PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 17, 2012
Contact: Tara Setmayer
202-225-2415
Rep. Rohrabacher Introduces Bill Recognizing Baluchistan’s Right to Self-Determination
Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) introduced a House Concurrent Resolution that the Baluchi nation has a
historic right to self-determination. Baluchistan is currently divided between Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan with no sovereign rights of its
own. In Pakistan especially, the Baluchi people are subjected to violence and extrajudicial killing. The bill states that the Baluchi people
“have the right to self-determination and to their own sovereign country; and they should be afforded the opportunity to choose their own
status.”
“The Baluchi, like other nations of people, have an innate right to self-determination,” says Rohrabacher. “The political and ethnic
discrimination they suffer is tragic and made more so because America is financing and selling arms to their oppressors in Islamabad.”
Historically Baluchistan was an independently governed entity known as the Baluch Khanate of Kalat which came to an end after
invasions from both British and Persian armies. An attempt to regain independence in 1947 was crushed by an invasion by Pakistan.
Today the Baluchistan province of Pakistan is rich in natural resources but has been subjugated and exploited by Punjabi and Pashtun
elites in Islamabad, leaving Baluchistan the country’s poorest province.
Reps. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) and Steve King (R-IA) have also signed on as original co-sponsors of the bill.
Rep. Rohrabacher is Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.
###
ATTACHMENT
112TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. CON. RES. ____
Expressing the sense of Congress that the people of Baluchistan, currently divided between Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan, have the
right to self-determination and to their own sovereign country.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Mr. ROHRABACHER submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on _______________________
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of Congress that the people of Baluchistan, currently divided between Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan, have the
right to self-determination and to their own sovereign country.
Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that the people
of Baluchistan, currently divided between Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan, have the right to self-determination and to their own sovereign
country and they should be afforded the opportunity to choose their own status among the community of nations, living in peace and
harmony, without external coercion.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 17, 2012
Contact: Tara Setmayer
202-225-2415
Rep. Rohrabacher Introduces Bill Recognizing Baluchistan’s Right to Self-Determination
Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) introduced a House Concurrent Resolution that the Baluchi nation has a
historic right to self-determination. Baluchistan is currently divided between Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan with no sovereign rights of its
own. In Pakistan especially, the Baluchi people are subjected to violence and extrajudicial killing. The bill states that the Baluchi people
“have the right to self-determination and to their own sovereign country; and they should be afforded the opportunity to choose their own
status.”
“The Baluchi, like other nations of people, have an innate right to self-determination,” says Rohrabacher. “The political and ethnic
discrimination they suffer is tragic and made more so because America is financing and selling arms to their oppressors in Islamabad.”
Historically Baluchistan was an independently governed entity known as the Baluch Khanate of Kalat which came to an end after
invasions from both British and Persian armies. An attempt to regain independence in 1947 was crushed by an invasion by Pakistan.
Today the Baluchistan province of Pakistan is rich in natural resources but has been subjugated and exploited by Punjabi and Pashtun
elites in Islamabad, leaving Baluchistan the country’s poorest province.
Reps. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) and Steve King (R-IA) have also signed on as original co-sponsors of the bill.
Rep. Rohrabacher is Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.
###
ATTACHMENT
112TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. CON. RES. ____
Expressing the sense of Congress that the people of Baluchistan, currently divided between Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan, have the
right to self-determination and to their own sovereign country.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Mr. ROHRABACHER submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on _______________________
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of Congress that the people of Baluchistan, currently divided between Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan, have the
right to self-determination and to their own sovereign country.
- Whereas the people of Baluchistan have maintained a proud and distinctive national, cultural, and religious identity dating back to
ancient times;
- Whereas in 1666, the Baluch Khanate of Kalat was founded which functioned as an independent, sovereign country;
- Whereas in the 19th century, the Baluch people were conquered and divided by the imperialist expansion of Persia (Iran) and the
British Empire;
- Whereas on August 15, 1947, the Khan of Kalat declared independence, only to have Baluch aspirations crushed by an invasion
by Pakistan in April 1948 followed by 2 years of a bloody campaign to stamp out popular resistance;
- Whereas revolts in 1958, 1973, and 2005 indicate continued popular discontent against rule by Islamabad, and the plunder of its
vast natural wealth while Baluchistan remains the poorest province in Pakistan;
- Whereas a popular insurgency is also under way in Sistan-Baluchistan and being met by brutal repression by the dictatorship in
Iran which has added religious bigotry to tyranny; and
- Whereas it is the policy of the United States to oppose aggression and the violation of human rights inherent in the subjugation of
national groups as currently being shown in Iran and Pakistan against the aspirations of the Baluch people:
Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that the people
of Baluchistan, currently divided between Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan, have the right to self-determination and to their own sovereign
country and they should be afforded the opportunity to choose their own status among the community of nations, living in peace and
harmony, without external coercion.
