Adviser to the Prime Minister on Interior, Rehman Malik on Wednesday informed the Senate that India is involved in Balochistan unrest through Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), which was established with the blessings of defunct USSR during Afghan war in the '70s.
Winding up the debate on an adjournment motion, to discuss the Balochistan situation, which emerged after the recent killing of three Baloch leaders in Turbat, he said that BLA was created by Russia during Soviet-Afghan war at a time when Pakistan was supporting Afghan Mujahideen in their war against the Red Army.
"India is now funding the BLA and its activities," said the interior advisor. This was for the first time that India has been accused of involvement in Balochistan by Pakistan officially in a policy statement. Malik's revelations created uproar in the house as some of the senators objected to his point of view. The interior advisor said: "It is a matter of my country's survival. It is my responsibility to inform the house about the factual position."
The senators, however, objected to some of his observations with the contentment that since it was a sensitive issue, there should be an in-camera or closed door briefing. This was agreed by majority of the members to have this briefing on Thursday (April 23). Malik said that BLA, which has already been declared as terrorist organisation, remained inactive after Afghan war but it started its activities when Nawab Akbar Bugti was killed in 2007.
He said that Barhamdagh Bugti (Bugti's grandson) openly sought India, Afghanistan and the UN support for independence of Balochistan in a recent interview to a TV channel," he added. "Barhamdagh Bugti, who is also chief of BLA, particularly asked India to support Baloch people for achieving their independence," he said. He alleged that Russia has trained 1000 Baloch students to create unrest in the province.
"Barhamdagh Bugti is residing in Kabul just five kilometres away from President Karzai's palace and Pakistan has been continuously requesting Afghan government for access to Barhamdagh," he added. During my visit to Afghanistan, I especially requested Karzai to arrange a meeting with Barhamdagh, but he didn't, he said, adding that the Afghan government has been denying his presence in Afghanistan.
Malik informed the upper house that no operation was under way in Balochistan, but the eyes could not be kept closed from the province and bordering areas. He said that Pakistan was not created for supporting the anti-state movements. "The government is ready to accept all the legitimate demands of Baloch, but cannot allow creation of a state within state. It is our land and we will not let anybody to look towards our soil with evil eye," he maintained.
Rehman said that complaints of the Baloch brothers were being addressed, as President Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani were in constant touch with the top leadership of the province.
The President in his meeting with the Baloch leaders had accepted their rights and demands and gave Rs 4 billion development package for the province, while the prime minister had written off the receivables of the province. He said measures would be taken to resolve the problems of Baloch. The government has eliminated all the checkposts of Frontier Corps (FC) in Balochistan and mulling to restore 'Sardari system'. Everyone in Balochistan demanding his share.
Malik said he is constantly in touch with Akbar Bugti's sons and President Zardari met with Baloch leaders more than five times. He said that for getting release of John Solecki, he knocked the doors of all including Bayar Murree. Once President Karzai had said that Pakistan's land was being used for revolt against him, but when the government of Pakistan asked his assistance in this regard, he kept mum.
Pakistan's intelligence agencies, when intercepted a telephone call from Afghanistan to somewhere in Balochistan, giving information on the health condition of John Solecki, Malik said, left Afghan authorities with no option but to give assurance to move ahead for the recovery of the UN official.
The exact text of the call was: "How the red goat (John Solecki) is doing? Does the government possess any information about his whereabouts or not? Is he creating any trouble? "After intercepting the call, I rang up Afghan President Hamid Karzai and he agreed to help us in getting the UN official released," he said.
Rehman said that Ghulam Muhammad killed in Turbat was wanted by Iran and the Iranian government had asked for his extradition. He said that Frontier Corps was told to continue reporting about the developing situation to Balochistan chief minister. Senator Muhabbat Khan Murree during interior advisor speech said Balochistan's situation needed to be tackled in a different manner whereas PML-N leader Raja Zafarul Haq criticised the behaviour of the interior advisor.
Comments
Comments are closed.