The volatile north-west of erstwhile undivided India has become a flashpoint for geopolitical rivalries, ethnic uprisings, and the specter of shifting borders. With the UN’s role in the Baloch crisis under scrutiny, the region’s future remains uncertain. by Gopal Misra
With the possibility of the return of the big powers, the churning of the complex political and ethnic crisis in the sensitive northwest of the erstwhile undivided India has become a whirlwind.
The region, known as the gateway to India, has always been volatile since time immemorial. India has been facing invasions from the barbaric tribes and fortune seekers across the Hindukush. Therefore, it is natural for New Delhi to keep a vigil on the ongoing political developments in the region, especially with the deepening of ethnic crisis in recent months in the border provinces of Pakistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) and Balochistan.
With each passing day, the conflicts between the Pakistani army and local residents of KPK and Balochistan have become more intense.
The inability of the Pakistani army to keep its subjugation in the region has led to the possibility of changes in the current geography in near future among the countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran.
Razzak Baloch, a Baloch nationalist presently camping in New York, has pointed out that Pakistan, an artificial country carved out to serve the colonial interests, has already lost its significance for the West. Its army is unable to face the insurgencies in the region.
Therefore, the great game and play of the world powers, especially America and China have become apparent. The conflicts in the region had paused for a while after the exit of the US-led forces from Afghanistan.
With the Chinese companies already extracting minerals, it is natural for the US not to give any walkover to China in the region.
The present conflict between the US and China at the traditional entry point of the prosperous lands of India appears to be being repeated. Earlier, it was used for entering India, a land known for prosperity and opportunities.
The presence of natural wealth in the region has lured the two giant economies, the US and China, to dominate the region.
The contemporary situation in the region, however, can neither be understood nor explained unless we base our studies on the past as well as explore the contemporary challenges and the rivalries among them.
Apart from the US, Chinese proxies have penetrated in the systems of the West.
For better understanding, the ongoing complex situation, it is necessary to peep into the erstwhile colonial agenda. The British had left an wounded India in 1947, especially by damaging her all -inclusive cultural and religious traditions. The country, however, further suffered the impact of her division when before exiting from India, the British maimed her by partitioning two vibrant regions of the country, the Punjab and Bengal. It led to the establishment of two sovereign states, India and Pakistan. Interestingly, Pakistan had two wings, West Pakistan comprising Sindhis,Punjabis, Pathans, the people of Balochistan. Its Eastern wing was Bengal, which constituted the majority in Pakistan. It, however, chose to separate from its Western wing in 1971 to become Bangladesh.
The fragmentation of Pakistan was accompanied by an unprecedented genocide of Bengali Muslims. This massive scale massacre was endorsed by the then US President Richard Nixon. It is estimated that about three million Muslims were killed and more than a million women were violated.
In 2024, the Muslim clergy reasserted their communal agenda and could succeed in ousting a secular progressive democratic government in Dhaka. It was promptly welcomed by the then US President, Joe Biden. Washington has succeeded in setting up a hybrid regime of army and Muslim clergy with a civilian face of Muhammad Yunus, an economist.
Biden is being remembered for his tilt towards Beijing, but Trump is keen to challenge Dragon’s imperial agenda. For this, he considers Indians a trusted ally. Therefore, it is natural for New Delhi to play a significant role in the changing situation of her northwest region.
Meanwhile, it goes to the credit of Trump to offer an olive branch to Tehran, especially in the context of the ethnic uprisings and growing anti-Pakistan sentiments in Balochistan, the Pakhtoon belt and Sind.
It is yet to be ascertained how much the American deep state would succeed in sabotaging such a peace agenda. For decades, the CIA and its proxies were playing a key role in destroying the liberal traditions of Islam in Iran, Afghanistan and western parts of Pakistan.
Trump’s reluctance to carry out the West’s five-century old colonial agenda, appears to have upset the current narrative of the geo-politics in the region.
His predecessor, Joe Biden, perhaps, could have shelved the crisis in the region quietly by supporting the Pakistani army and its hybrid regime
UN’s role
It is being keenly watched how the UN Secretary General, Anotnio Gutrrres, responds to the ongoing Baloch crisis. The writ of the Pakistani state has weakened in this mineral-rich region in recent weeks. It has resorted to indulge in large scale massacres of civilians, their women being violated.
Antonio Guterres , a former Portuguese prime minister, who is serving the second term in the UN may not be enjoying the respect of his legendary predecessor like Dag Hammarskjold. Yet he has succeeded in earning respect by conducting himself with dignity by observing neutrality. His recent decision to share the latest report and findings about the killing of Hammarskjold might be a first step towards the revelation of his murder.
It may be recalled that he was killed in an air crash in 1961, when his plane was flying to negotiate peace with the rebels of Karanga, the separatists of Congo. The incident, however, was hushed up by the then Rhodesian authorities working under the British.
The ill-fated aircraft, according to the 2024 report, perhaps was attacked by another aircraft, when it entered Rhodesia. The Rhodesian authorities had blamed the pilot for the accident, however, the recent enquiry conducted by the chief justice of Tanzania, Muhammad Chande Othman has refused to subscribe to the Rhodesian version, as he pointed out that it is possible the plane was hit by another aircraft quoting eyewitness evidences.
Baloch memorandum
The Baloch American Congress headed by Tarachand, who represents a microscopic Hindu minority in Balochistan, has recently submitted a memorandum of the ongoing large-scale killings of the Baloch people. It reveals the occupation of Balochistan by Pakistan on 27 March 1948.
The text, which has also been submitted to Trump, highlights issues such as human rights, right of self determination.
It goes to the credit of the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he has been drawing the attention of the world towards the repression. He had reasserted India’s commitment to the suffering masses, when in 2016, he mentioned them in his Independence Day speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort on August 15. He had also greeted the people of the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Gilgit along with Balochistan. Earlier, India used to broadcast shortwave programmes for the region.
Its bulletins could now be accessed through internet and mobile applications. The people of this region are keen that India should launch a satellite channel for them.
Baloch leaders visit India
The recent visits of a number of Baloch activists to India, including leaders like Naela Baloch and her son Mazdaz Dilshad, reflects a new mood in the region. It may be recollected that Naela’s father, Sam Quadri, was the part of the Baluch delegation which had visited New Delhi in 1948 to seek merger with India. Their request was rejected by Jawaharlal Nehru and Maulana Azad. The delegation comprised Gauz Baksh Bzenjo and Nawab Khair Baksh Marri.
Meanwhile, there are reports that the Pakistani secret police, Inter-services Intelligence (ISI) has relaunched the dreaded outfit, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, against the people of the region. They are being given new weapons and funds to weaken their movement for human rights.
The president of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, a coalition partner in the Pakistani government, Fazal-ur-Rehaman has stated that Baloch might succeed in getting independence, if the UN intervenes. It has caused heated debates in the Pakistani media.
The memorandum submitted before the UN details the repression unleashed on Balochs. In 1948, Pakistan, under Muhammad Ali Jinnah, had sent an army to the province during the period 1948-50. Its leaders, Prince Agha Abdul Kaum Baloch were assassinated. During the protests of 1958-59, Nawab Nauroz was killed. A large number of protesters, including Sher Muhammad Bijrana Marri were killed for protesting against the repression unleashed against them. They were accused of leading an insurgency. During the years 1973-77 and also in later years, leaders like Khair Baksh Marri were accused of launching guerilla warfare and eliminated.