| We all Baloch thank Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Louie Gohmert (R-TX) and Steve King (R-IA) for introducing this bill, Recognizing Balochistan’s Right to Self-Determination, but also at the same time we were very disappointed to see the genuine Baloch leadership were ignored to be taken on board. Appointment of Hossienbor, an Iranain and a Jundullah supporter, to testify for eastern Balochistan was sufficient enough to say that how credible this hearing was besides being just a political stunt as Christine Fair, one of the witness of the hearing, called it. Also Khan Kalat is not the right person to deal with, as he lacks supports among Baloch Diaspora and back home, in Balochistan. A Baloch, Quetta February 29, 2012 Faiz Baluch wrote; Khan Kalat has no support among Baloch people, both inside Balochistan and outside among Baloch Diaspora. The only two person who are supporting him among Baloch diaspora is Dr. Wahid Baloch and Mehrab Sarjov. Mehrab Sarjov is an Iranian Baloch and according to Malik Towghi, a Baloch scholar and liaison of Baloch human right International, Mehrab Sarjov is working for Iranian intelligence. I heard Dr. Wahid left him over his differences on the appointment of Hossinbor, a Jundullah associate and supporter, to testify at the hearing instead of him. Before that, Tariq Baloch, a Baloch political activist in UK, also left Khan Kalat and called him a stunt man. Many people in Balochistan don't like Khan Kalat and his family because of his grand father signing the document of accession with Pakistan against the Baloch will. Many of his family members, who are staunch supporters of Taliban, are still minister in Balochistan Government and enjoying full Pakistan's ISI and military support and protection. Khan Kalat, like his grandfather, is very religious. According to Waleed Gorbani, a well known Baloch activist in UK, Khan Kalat and his family members have called to eliminate Zikiris, a small religious minority group of Balochs in Makarn, unless they convert to Islam. INSTRUMENT OF ACCESSION OF KALAT STATE ( Document of Slavery) http://www.balochvoice.com/Historical/instrument_of_accession_of_kalat_state.htm |
On Tue, Feb 21, 2012 at 10:08 PM, Hem Raj Jain <> wrote: Ref:- (i)- This time India will not commit blunder in Balochistan (of not providing armed forces to US lead UN resolution). (ii)- Massive political uprising is imminent in Balochistan. (iii)- India has become wiser after Afghanistan fiasco (caused mainly due to not providing armed forces to US lead UN resolution in Afghanistan). (iv)- Present Iran / Israel crises will also shape India’s policy in favor of Baloch’s right to self determination. (v)- ‘Baloch Spring’ unlike ‘Arab Spring’ will influence even Kashmir problem. (vi)- Independent Balochistan will change Sino – US strategic equations in South Asia. (vii)- Independent Kashmir will be acceptable to India in view of (A)- Independent Balochistan (B)- unavoidable FSDSAARC and (C)- relief from terrorism. Dear Sir Though Republicans neither have majority in Senate nor presence in White House but USA is in election mode and important defense matters (especially such pressing as USA’s committed withdrawal from Afghanistan by 2014) are normally bi-partisan in USA. Therefore the resolution for right to self determination for the Baloch people of Pakistan moved by Republican Representatives Dan Rohrabacher, Louie Gohmert and Steve King has huge chance of success (may not be in the form of resolution passed by Congress but certainly in the form of changing US foreign policy). Because it has tremendous potential of transforming the US perception of geo-politics of South Asia as given below:- (1)- Apart from open advice by some US Congressmen & others to US government that Washington should help the Baloch to break away from Pakistan so that not only the forces of USA & Allies may have unrestricted approach to land-locked Afghanistan (through Balochistan) without depending for this access on increasingly troubling Pakistan but US may also operate through Balochistan near land border and marine border / exit routes of Iran (which presently is in the eye of the storm of USA & Allies). This demand is couched in historical justification and human rights issues that – “Baloch were independent people historically and now days Pakistan is grossly violating human rights in Balochistan, hence independent Balochistan”. (2)- These influential Americans have gone even to the extent of saying that US military aid to Pakistan is being misused by its government for inflicting violence against and extra judicial killings of Balochs. (3)- Moreover these Americans say that a new country Balochistan (bordering Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan) if brought into existence courtesy USA & Allies then it will certainly give better strategic presence and maneuvering space in future to USA & its Allies in this entire region of South & Central Asia. (4)- One more factor will motivate USA & Allies to endeavor to facilitate independent Balochistan. This time India will not commit blunder (of not providing armed forces to US lead UN resolution) in Balochistan as it committed in Afghanistan post 9/11 UN resolution about ‘global war against