Freedom of Balochistan in resonance with Sovereignty of India

Freedom of Balochistan in resonance with Sovereignty of India.

Present status of Balochistan 

Balochistan is engulfed in the biggest protest in its history since the last couple of months.  People are protesting in Gwadar. It has the potential to bring Imran Khan's government to its knees. The Pakistan Government and its military have always treated Balochistan as the colony of Pakistan. Balochis have only been treated with cruelty and inhuman atrocities. These protests are spreading like a wildfire all over Pakistan. And why wouldn't they be? Almost two third of the Baloch population do not have clean water to drink nor do they have electric power supply. They do not have basic facilities like hospitals, schools or gas. Over 40% of the Balochis live under the poverty line with  Literacy rate hovering around 46% resulting in higher unemployment. Life is in the grip of chilling poverty and deprivation.

Balochistan was an independent nation before 27th March 1948. Over the last seven decades there has been a systematic geocide of Balochis by Pak military since its forceful acquisition. According to a report, 47,000 Balochis have disappeared or gone missing, out of which only a few hundreds have been reported. Their women and activists are threatened, tortured, raped and killed by Pak military. It is highly likely that around five lakh Chinese citizens will get settled in Gwadar by 2023, pushing back and marginalizing the rightful original owners from their own country. The exclusion of the Baloch in decisions pertaining to mega projects like CPEC and development of the Gwadar port hurt as salt on the wound. Livelihoods of almost 30 lakh fishermen have been taken away by issuing licenses to Chinese fishing trawlers illegally. And the list of atrocities goes on.. 

Globally, Pakistan is always treated like a pampered child. With no warnings on these atrocities by western countries Pakistan started disregarding international councils, warnings and laws. If Balochistan is liberated, Pak will taste its own medicine of terrorism. Pakistan is harbouring thousands of religious terrorists which are attacking and harming Western interests. Free Balochistan will automatically attract all the attention and Pak will be left out drying without funds and International support. 

The Balochis are fighting for their survival. They want freedom from Pakistan. They want a separate Baloch Nation. But what are their strengths? Will they survive as an independent nation if at all they get their much deserved freedom?

Balochistan is blessed with natural resources. Beneath all the socio-economic and politically volatile situation this province is rich with natural resources like gold, copper, iron, coal, oil, black pearl, limestones, marbles which are estimated to be one trillion dollars. Geographically it holds 44% of Pakistan’s lands. Balochistan is geographically distinct from the rest of Pakistan. Most of the CPEC project goes through the lands of Balochistan. The key to the CPEC project is Gwadar port and it belongs to Balochistan.

It is coming up as a very important Geostrategic location to counter terrorism, to control Kabul and now Pakistan too. The world is gradually realizing that Pakistan is not the important ally in fighting terrorism. In fact, Pakistan is a country that survives on terrorism. So if this already economically broken country further breaks into pieces creating a new nation called Balochistan, not only India but those countries fighting against terrorism will automatically benefit on many grounds without even lifting its finger against Pakistan. 

Residents of this state are two main ethnic groups - The Baloch and The Pashtuns. Tribal traditions of Balochis are of a more secular nature and this trait of their civilization has proved as a doomsday for them in atrocious rule of Pakistan. But a secular country with moderate moral values will prove to be a great ally for India as a friendly neighbor. 

Islam is a common bond in the region. But given the overwhelming majority of Muslims, it is not the only important identity. Naturally, the creation of a Pakistan, based primarily on an Islamic identity, has led to a series of problems in the last 7 decades. Looking at today’s Pakistan, it certainly proves that ‘concept of Islamic brotherhood do not hold water at all’ and India can site the example of Balochistan to Indian Muslim community who keeps hailing Pakistan for being an Islamic country. 

The main reason behind Pakistan occupying Balochistan was because of its natural resources. Landlocked Punjab knew it could not survive without Balochistan’s natural wealth. Freedom of Balochistan will further weaken Pakistan. Like in Afghanistan, India can make substantial investments in these regions in order to increase trade and mining activity. Unlike China, India has created goodwill as an investor that transfers the benefits to the land owner country too. Balochistan will be more than happy to receive all the technical and financial support India can provide. 

Balochistan’s strategic location is vital because it acts as a link between three regions—Central Asia, Middle East and South Asia. Also, the location of the port of Gwadar is near the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world’s oil trade passes. It can also act as a choke-point as ports play an essential role from the defense point of view for any country. Without Balochistan and the Sindh Sea, Pakistan is landlocked like Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan. That is why Pakistan is collaborating with China to loot Baloch resources, and is gaining suzerainty of the Baloch land and sea in order to monitor the Arabian and Indian Oceans. Freedom of Balochistan will turn the tables and by developing healthy relations with Balochistan India can enjoy all the benefits China-Pak are viciously plundering. 

China, in partnership with Pakistan, is building the Jiwani naval base in Gwadar to establish its long term presence in the seas in the region and is also setting up a military base in Balochistan as a means of encircling India and throwing out the United States from the region in the future. Freedom of Balochistan gives a leverage to India over China in the waters as well as it can throw the CPCE project in the dustbin making China vulnerable for Oil and a control over important strategic location. 

The independence of Balochistan will benefit India in the long run against its adversaries in the region. A strong and liberal Baloch movement is a deterrent against Pakistan to carry out terrorist activities in Afghanistan and India. Before the start of the ongoing Baloch movement, during 1987 to 1999, Pakistan radicalized Baloch youths from all across Balochistan and sent them to Kashmir. They recruited people for ISI backed religious groups and sent them to Kashmir and Afghanistan for jihad. Jihad can be ended from the lands of Balochistan if its made an independent nation. 

Pakistan considers the Baloch struggle to be a greater threat than to fight for Kashmir. Also, Pakistan was scared that neighboring countries might raise the issue of human rights violations in Balochistan and put international pressure on Pakistan. That is why Pakistan sidelined the Kashmir issue and focused completely on the Balochistan conflict. Volatility and unrest created by Baloch insurgent groups have helped India during revocation of article 370 and 35A. Baloch freedom can ensure that the world stops talking about Kashmir once and for all. 

Balochistan would certainly want Indian presence stronger than China-Pak Duo, so freedom of Balochistan will be helpful in regaining all of POK including Gilgit-Baltistan. These modern hybrid wars cannot be won only with jets, airplanes and atom bombs. Instead, it can be won with the support of non-state actors. India, as a regional investor in Afghan lands, needs strong allies. The Baloch are the natural allies and friends of India because both are facing the same enemy. Freedom of Balochistan can help India to secure its investments in Afghanistan. 

The US or India cannot win until Pakistan is treated with the same medicine, which it has been using against the US in Afghanistan and India. The Baloch are natural allies of the Indian and Afghan people in the region, which is why the independence of Balochistan is the ultimate solution and a long lasting remedy for regional peace. A free and secular Baloch state can guarantee peace and development of the region.

Balochistan presents a mosaic of conflicts and fault lines with multiple layers of violence. These multiple conflicts have facilitated criminal elements and groups to mushroom in the province. As a result, has become part of the prevalent terror. Add to this the smuggling of drugs and weapons from Afghanistan via the porous border and through the coastal region of Balochistan as well as other horrific crimes like human trafficking, kidnapping for ransom etc. Free Balochistan will be a peaceful, secular, development oriented nation. Naturally all such activities will be minimized from the region assuring the peace in and on the borders of India. 

Pakistan as an enemy has blocked India’s trade routes to Europe and the world. But we can enter into the world using free Balochistan as a golden route for trade. It will be a win-win situation as India can provide different types of support to Balochistan in exchange for this trade route. 

In the changing International geopolitics, power centers are shifting. It is much safer and effective to have real allies next door. No one knows what will happen in the next two decades. China is rising and has built military islands in the South China Sea. The Middle East is changing; new bases and military installations are being built by Pakistan and China in Balochistan. Having a geostrategic location like Balochistan at its disposal will give India an upper hand in playing its cards not only in Southeast Asia but everywhere in the world and also to counter China. 

Amita apte