The Pakistani authorities negotiate,but only with militants!

The Government of Pakistan has several times released hosts of Taliban militants in the a variety of exchange pacts with militant outfits, but refuses to release or even produce before the courts 1,109 people missing or arrested in Baluchistan. Sounds strange, but that’s what Pakistan is all about.

The Baloch Liberation United Front (BLUF) had abducted John Solecki, the UNHCR Quetta Chief on February 2. The third deadline set by BLUF for the release of Solecki expired on March 19, without the Pakistani authorities taking any affirmative action. It’s surprising that the on March 6, the Pakistani authorities had claimed to have discovered where Solecki was held. Pakistani Foreign Minister Mehmood Qureshi declared that the security forces had surrounded the area and were attempting to secure the release of Solecki. However there was no follow up action or notification on the operation. In over 45 days since the kidnapping of Solecki, the Government has not indicated of any negotiations with the BLUF.  

Since 1947 the province of Baluchistan has demanded and fought for greater freedom from the authority of the Federal Government in Islamabad. It is claimed that the Khanate of Baluchistan were coerced by Jinnah to accept accession to Pakistan and since then the autonomy-domination debate has characterized Baluchistan’s relations with Islamabad. The Federal Government of Pakistan has viewed the Baloch nationalist sentiment with skepticism and sees India’s hand in fanning the Baloch separatist movement. The primary demands of the people of Baluchistan include i) the governance of Baluchistan by exercising the right of self rule in the province, ownership of resources, political participation and control over local economy and ii) security arrangements including control over para-military forces and police. Though the people and political outfits in Baluchistan do not support the kidnapping of Solecki the antipathy towards the Federal Government is widespread. According to some accounts the kidnapping of Solecki was provoked by reports of sexual harassment of  Zarina Marri - a schoolteacher from Baluchistan in custody of the Pakistani Army.

The Government of Pakistan can negotiate with militant and terrorist outfits, release Taliban operatives, but not comply with some political demands for securing the release of an important UN official! The demands for implementing Sharia in Swat Valley was defended as constitutional by the Government of Pakistan but the demand for communicating the whereabouts of Baloch people arrested by the Federal authorities is dubbed as ‘unrealistic’ by the authorities. And yet we continue to wander what breeds extremism and militancy in Pakistan.

[Photo Courtesy: Washington Times, February 3, 2009]