Balochistan package
Posted by Admin on Dec 10th, 2009 and filed under OPINION.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
By Tayyab Siddiqui
The much-awaited and long overdue official response and plan of action for the Baloch question was finally announced before parliament on November 24
at a special joint session. The prime minister extended a “hand of reconciliation and dialogue with our estranged brothers from Balochistan.” The package
contained 39 recommendations to address the various steps suggested in the package and propose constitutional changes to incorporate necessary
amendments. These recommendations cover constitutional, political, administrative and economic issues “to heal the wounds of the Baloch.”
The package, described by Zardari as a “grand leap forward” has been rejected by the majority of Baloch nationalist leaders and hence, the implementation
of the package has become uncertain. The Baloch extreme reaction to the proposal reflects a deep sense of disappointment and frustration at the manner in
which Islamabad has responded. The government, regrettably, has not reacted to any crisis situation with the speed and alacrity that the situation warrants,
particularly when these proposals are a carbon-copy of those made in the 2005 Mushahid Report.
While it would be unfair to question the sincerity of the government in advancing these recommendations, it certainly reflects the ineptness of the government
and insensitivity to the urgency of the burning question. The fundamental weakness that the package suffers from is that it has been presented without
involving Baloch leaders and other stakeholders. It is not surprising that the package has been rejected by Baloch leaders, representing all political
affiliations. It was imperative that the proposal should have been discussed with the Baloch leaders and other stakeholders taken on board to avoid the likely
stalemate.
Mr Gilani on assumption of the office of prime minister had presented a 100-day plan of action and promised that the concurrent list would be abolished
within one year and that the Baloch demands would be met within 100 days. Nothing of that kind has happened. Indeed, our 1973 Constitution provides for
institutions and approaches aiming at stability and harmony among the provinces. The constitutional bodies to resolve any dispute or conflict provides the
mechanism of the Council of Common Interest and the National Finance Commission.
Simply put the Baloch question relates to the right of ownership of resources and financial autonomy without any constraints. The Baloch want a peaceful
Balochistan, ruled, governed and controlled by them. The other issues are peripheral and directly related to the major ones indicated above.
The package is an honest effort, but lack of trust in Islamabad has made Baloch leaders wary of the establishment and the federal government and hence
more imaginative and realistic options need to be explored to meet the Baloch aspirations. The time that has elapsed due to political indifference and
administrative inertia has radicalised the Baloch and what could have been achieved a couple of years back may not be within our reach today.
We need to look at the broader picture and make a realistic appreciation of the crisis that we are faced with. The easiest solution would be to take guidance
from the constitution, abolish the concurrent list and the emergency powers.
To create the right ambiance for meaningful negotiations, measures such as a general amnesty and cessations of military operations should be
implemented forthwith. For composition of committees and commissions, referred to in the package, a definite timeline be indicated. Time is of the
essence. Any further delay would only complicate and compromise national unity. Had Mujibur Rehman’s six-points for East Pakistan’s autonomy been
given consideration and an honest national debate in the context of unified Pakistan was held, we might have been spared Pakistan’s break-up. Let history
not repeat itself. The writer is a former ambassador.
Email: m.tayyab.siddiqui @gmail.com (Courtesy: The News International, Karachi)
http://thebalochhal.com
Posted by Admin on Dec 10th, 2009 and filed under OPINION.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
By Tayyab Siddiqui
The much-awaited and long overdue official response and plan of action for the Baloch question was finally announced before parliament on November 24
at a special joint session. The prime minister extended a “hand of reconciliation and dialogue with our estranged brothers from Balochistan.” The package
contained 39 recommendations to address the various steps suggested in the package and propose constitutional changes to incorporate necessary
amendments. These recommendations cover constitutional, political, administrative and economic issues “to heal the wounds of the Baloch.”
The package, described by Zardari as a “grand leap forward” has been rejected by the majority of Baloch nationalist leaders and hence, the implementation
of the package has become uncertain. The Baloch extreme reaction to the proposal reflects a deep sense of disappointment and frustration at the manner in
which Islamabad has responded. The government, regrettably, has not reacted to any crisis situation with the speed and alacrity that the situation warrants,
particularly when these proposals are a carbon-copy of those made in the 2005 Mushahid Report.
While it would be unfair to question the sincerity of the government in advancing these recommendations, it certainly reflects the ineptness of the government
and insensitivity to the urgency of the burning question. The fundamental weakness that the package suffers from is that it has been presented without
involving Baloch leaders and other stakeholders. It is not surprising that the package has been rejected by Baloch leaders, representing all political
affiliations. It was imperative that the proposal should have been discussed with the Baloch leaders and other stakeholders taken on board to avoid the likely
stalemate.
Mr Gilani on assumption of the office of prime minister had presented a 100-day plan of action and promised that the concurrent list would be abolished
within one year and that the Baloch demands would be met within 100 days. Nothing of that kind has happened. Indeed, our 1973 Constitution provides for
institutions and approaches aiming at stability and harmony among the provinces. The constitutional bodies to resolve any dispute or conflict provides the
mechanism of the Council of Common Interest and the National Finance Commission.
Simply put the Baloch question relates to the right of ownership of resources and financial autonomy without any constraints. The Baloch want a peaceful
Balochistan, ruled, governed and controlled by them. The other issues are peripheral and directly related to the major ones indicated above.
The package is an honest effort, but lack of trust in Islamabad has made Baloch leaders wary of the establishment and the federal government and hence
more imaginative and realistic options need to be explored to meet the Baloch aspirations. The time that has elapsed due to political indifference and
administrative inertia has radicalised the Baloch and what could have been achieved a couple of years back may not be within our reach today.
We need to look at the broader picture and make a realistic appreciation of the crisis that we are faced with. The easiest solution would be to take guidance
from the constitution, abolish the concurrent list and the emergency powers.
To create the right ambiance for meaningful negotiations, measures such as a general amnesty and cessations of military operations should be
implemented forthwith. For composition of committees and commissions, referred to in the package, a definite timeline be indicated. Time is of the
essence. Any further delay would only complicate and compromise national unity. Had Mujibur Rehman’s six-points for East Pakistan’s autonomy been
given consideration and an honest national debate in the context of unified Pakistan was held, we might have been spared Pakistan’s break-up. Let history
not repeat itself. The writer is a former ambassador.
Email: m.tayyab.siddiqui @gmail.com (Courtesy: The News International, Karachi)
http://thebalochhal.com
Qureshi contradicts minister on India’s role in
Balochistan.
11 Dec 2009, 0410 hrs IST, ET Bureau
NEW DELHI: Pakistan has rolled back its “India is behind trouble in Balochistan”charge.
Reacting to Interior Minister Rehman Malik’s claims about having “concrete evidence” regarding India’s involvement in terror activities inside the
country, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said that evidence against New Delhi was not enough.
Reports from Islamabad quoting Qureshi said that while involvement of foreign hands can not be ruled out, more evidence is needed to ‘plausibly
argue’ that India is involved in fanning insurgency inside Pakistan.
“The possibility that there are elements who want to destabilise the country cannot be ruled out. But information received by us in this regard, is
insufficient. We need more information and material to plausibly argue our case,” The Daily Times quoted Qureshi, as saying.
Earlier, Malik had claimed that the interior ministry has substantial proof against India, and that it has been handed over to the foreign office.
"Pakistan has concrete evidence of India’s involvement in fomenting unrest in Pakistan and the evidence has been provided to the foreign office to take
it up with New Delhi,” Malik had claimed on Wednesday.
Pakistan has been regularly using the inclusion of reference to Balochistan in the outrageous joint statement signed between Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani at Sharm el Shiekh to embarrass New Delhi.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com
Balochistan.
11 Dec 2009, 0410 hrs IST, ET Bureau
NEW DELHI: Pakistan has rolled back its “India is behind trouble in Balochistan”charge.
Reacting to Interior Minister Rehman Malik’s claims about having “concrete evidence” regarding India’s involvement in terror activities inside the
country, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said that evidence against New Delhi was not enough.
Reports from Islamabad quoting Qureshi said that while involvement of foreign hands can not be ruled out, more evidence is needed to ‘plausibly
argue’ that India is involved in fanning insurgency inside Pakistan.
“The possibility that there are elements who want to destabilise the country cannot be ruled out. But information received by us in this regard, is
insufficient. We need more information and material to plausibly argue our case,” The Daily Times quoted Qureshi, as saying.
Earlier, Malik had claimed that the interior ministry has substantial proof against India, and that it has been handed over to the foreign office.
"Pakistan has concrete evidence of India’s involvement in fomenting unrest in Pakistan and the evidence has been provided to the foreign office to take
it up with New Delhi,” Malik had claimed on Wednesday.
Pakistan has been regularly using the inclusion of reference to Balochistan in the outrageous joint statement signed between Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani at Sharm el Shiekh to embarrass New Delhi.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com
US forces using Shamsi airbase in Balochistan
Saturday, 12 Dec, 2009 |
ISLAMABAD: The Shamsi airbase in Balochistan is being used by American forces for logistical purposes but the government is not satisfied with
payments for the use of the facility, disclosed the defence minister.