terrorism’. (5)- In view of committed withdrawal of US forces by 2014, India is worried that post 2014 Afghanistan may condone terrorism in India by Muslim fundamentalists (operating from Pakistan and even from Afghanistan). Therefore presently India is trying desperately to have effective presence (through civilian means) in Afghanistan before US forces leave Afghanistan in 2014. (6)- But after recent talks by the governments of USA, Afghanistan and Iran with government of Pakistan about its chummy Taliban, the Indian establishment has become wiser and has realized that no amount of civilian maneuver in Afghanistan is an effective alternative to lost martial approach (which was available to India post 9/11). Moreover present Iran / Israel crises which is threatening India’s energy- security & peace is also constraining India to become more pro-active, ideologically committed, pragmatic and brave country. (7)- This martial cooperation of India with USA & Allies in Balochistan under UN resolution will have tremendous effect on the future global strategy of USA & Allies. It will open the door of India’s military cooperation (on humanitarian grounds) in other theaters too under UN resolutions. Given India’s martial strength of 1.5 million strong professional armed forces - to what extent it will have profound repercussion for the emerging ‘global democratic order’ (especially after ‘Arab Spring’ and democratic uprising in NAME Countries) under the leadership of USA & Allies, is any body’s guess. (8)- This collaboration of USA & Allies with India for independent Balochistan is bound to infuriate Pakistan and China for obvious reasons. But present global crises (including economical crises in Western countries - in US & EU Region etc) will not allow USA & Allies to relegate their vital interests on back burner. (9)- No doubt a miniscule part of ill-informed people in India may think that - “[Independent Balochistan is bound to rake up Kashmir problem (which has already claimed , as per media reports, about one hundred thousand lives of Muslims for the cause of unified Kashmir) hence will encourage Kashmiris on both sides of LOC to demand at international forums at least Muslim majority Independent Kashmir (if not independent entire Jammu & Kashmir) but this further dismemberment of India, as per these ill-informed people, will not be accepted by Hindu majority India – which so far has not been reconciled even to the partition of its motherland in 1947]”. (10)- India is more intelligent and pragmatic than what some people credit it with. India knows that whether some people like it or not but South Asia will ultimately usher into FSDSAARC (Federation of Secular Democratic SAARC Countries) where Kashmir can also be a member like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Balochistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Nepal, Maldives etc. Therefore even an independent Kashmir is not an anathema to India provided independent Balochistan (especially with the active support of USA & Allies and of India under UN resolution) comes into existence. (11)- This FSDSAARC has extra attraction to India because it will solve the problem of terrorism too (engineered by Muslim fundamentalists mainly through Kashmir) in India which is causing so much strain in Indian polity that presently Chief Ministers of various States (comprising more than half of India’s population) are having a serious differences and quarrel with government of India on NCTC (National Counter Terrorism Centre). (12)- In a nutshell the vital interests of USA & Allies and also of India converge on the realization of independent Balochistan. (13)- This will be a blessing in disguise even for the civilian government / political leadership of Pakistan. With Kashmir problem solved the military of Pakistan will loose all its manufactured importance as it will not be in a position to raise India bogey. This will eventually make any military coup highly unlikely in Pakistan and will be a welcome development for the democracy in Pakistan. (14)- Therefore it is only a matter of time before we see massive political uprising in Balochistan for independent Balochistan supported, aided and engineered by USA & Allies and also by India. Yours truly Hem Raj Jain (Author of “Betrayal of Americanism”) Mankato, MN – 56001, USA Ph:- 612-202-4053 Presently at Bangaluru, India Ph:- 07829074704, 09694496012 |
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Baloch Society of North America and are therefore the sole responsibility of the author and the readers. BSO-NA will not be
responsible or liable for the contents, comments or by any inaccurate or incorrect statements contained therein in the article.
On Fri, Feb 17, 2012 at 4:12 PM, Barkat Ali <> wrote:
Once Khan Kalat's grandfahter was asked, Why did you join (an independent State of Kalat) with Pakistan? "I saw Prophet Muhamamd
Sallallahu Alieh Wassalam in my dream, he ordered me to join Pakistan," Khan of Kalat replied.
Related links:
Once Khan Kalat's grandfahter was asked, Why did you join (an independent State of Kalat) with Pakistan? "I saw Prophet Muhamamd
Sallallahu Alieh Wassalam in my dream, he ordered me to join Pakistan," Khan of Kalat replied.
Related links: