Despite announcing the Aaghaz Huqooq-e-Balochistan package, the government has failed to engage the aggrieved Baloch into a purposeful dialogue. In fact, they are accusing the federal government of cleansing the province of Baloch nationalists. This triggered a strong backlash among them resulting in the massacre of settlers, especially from Punjab as they are considered synonymous with the Pakistan army that, according to some Baloch leaders, is responsible for the mess in the province.
The fact is that there is no army action taking place in Balochistan any longer, as categorically declared by Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. Moreover, though establishing cantonments in Balochistan was an urgent defence requirement, it has been stayed in view of the wrongly placed perception of some radicals among the local population.
Having said that, it is my appeal to national conscience - to the Baloch brethren in particular and other federating entities in general - to ponder dispassionately over the following not only for their own sake, but also their country:
n It is the avowed objective of the US, Israel and India to demonise and undermine the Islamic world. To achieve it, they are ever ready to fan separatism, and try to create sectarian or ethnic divides among the polity as they succeeded in doing in Iraq, Egypt and Libya. They are against Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan not only to dominate their resources and hegemonise the region, but also destroy our nuclear assets.
n The Holy Quran has warned all Muslims that they may engage in trade with the Zionists, but must remember that the Jews and non-believers can never be their friends. So, pay heed to the Quran.
n The Baloch people must remember that if Pakistan’s detractors succeed in separating Balochistan from the rest of the country, they will exterminate the locals in the same manner as they did to the native Indians in America; also, the treatment being meted out to the Kashmiris and the Palestinians must not to be forgotten.
n The State of Pakistan comprises different entities, predominantly belonging to Islam, and no matter how exploitative we become or behave in our mutual dealings, no outside force can broker or ensure the Baloch people the ownership or right to their resources, except the Pakistanis. Despite divesting East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) from the West, India has failed to win over Bangladesh against Pakistan. Yet, it continues to exploit the two countries.
n The Zionist, while funding, abetting and arming the insurgents, uses splinter groups against each other and blames the disappearances and killings on the intelligence agencies, which is readily accepted and propagated by the local sardars. The agencies need to repair their image by clearing their name of these allegations, if baseless.
n No one, including the locals themselves, can justify blowing up gas pipelines and other national assets that only precipitates their own losses, besides target killing of settlers from other provinces and men of the armed forces and security agencies. How come the local sardars never condemn these heinous crimes? Who funds and provides sophisticated weaponry to their private armies, including those styled as the BLA, is a question often asked.
n Do not forget that the military, often referred to as Punjab-dominated force, happens to be the one in which a dominant share of martyrdom and tombstones falls to the Punjabi lot, as invariably they are the ones among the vanguard of the country’s defenders whenever called upon. No one mourns or appreciates these martyrs, who continue to lay their lives for the sake of the country.
n Despite being the largest province, many times Punjabis have supported leaders from other provinces without any discrimination in the interest of the nation.
At this critical juncture, it is time to introspect, tread carefully, jell together and frustrate enemy designs against the nation, rather than play into their hands.

n    The writer is a freelance             columnist
    Email: Zaheerbhatti@gmail.com