Pakistani military have conducted military operations in several regions of district Awaran in Balochistan state of Pakistan. The forces backed by gunship helicopters have started the operation on first day of Eid-ul-Fitr (i.e. on 18 July 2015) which, some Baloch social media activists claim, have resulted in killing of at least 150 plus people. Balochistan local media sources reported that Pakistani forces’ gunship helicopters have been indiscriminately bombing civilian populations where the targets were innocent Baloch women and children. Nowadays, Balochistan netizens are seeking social media help to support their mission for Independence of their state from Pakistan. They are raising their voices for global support.
Balochi nationalists claim that their ruler Mir Ahmad Yar Khan, was compelled by founder of Pakistan Mohammad Ali Jinnah to sign the document of succession. Critics dispute such claims as unrealistic and contrary to popular support for Jinnah, as the Khan of Kalat ruled even after Jinnah’s death with the support of the government. However, the Khan was not an absolute monarch; he was required to act under the provisions of the Rawaj (Kalat’s constitution). The incorporation of the Khanate resulted in a few anti-Pakistani rallies and meetings in certain areas of the Khanate. To subdue anti-Pakistani sentiment, the Army of Pakistan was placed on alert. The Government of Pakistan decided to take complete control of the administration of the Khanate of Kalat on April 15, 1948.
The Balochistan conflict is an ongoing conflict between Baloch nationalists and the government of Pakistan and Iran in the Balochistan region of South-West Asia, which includes Balochistan Province in southwestern Pakistan, Sistan and Balochistan Province in southeastern Iran, and the Balochistan region of southern Afghanistan. Many revolutionary groups fought for the existence of a “Greater Balochistan” — a single independent state ruled under tribal jirgas (a tribal system of government) and comprising the historical Balochistan region, found within Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan. In 2005, there was another struggle to achieve these aims, in 2006, Nawab Akbar Bugti was killed during a military operation, the man they blamed for the violence. Although, Bugti had been proclaimed an offender by former president Pervez Musharraf as he has become a hero for separatists. However, he was accused of devouring federal funds for the development of the province, as well as gas royalties, and was also accused of operating unauthorized jails and dungeons in his territory.
Balochi demands include greater autonomy, increased royalties from natural resources and provincial revenue, and in some cases full independence. There have been many claims of human rights abuses. The belligerent groups operate in the Pakistani and Iranian parts of the region, and in southern Afghanistan. In the 2010s, attacks against the Shia community by sectarian groups—though not always directly related to the political struggle—have been on the rise, contributing to tensions in Balochistan. Although, it has vast natural resources, Balochistan is one of Pakistan’s poorest regions.
The Balochistan Liberation Army, identified as a terrorist organization by Pakistan and Britain, is the most widely-known Baloch separatist group. Since 2000, it has conducted numerous deadly attacks on Pakistani troops, police, and civilians. Other separatist groups include Lashkar-e-Balochistan and the Baloch Liberation United Front (BLUF). In 2005, a rebellion by Baloch against the Islamic Republic of Iran began. The fight over the IRI Baloch region bordering Pakistan, has “not gained” as much ground as the conflict in Pakistan.
Many people have been killed as a result of intense bombing and shelling on villages but due to lack of access and military embargo on media to the affected areas the exact number of casualties could not be confirmed immediately. However, some social media activists have claimed that as many as hundred (100) people were killed in Awaran operation in the past 27 days. Karima Baloch the Vice chairperson of Baloch Student Organisations-Azad claimed in a tweet, “Awaran is destroyed. More than 100 bodies are lying on the ground for wild animals to feed on. Four villages flattened. While in another tweet she claimed that ‘a Baloch mother along with her daughter’ has also been abducted in Awaran operations. Awaran is still in under siege of Pakistani forces. Pakistan is violating international laws of war Occupied Balochistan. More than 20,000 Balochis including women and children were abducted by Pakistani forces and secret agencies.
Leaders of Balochistan’s largest student organization Baloch Students Organization Azad(BSO Azad) Chairman Zahid Baloch is also abducted by Pakistani secret agencies from Quetta on 18 March 2014,and Ex Vice Chairman Zakir Majeed Baloch is also missing since six years, Pakistani secrete agencies abducted Zakir Majeed on 8 June 2009 from Mastung, are still missing. Leader of Balochistan’s Mass party Baloch National Movement (BNM) Dr. Deen Mohd Baloch is also alleged to be abducted by Pakistani secret agencies from Ornach #OccupiedBalochistan since 2009. He is still in the custody of ISI and Pakistani Forces. There are many Balochi intellects also missing including political activists, writers, film makers, poets etc.
In the period 2003 – 2012, it is estimated that 8000 people were abducted by Pakistani security forces in Balochistan. In 2008 alone, an estimated 1102 Baloch people disappeared. An increasing number of bodies “with burn marks, broken limbs, nails pulled out, and sometimes with holes drilled in their heads” are being found on roadsides as the result of a “kill and dump” campaign conducted by Pakistani security forces, particularly Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Frontier Corps (FC) — which, until the 9/11/01 World Trade Center attacks, had sided with the Afghan Taliban and Al-Qaeda against the Northern Alliance in Afghanistan. The Pakistan Rangers are also alleged to have committed a vast number of human rights violations in the region. However, so far no one has been held responsible for the crimes committed in the region. It is high time that they need global attention to get freedom from the atrocities committed by Pakistan.
Inputs from various sources
