Balochistan Diary-II: Trust Deficit keeps growing

Saeed Minhas

A growing gap between the political government and strategic battalions of Balochistan
is resulting in further alienating the stigmatized ruling elite from the brewing mainstream
sentiments of a province which according to many locals is fast becoming a hub of
youngster-led rebellion.
Failing to tend to the developmental and even basic needs of the large populations,
especially the youth which now forms more than 57 per cent of the total population--
higher than any other province--political bigwigs and revolutionaries of the past are
finding themselves useless in the face of aggressive, jobless and neglected youngsters.
Many seasoned politicians who consider themselves champion of Baloch rights and
known for holding the flag of rights-struggle since partition days expressed concerns at
the developments in a post-Bugti scenario.
Talking to some of the media commanders, short of bursting into tears many of them
lowered their egoistic guards to admit their failing saying that “After witnessing the
annexation, one unit, breakup into fourth federating unit and then the military operation
during Bhutto’s era, we realized that Mirs, Nawabs and Sardars need to be wooed to not
only bring socio-economic development but also to avoid a repeat of another mili-
operation.”
However, with a pain in their voice and concern written large on their wrinkled faces they
said that none of our pro-nationalist and pro-people approach worked because neither the
chieftains nor the establishment avoided playing dirty games and the results are there for
everyone to see that youth is no more listening to any of us--the old guys. “Use of force
under these circumstances, would certainly flare it up and those disgruntled elements who
may be in hundreds now might swell their ranks to the tunes of thousands,” one of the
revolutionary remarked.
The military commanders with boots on ground and with huge sums of monies generated
from natural resources of this province at their disposal for development has given just
another anti-establishment mantra to the youth of this province. They were already fed up
with the ruling political elite who they think have done nothing but to build their own
bank balances by looting the local resources, federal grants, foreign aids just to keep the
development of any sort at bay. Increased federal grants, federal program for Balochistan
rights, or any other developmental project by the federal or provincial government or by
the Army is considered as an aberration by these young platoons, they added.
These elders agreed that ethnicity has never been an issue for Baloch nationalists, but
when locals are picked up in the middle of night and thrown into dungeons, when courts
fail to provide justice and when political government becomes a mere spectator rather
remain busy in their own money-making ventures, these youngsters act without any
remorse against easy targets which in this case are those Punjabis who are settled here for
decades.
“A point has come that even good acts of army are being taken negatively by these armed
rebellious groups,” commented one of them. Giving the example of Chamalang project,
he said that even that is being projected as exploitation of the resources by Army,
whereas the fact is that despite several ambush activities harassment and looting of
transporters and migrant labourers, army has kept this project running thus giving hope
not only to Marris and Lunis but the entire region. If negotiated settlements can take
place under the umbrella of the Army and if it brings some economics as well as social
welfare to the locals, they said than there is nothing wrong with that.
“But, for God-sake please tell the ruling political elite to at-least wake up and listen to the
marching platoons of youngsters, otherwise it will be too late and even Army won’t be
able to do anything,” they said in unison. They further pleaded that when some Army
officers consider them “Mr. Perfect” and when they start pushing the political elite--no
matter how corrupt and shortsighted they may be--but they are not doing any favour to
themselves, to the country or to pro-Pakistan Balochs. “Army officers, in charge of funds
and with troops at their disposal have to take politicians on board and avoid any
adventurism, otherwise, it might grow worst than Bangladesh,” they said amongst long
pauses and sighs to make the atmosphere even more somber.
Brief encounters with the Army and FC officers on ground revealed that there exists not
only a trust deficit between them and the political elite but they seems to have lots of
reasons to be weary of the judicial system which they consider is playing in the hands of
few separatists. Sitting in a volatile province, many of the serving officers rubbished the
notion that another Bangladesh-like scenario is emerging. Army being the only institution
which has the luxury of sticking to the basic norms of an institutional structure/order in
the country seems to have learned a lot from the mistakes of 1971, but preferring a solo-
flight over a pluralistic approach is still indigestible by many senior officers. Will this
approach help us or not cannot be argued, because facts remain as obscure today as they
were in 70s, commented a senior journalist accompanying us at a dinner in Quetta Club--
falling in cantonment and remains one of the many no-go areas for civilians.