Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) is one of the oldest and sizeable Baloch armed separatist groups frequently carrying out armed attacks against Pakistani forces and government installations in Pakistan's restive province of Balochistan. Recently BLF has intensified its attacks against the government forces and China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Islamabad's dream Economic project. In an exclusive interview from an undisclosed location in Balochistan given to Manish Rai, Major Gwahram Baloch, Spokesperson of BLF, said that Balochistan Liberation Front ultimate goal is to get rid of Pakistan's Forcible occupation and colonial rule. Excerpts:
What will be the future course of action for the armed struggle?
The course of action of any organisation takes shape according to the requirements of the given situation. So, it will be formed as the circumstances and conditions needed to achieve our national goal- the Independence of Balochistan.
If the Pakistan government is willing to grant more autonomy to Balochistan, is there any possibility that BLF can consider giving up the armed struggle?
No, our struggle isn't for begging a big share from Pakistan in our national resources. Instead, our battle is for getting rid of Pakistan's forcible occupation and exploitation. BLF will never compromise the national sovereignty and identity of the Baloch nation.
How do you see the recent mass protests in Gwadar and other areas of Balochistan?
The mass protests in Gwadar or elsewhere in the occupied Balochistan are manifestations of the fact that the Baloch people are wary of Pakistan's colonial rule, its plundering of their national resources, and the inhumane and savage behaviour of the occupying forces.
It's often said that the Pakistan ruling class is exploiting Balochistan's abundant natural resources, but the region was always neglected. What do you think how can this be corrected?
This can only be corrected by the Independence of Balochistan. We don't consider any other way to fix it because plundering the natural resources of the subjugated nations and keeping the people thereof backwards is an inherent characteristic of colonialism.
'Afghanistan is a border-sharing neighbour of occupied Balochistan and has usually been a friendly place of refuge for Baloch nationalists in hard times. However, Baloch independence movement doesn't depend on the political situation in Afghanistan'
If Pakistani forces stopped all military operations in Balochistan, then BLF can consider any sort of ceasefire in the near future?
We make policy on factual grounds, not on any hypothesis. Suppose such an incident happens in the future. In that case, BLF will make its policy while considering the causes of such a decision, the enemy's intention behind it, and its impacts on the Baloch cause- the independence of Balochistan.
Balochistan, and in particular, Gwadar, is at the core of China's CPEC project. Do you think CPEC will bring any prosperity to the region?
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will not bring any prosperity to the Baloch nation and the region. Instead, it will only enhance the exploitation of the resources of occupied Balochistan. It will facilitate Pakistan to accelerate the land grabbing and the process of forced displacement, elimination, and assimilation of the Baloch population of Balochistan's coastal strip, particularly the Gwadar. CPEC will also sharpen the rivalry between China, the regional and international powers for military and economic domination in the region, rendering Balochistan a battleground for their interests.
'CPEC will not bring any prosperity to the Baloch nation and the region. Instead, it will only enhance the exploitation of the resources of occupied Balochistan. It will facilitate Pakistan to accelerate the land grabbing and the process of forced displacement, elimination, and assimilation of the Baloch population of Balochistan's coastal strip, particularly the Gwadar'
Do all the Baloch armed groups are united in their struggle?
Seemingly, all the armed Baloch Organisations are on the same page for the independence of Balochistan. However, some of them have formed a formal alliance with BLF that is known as BRAS. Some organisations still are out of BRAS.
With the Taliban in power in Afghanistan. How do you see its effect on the Baloch cause?
Though, Afghanistan is a border-sharing neighbour of occupied Balochistan and has usually been a friendly place of refuge for Baloch nationalists in hard times. However, Baloch independence movement doesn't depend on the political situation in Afghanistan. Recent changes in Afghanistan will surely have their effects on the situation in the whole region, including the Baloch freedom movement but not necessarily negative impacts.
'The Human Rights groups should highlight the issue of enforced disappearances in occupied Balochistan, mobilise the masses in the democratic world and thereby build moral pressure on the Governments, UNO, and the great powers to take action against Pakistan for enforced disappearances and other war crimes'
Baluchistan sees the most cases of the enforced disappearance of Baloch activists. How do you think the Democratic world and human rights groups should take this issue?
No doubt, thousands of Balochs from all walks of life, especially political activists and students, have gone missing at the hands of Pakistan's military, paramilitary forces, and intelligence agencies. The number of missing persons is increasing day by day. Pakistan as a state is responsible for the crimes of enforced disappearances because all state pillars, either directly or indirectly, are supporting enforced disappearances. The enforced disappearance is being used to terrorise the Baloch people, get their voices silent, and suppress the Baloch freedom movement. The Pakistan Army, in addition to enforced disappearances, is also using extrajudicially killings, bombing and blazing the remote mountainous villages, slaughtering and plundering of the herds of people, snatching their valuables as policy. The Democratic world should take this issue in the UNO and other international forums, impose economic, monetary, and military sanctions on Pakistan. The Human rights groups should highlight the issue of enforced disappearances in occupied Balochistan, mobilise the masses in the democratic world and thereby build moral pressure on the Governments, UNO, and the great powers to take action against Pakistan for enforced disappearances and other war crimes.
(Manish Rai is a columnist for the Middle East and Af-Pak region; Editor of a geo-political news agency Views Around)
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