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The Baloch National Resistance: problems
and prospects
By Dr. Naseer Dashti
06-06-2006
The happenings in Balochistan during the past few years have created an
atmosphere of enthusiasm, determination, and a sense of immense patriotism
among every Baloch inside Balochistan or in Diaspora. For many Baloch this
new phase of Baloch resistance may be the beginning of the realization of
Baloch dream of liberation and perhaps many among us may be fantasizing to
become the citizen of an independent Balochistan in near future. But on
the ground the situation may not be so simple. The present stage of Baloch
Resistance is complex and it has many unresolved internal issues to be
resolved and complex external dimensions to be taken in to consideration.
Although, armed resistance has been intensified and there is a strong,
committed and vocal political cadre in at least one part of Balochistan,
it should be recognised that no struggle can be win arbitrarily, according
to subjective whims and fancies without dealing with fundamental issues.
The foremost question which comes in to mind while discussing Baloch
resistance to Pakistani and Iranian occupation is: what is the ultimate
aim of Baloch resistance? The other questions which may draw the attention
are: Who are the representatives of the Baloch masses? How the masses
should be lead in the tortuous task of achieving the objective of national
liberation? What will be the reaction of international community towards
Baloch demand of national self-determination? The answers to these
questions are important and at the same time it is also imperative to take
into account the strength and weaknesses of our own and that of our
enemies and the political and strategic development occurring in the whole
region.
Beginning from the day of the capitulation of Kalat State in Eastern
Balochistan and annexation of Baloch land in the west by Iran, Baloch
masses have been expressing their voices in support of a sovereign, united
and independent Balochistan. Various individual acts of heroism and
generalized resistance movements in both parts of Baloch land during this
long dark period of subjugation are the clear indication of the well of
Baloch people. There has been readiness to respond to the strategy of
armed struggle with all the enormous sacrifices which this involves. The
dream of an independent homeland and desire to fight for the realization
of that dream has been and is the undisputed and universal phenomenon
among Baloch.
The question of a genuine leadership representing the well of Baloch
people has been resolved in the Eastern Balochistan by the immense
sacrifices and relentless struggle of the known Baloch leaders during the
past many decades. No body is in doubt that who is speaking on behalf of
Baloch people and who is fighting and organizing the political and armed
resistance in that part of Balochistan. There is a visible existence of a
political leadership capable of gaining the organized allegiance of the
people for armed struggle and which has both the experience and the
ability to carry out the painstaking process of planning, preparation and
overall conduct of the operations. Nevertheless; the situation in
Pakistani occupied Balochistan can not be fully described as satisfactory
in terms of a clear line of action among different national figures and
unity among various political organizations.
The state of affairs in Western Balochistan is quite unsatisfactory
regarding political organization and leadership issues. But one should not
blame the Baloch masses and political cadre in Iran occupied Balochistan
for their inability to produce credible and universally acceptable
leadership to lead a resistance movement. The way Baloch have been treated
in Iran is unprecedented in the history of subjugation of one nation by
another in the contemporary world. The division of Baloch population in
more than four regions, the zero tolerance approach towards formation of
any Baloch political or social organization to unite the masses, and
ruthless prosecution of political activists by subsequent Iranian regimes
and the inherent backwardness and illiteracy can be cited as the factors
causing the past and present scenarios of political and social anarchy and
disorganization in that part of Baloch land.
On the face of it, the over all Baloch political situations on both sides
of Goldsmid line, to be honest, are not up to the marks. But there is
nothing to be disappointed or to be demoralized. There have been
deficiencies in the resistance movements in their earlier phases
throughout the world. The successful resistance movements were able to
overcome their deficiencies by dealing and thinking in a scientific and
logical way. Baloch can definitely overcome the shortcomings in their
complex political and social situations. This can be done by taking into
consideration the prevailing ground realities and the harsh facts of not
only their own circumstances but the experiences of resistance movements
in the other parts of the world and the power and tactics of the occupying
countries.
It is imperative for the masses, political activists, intellectuals and
the honest leadership in both parts of Balochistan to acknowledge the need
of the hour to take drastic measures in order to challenge the enemy in a
strong position. Logical measures are necessary to streamline the
resistance movement in a more meaningful way, to make possible for
increasing participation of masses in the formulation of the future
resistance strategies and to give impetus to the greater political
mobilization of Baloch masses. In this regard, in my view the following
issues should be dealt immediately, transparently and without any personal
bias by our leadership in consultation with political and intellectual
cadres.
Number one; the United Fronts of all resistance movements and political
organizations, groups and individuals should be formed with out wasting
any time for the completion of formalities on both sides of Goldsmid line.
The political and armed resistance should be controlled by the leadership
of the united front as well as the propaganda machinery on both internal
and external front. The form of struggle should be seen as part of a
series of changing processes or forms which may be decided according to
the given situation. What ever be the mode of struggle at the moment, the
United Front should be of the conviction that both political and economic
powers are inalienable rights of the people of Balochistan. Its mission
therefore should be to contribute to the task of total political and
economic liberation of Balochistan.
Number two; there should not be any ambiguity regarding the ultimate goal
of Baloch resistance. The aims and objective of the resistance movement
should be loud, clear and understandable not only to the general public,
but to the occupying establishments and to the wider international
community. Wavering between the rhetoric of mastering the natural
resources of Baloch, maximum provincial autonomy or federalism is creating
confusion and a condition of uncertainty among the Baloch masses and
international community about the real targets of Baloch resistance. The
Baloch masses must be given a clear target and that should be the right of
self determination for Baloch people on both sides of Goldsmid line. The
fear of ruthless rebuttal from Iran and Pakistan should not be presented
as the logic for not pronouncing the ultimate aim of the nation for a
united independent Balochistan. The sky will not come down further on the
shoulders of Baloch leadership, political cadres and organizations; it is
already there with its full weight. The Baloch land is already drenched
with the blood of political activists and innocent women and children.
Baloch will lose nothing except what they have lost earlier.
Number three; there comes a time in the life of every nation to take some
unpleasant steps in order to safeguard the collective political and social
well being of the nation. This time has arrived for Baloch nation. Visible
lines should be drawn which should enable Baloch people to choose between
supporting occupying forces (directly or indirectly) and their own
resistance movement. Hypocrites and persons and organizations of dubious
characters should be exposed and be politically and socially isolated.
Today, the question of the United Front of nationalists should not be to
win over the support of the established collaborators and opportunist
leadership and their political organizations; rather it should concern the
unity of the genuine nationalists themselves. Baloch United Fronts should
struggle against the opportunist ideas, and the groups who are claiming to
be nationalist while justifying capitulation and surrender at the same
time causing confusions in the ranks of political activists and masses.
Number four; the pure myth of invincibility of our enemies which has been
propagated by the enemy with the help of collaborators within Baloch lines
should be exposed to our masses in a convincing manner. Pakistan is an
international basket case and it’s economy (if there is any) is being kept
alive artificially on the donations of Western Powers. All the
institutions which are considered to be the pillars on which the structure
of a state is erected are rotten and even the faith and trust of Punjabi
masses on the long term sustainability of state is evaporating. In all
practical purposes today’s Pakistan as a state is a house of cards and can
implode with a little pressure. The Persian State is also at the verge of
collapse for quite different reasons. The implosion of Persian State will
be caused by 25 years of economic, social and cultural mismanagement under
the fanatical rule of Ayattollahs. The imminent international economic
sanctions and military actions against Iran in near future will be the
last nails into the coffin of a rogue Persian Empire.
Historically speaking, there has been a persistent view among some
quarters of nearly all subjugated nations that it is too much for them to
resist the colossal invading might of the occupying forces, and that some
sort of adjustment with enemy should be arrived at. This is a mere phantom
projected through the fear-ridden shallow politicians, to intimidate the
people into accepting their line of capitulation. They carried within them
only the defeated hearts. Unfortunately, many a good-intentioned
nationalist workers among Baloch became the victims of this historical
phenomenon and the failure of grasping the actuality of the problem has
made many a well-intentioned nationalist workers turn opportunists. They
always overestimate the enemy in spite of its practical inability to crush
us in the past many years and they have failed to recognise that the issue
of national honour and dignity is not a contest of strength and weakness
but it is that of justice and injustice and upholding of our historical
right of resistance against the aggressive forces. This should be the
moral duty of United Fronts to expose and identify such individuals and
groups acting with façades of intellectualism and nationalist slogans and
creating pessimism and confusion among Baloch masses.
Number five; the role of international community in the furtherance of
national cause of subjugated nations in pivotal. In the contemporary
world, new dimensions are being witnessed in international affairs since
the fall of Soviet Union. It is imperative for a resistance movement to
understand the ground realities of international polity. The West’s
overwhelming threat perception from Islamic militancy and fundamentalism
are developing some sort of hope among the oppressed nationalities in
Islamic and fundamentalist states. On the international level a
polarization of forces has occurred. There are forces of fundamentalism,
and terrorism creating chaos and instability. There are forces which would
like the world to be a safe place for all humanity. Baloch must take side
in this conflict and it should be clearly and loudly be declared that
Baloch are on the side of the international forces fighting against
religious fundamentalism and international terrorism.
The new and apparently the final phase of Baloch resistance is taking
place in the context of a new world political milieu, in which the
fundamentalist and religious and rogue states are increasingly under
pressure from world community to reform their social, economic and
political systems. In this perspective, international pressure is highest
on the countries where Baloch are being subjugated as a nationality. In
near future the political and geographical situations in some of these
countries are bound to be drastically changed. Iran has been portrayed by
the West as the bastion of international terrorist activities and centre
of militant Islam. There is the wide spread belief among the political
observers on international affairs that a major strike by Western Powers
is on card against Pakistan after the castration and taming of Iranian
militancy. The destruction or demilitarization of Pakistani and Persian
state institutions and military apparatus is among the prime objectives of
Western alliance. This situation is a god given opportunity for the
Baloch. In the fight for national emancipation assistance from any quarter
must be sought and welcomed regardless of this assistance coming from
right or left, east or west, god or devil. It should be the moral duty of
every Baloch to exploit the prevailing international situation in the
favour of Baloch national resistance and contribute to the fulfilment of
the mission of emancipation. In this regard the people in Diaspora can
play an important role by convincing parliamentarians, political parties
and civil society in their respective countries in favour of Baloch cause.
The ideal of liberation of one’s people and land is noble and cherish-able
and worth fighting and dying for but at the same time it is highly
imperative for the Baloch to walk on the ground and work within the given
geo-strategic situation of the new world. National resistance is
successful but only when backed by firm resoluteness, clear ideology and
robust leadership. The defeat of a people is not always brought about by
the superiority of the adversary in strength but through incorrect
leadership and pursuit of unfounded policy. A people that fail to admit
the maxim that national victory is impossible without correct policy and
correct leadership is doomed to ultimate fiasco. Policy could be realistic
when it is based on the actual conditions of the people concerned and
their enemy, and the world in general. The favourable conditions for any
resistance movement are connected and interdependent. They are not created
by subjective and ideological activity only but also by the long hard
grind of resistance movement. The myth of invincibility of enemies should
be exposed and our minor weaknesses and deficiencies should not be allowed
to be used as a tool for defeatist and hypocritical elements within our
ranks to convince the people that actual phase for the struggle for
national rights should be put off because we have not achieved an adequate
level of preparation and organization. To realize our centuries-old dream
of national liberation we have to continue the struggle with all our
strength regardless of certain subjective inadequacies in the ranks of our
people, the leadership and organizational structures.
(The article with presented at the seminar on 28th of May, 2006 held at
London University under the auspices of Balochistan National Movement
(IRAN).
Source: Balochistan
National Movement
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