancy.
Baloch leaders like Khan of Qalat, Khan Suleman Dawood Khan who do not support militancy can be engaged proactively, said the security establishment members.
The Bugtis and Mengal opened channels with the government, but it seems their foreign handlers didn’t let them move forward.
Marri has decided to become the sworn enemy of his own country and chosen open umbrella of New Delhi, they added.
Pakistan has sufficient credible evidence of Indian involvement in Balochistan using the proxies of Bugti, Marri, Mengal and Dr Baloch gangs. The propaganda of these Baloch leaders through Indian media will not affect Pakistan’s interests in the comity of nations.
Islamabad had given proofs of RAW involvement in Balochistan to former Indian premier Manmohan Singh in Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt and the United Nations. Commander Kulbhushan Yadav has revealed series of RAW actions in Balochistan, which are sufficient to make a dozen dossiers.
Pakistan can again provide evidence of Baloch militant leaders’ so-called just struggle at an appropriate forum whenever a need arises, said the security establishment members while replying to The Nation’s query regarding the recent statement of Brahamdagh Bugti asking for Indian help to disintegrate Balochistan on the pattern of Bangladesh, said the security establishment members.
The Baloch militant leaders sitting abroad will never succeed; instead, the move launched by them will gradually become thin with development and progress of the province and a day will come when they will lose the opportunity to hold talks, said the security establishment members when asked what could be ultimate situation if the top Baloch militants choose not to opt for an unconditional dialogue.
The political leadership which has engaged the Baloch separatists abroad told the paper that they have put forward all the conditions to them and are awaiting their reply. No reply has so far come for holding a meaningful dialogue as there are rifts among the ranks of Baloch separatists sitting in Switzerland, London, India and Middle East on the issue of unconditional talks.
When asked about the conditions, they said the Baloch leaders have been asked to announce ending militancy and laying down arms as the foremost condition to hold a meaningful dialogue.
The Baloch rebels want withdrawal of security forces and end to operation as the primary conditions, which is not possible.
The operation is on to purge the province of enemies of the state and security forces can be stationed in any part of the country to deal with extraordinary security situation, they added.
“The ball is in the court of Baloch rebel leaders to advance or halt the talks for a negotiated peace in the restive province. Stopping militancy and laying down arms is a just demand to proceed further,” they said.