Pakistan - a dream that once was
United State occupied Iraq but cannot control it. Pakistan Army takes over the state but cannot control it. United States went into Iraq to end dictatorship and bring democracy. Pakistan Army is in Balochistan to end tyranny of Sardari system and bring human rights and prosperity. Iraqis hate US more than they hate anything else. If precedence and commonsense is anything to go by, same could be concluded about Balochistan.
Balochistan had always been a troubled province of Pakistan. Balochs have always felt that they have been hard-done by the federation and specially Punjab. They believe that they are deprived of their fair share of pie and there resources are plundered by center and Punjab. The recent military operation and the incidents that preceded and followed it only added fuel to Balochs anger and turned the movement from one for rights to a secessionist movement and now with the killing of Akbar Bugti, it seems we are nearing the end game. An end; where Pakistan existing in the present geo-constitutional framework seems highly unlikely. It might take years or decades but the outcome is written all over.
Why was Akbar Bugti killed? Why the conflict began in the first place? There are many views on this. However, I personally think of it as a clash of egos. In the aftermath of rape of Dr. Shazia Khalid, the heated words were exchanged between Bugtis and Army high-command. During this heated exchange, Akbar Bugti called General Musharaf a non-entity and said things to the extent that people like Musharaf come and go but we are here to stay. It seems that this hurt the ego of the all powerful General badly. In the aftermath came the threats that they will not know what has hit them. Then the General was attacked by rockets when he “dared” visit Kohlo to add insult to the injuries caused by defiant verbal assault. It seems that it was under this rage and anger of being defied and humiliated that His Majesty decided to kill the rebel.
But now the nation is to pay the price of ego and will and whim of one man. Akbar Bugti was no saint and Sardari system is no holy grail. But the issue is not whether Akbar Bugti was an angel or a demon. The issue is that with his resistance, he became a hero and symbol of resistance for Balochs and with his death; he has become a martyr and a legend. Above all his death has made secession of Balochistan more probable than ever before. In the world of nationalist passion and fervor and in the wars of rights and secession, any objectivity, any rationality, any fair and balanced analysis does not hold and perception does precede reality and the perception of Balochs is evident all across the province in last 4 days.
Has anyone thought why Pakistan Army is not on the streets of Balochistan amid worst rioting? Are they trying to avoid the rage and wrath of Balochs or even more are they afraid of there myth of being all powerful destroyed on the streets of Balochistan just as it did on those of East Bengal?
Security, power and aura are more like myths. They are there till they are not seriously challenged and when they are the effects spill over all across. US went to Iraq to impose democracy, its might is challenged there and the spill over effects can be seen all across. General Musharaf went in Balochistan to eradicate Sardari and impose "the real democracy" and "enlightened moderation", the results seem no different.
If anything we could have learnt from East Pakistan debacle, it was not to impose the ideals of one part or segment of the federation on the rest and to let anyone have fair share of the pie. It seems we have failed to learn and are heading another disaster.
Balochistan had always been a troubled province of Pakistan. Balochs have always felt that they have been hard-done by the federation and specially Punjab. They believe that they are deprived of their fair share of pie and there resources are plundered by center and Punjab. The recent military operation and the incidents that preceded and followed it only added fuel to Balochs anger and turned the movement from one for rights to a secessionist movement and now with the killing of Akbar Bugti, it seems we are nearing the end game. An end; where Pakistan existing in the present geo-constitutional framework seems highly unlikely. It might take years or decades but the outcome is written all over.
Why was Akbar Bugti killed? Why the conflict began in the first place? There are many views on this. However, I personally think of it as a clash of egos. In the aftermath of rape of Dr. Shazia Khalid, the heated words were exchanged between Bugtis and Army high-command. During this heated exchange, Akbar Bugti called General Musharaf a non-entity and said things to the extent that people like Musharaf come and go but we are here to stay. It seems that this hurt the ego of the all powerful General badly. In the aftermath came the threats that they will not know what has hit them. Then the General was attacked by rockets when he “dared” visit Kohlo to add insult to the injuries caused by defiant verbal assault. It seems that it was under this rage and anger of being defied and humiliated that His Majesty decided to kill the rebel.
But now the nation is to pay the price of ego and will and whim of one man. Akbar Bugti was no saint and Sardari system is no holy grail. But the issue is not whether Akbar Bugti was an angel or a demon. The issue is that with his resistance, he became a hero and symbol of resistance for Balochs and with his death; he has become a martyr and a legend. Above all his death has made secession of Balochistan more probable than ever before. In the world of nationalist passion and fervor and in the wars of rights and secession, any objectivity, any rationality, any fair and balanced analysis does not hold and perception does precede reality and the perception of Balochs is evident all across the province in last 4 days.
Has anyone thought why Pakistan Army is not on the streets of Balochistan amid worst rioting? Are they trying to avoid the rage and wrath of Balochs or even more are they afraid of there myth of being all powerful destroyed on the streets of Balochistan just as it did on those of East Bengal?
Security, power and aura are more like myths. They are there till they are not seriously challenged and when they are the effects spill over all across. US went to Iraq to impose democracy, its might is challenged there and the spill over effects can be seen all across. General Musharaf went in Balochistan to eradicate Sardari and impose "the real democracy" and "enlightened moderation", the results seem no different.
If anything we could have learnt from East Pakistan debacle, it was not to impose the ideals of one part or segment of the federation on the rest and to let anyone have fair share of the pie. It seems we have failed to learn and are heading another disaster.
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