2024-08-28 04:42:28
Islamabad: The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) in Pakistan’s Balochistan province has announced the completion of the first phase of its Operation Herof. The BLA has claimed responsibility for killing 102 Pakistani soldiers in attacks targeting military camps and military posts. Announcing the successful completion of Operation Herof, the BLA has called it part of a comprehensive campaign to gain control over Balochistan. Not only military posts in Balochistan, 23 people from Punjab were also shot dead in Musakhail district on Monday after checking their IDs.
This is not the first such attack of hatred against Punjabis in Balochistan. In April this year, nine Punjabi travellers were shot after their IDs were checked in Noshki, Balochistan. In October last year, six Punjabi labourers were killed in Kech district. In such a situation, the question arises that why are Baloch militants so against the people of Punjab, a province of their own country. Why do they open fire on a Punjabi as soon as they see him in Balochistan? The answer to this question can be found by examining the influence of the people of Punjab in the central government of Pakistan and the history of the government’s relationship with Balochistan.
Baloch rebellion and suppression by Pakistan Army
According to the Indian Express report, soon after the formation of Pakistan, the people of Balochistan have witnessed a long series of rebellions, brutal repression of the state and Baloch nationalism. The first rebellion started in 1948, the very next year after the formation of Pakistan, after the forced inclusion of Kalat Sardar in Pakistan. The Khan of Kalat had long advocated an independent Baloch state. Finally, Khan signed the merger letter on March 27, 1948, and the Pakistani army entered Baloch land. Protests against it started soon after the merger. In July 1948 itself, Khan’s brother Prince Abdul Karim started the ‘war of independence’. After 1948, similar battles were fought in 1958-59, 1962-63 and 1973-1977. After this, the Baloch have been fighting this battle again since 2003. This bloody rebellion is the biggest challenge to Pakistani sovereignty after the Bangladesh Liberation Movement of 1971.
The movement in Balochistan has been brutally suppressed every time by the Pakistani government and army. The Pakistani army has been accused of arbitrary arrests and disappearances of youth. Since 1948, thousands of Baloch civilians have lost their lives in the actions of Pakistani forces. The report of the NGO Voice for Baloch Missing Persons says that in the 16 years between 2001 and 2017, 5,228 Baloch people went missing and no trace of them could be found. While the Pakistani army has shown cruelty, Baloch groups have also resorted to violence.
Two big reasons for targeting Punjabis
There are two main reasons behind the rebellion in Balochistan. The first reason is that the rebellion in Balochistan after 1947 is due to regional discrimination against them and the movement of Baloch nationalism at the time of independence. The Baloch people share a special history, language and culture. On the other hand, since the formation of Pakistan, the Punjab province has dominated the country’s politics. Apart from politics, Punjabis have also dominated the army, judiciary and bureaucracy of Pakistan. Even the cricket and hockey teams of Pakistan have been dominated by Punjabis. This has promoted division and disunity among the people of Balochistan.
The second reason is the feeling of economic isolation and injustice among the Baloch people. Balochistan is the largest and least populated province of Pakistan by area. Balochistan is rich in natural resources. This province is located on the border with Iran and Afghanistan. Despite this, the people here are poorer than the rest of the country. Baloch nationalists argue that the people of Punjab are taking advantage of the natural resources of Balochistan and only poverty is coming their way. Attacks on Punjabis in Balochistan can be seen in this context. The feeling of isolation due to the dominance of Punjabis in Pakistan and injustice to the Baloch people in a Punjabi-dominated country makes the people of Punjab a target of insurgents.