Talking exclusively to DawnNews, Defence Minister Ahmad Mukhtar said that the US was still using the Shamsi airbase, however, the govt is not
satisfied with payments for its use.
Earlier, the US was also using the Jacobabad Airbase and Pasni for its operations in Afghanistan.
Just a day earlier, the defence minister had also admitted the existence of the Afghan Taliban’s Quetta Shura for the first time but said that the security
forces had taken on the Quetta Shura and damaged it to such an extent that it no longer posed any threat.
However, until this admission by the defence minister, the government had so far denied the existence of any Taliban leadership or the Quetta Shura in
Balochistan’s capital.—DawnNews
http://www.dawn.com/
Pak finally admits US using Shamsi airbase in
Balochistan.
Islamabad, Dec. 13 : Pakistan, for the first time, has admitted that the Shamsi airbase in Balochistan is being used by the US forces for logistical
purposes.
Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar said the US is using the Shamsi airbase, but the government is not satisfied with payments for its use, The Dawn
reports.
It may be noted that the US forces were also operating from the Jacobabad and Pasni airbases for carrying out operations in Afghanistan.
Mukhtar's statements comes a day after he admitted the presence of 'Quetta Shura' in Pakistan, a fact which was being vehemently denied by
Islamabad so far.
On Saturday, Mukhtar had said that there is no threat from the 'shura'
(Quetta based union council of the Taliban), as it has been “significantly damaged” by the security forces.
“Security forces have taken on the 'Quetta Shura', damaged it to such an extent that it no longer pose any threat to the country,” Mukhtar had said.
While Pakistan has been fervently denying reports about the presence of the Talibani leadership inside its boundaries, particularly in Balochistan, the
United States, time and again, has stressed that key Taliban and Al-Qaeda commanders have taken refuge in that region and were planning attacks
from there.
A recent report by General Stanley McChrystal, the top US commander in Afghanistan, also claimed that the Taliban leadership was in Quetta,
Balochistan's capital, and that it was plotting attacks on international forces in Afghanistan.
--ANI
http://www.newkerala.com/news
Saturday, 12 Dec, 2009 |
ISLAMABAD: The Shamsi airbase in Balochistan is being used by American forces for logistical purposes but the government is not satisfied with
payments for the use of the facility, disclosed the defence minister.
Talking exclusively to DawnNews, Defence Minister Ahmad Mukhtar said that the US was still using the Shamsi airbase, however, the govt is not
satisfied with payments for its use.
Earlier, the US was also using the Jacobabad Airbase and Pasni for its operations in Afghanistan.
Just a day earlier, the defence minister had also admitted the existence of the Afghan Taliban’s Quetta Shura for the first time but said that the security
forces had taken on the Quetta Shura and damaged it to such an extent that it no longer posed any threat.
However, until this admission by the defence minister, the government had so far denied the existence of any Taliban leadership or the Quetta Shura in
Balochistan’s capital.—DawnNews
http://www.dawn.com/
Pak finally admits US using Shamsi airbase in
Balochistan.
Islamabad, Dec. 13 : Pakistan, for the first time, has admitted that the Shamsi airbase in Balochistan is being used by the US forces for logistical
purposes.
Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar said the US is using the Shamsi airbase, but the government is not satisfied with payments for its use, The Dawn
reports.
It may be noted that the US forces were also operating from the Jacobabad and Pasni airbases for carrying out operations in Afghanistan.
Mukhtar's statements comes a day after he admitted the presence of 'Quetta Shura' in Pakistan, a fact which was being vehemently denied by
Islamabad so far.
On Saturday, Mukhtar had said that there is no threat from the 'shura'
(Quetta based union council of the Taliban), as it has been “significantly damaged” by the security forces.
“Security forces have taken on the 'Quetta Shura', damaged it to such an extent that it no longer pose any threat to the country,” Mukhtar had said.
While Pakistan has been fervently denying reports about the presence of the Talibani leadership inside its boundaries, particularly in Balochistan, the
United States, time and again, has stressed that key Taliban and Al-Qaeda commanders have taken refuge in that region and were planning attacks
from there.
A recent report by General Stanley McChrystal, the top US commander in Afghanistan, also claimed that the Taliban leadership was in Quetta,
Balochistan's capital, and that it was plotting attacks on international forces in Afghanistan.
--ANI
http://www.newkerala.com/news
