The incident of Hijacking the Jafar Express train by the Liberation Army in Balochistan has once again renewed the memories of the long -standing struggles between the Baloch people and the Pakistani rule. This attack by Bla fighters and hijack is the result of the continuous demand for freedom of Baloch. This fight is also the result of historical complaints, ethnic tensions, socio-economic inequalities and state sponsored suppression, which has been going on since the establishment of Pakistan in 1947.
Balochistan dispute The roots of India are associated with the partition of India in 1947 and then Pakistan’s Balochistan. Baloch people are an ethnic communities spread over Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan and this community is known for their cultural, regional and linguistic identity. These people have been marginalized in their respective areas for a long time and have been feeling oppressed for a long time.
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Also read: Sensation in Balochistan: BLA kidnaps 450 passengers train
Balochs have made several revolts against the Pakistani State since 1948, 1958–59, 1973-77 and 2004. These rebellions were especially opposed to many issues including economic harassment, political margins and cultural discrimination.
Pakistan forcibly merged for fear of India’s influence!
In 1947, when Pakistan separated from India and announced its independence, Khan of the then ruler of Balochistan also announced independence as a separate country. For example, like the Kashmir state of India, the rulers of Balochistan also wanted to establish their province as an independent country, but the Pakistani rule for fear of India’s influence… not to send the army anywhere, sent their army to Balochistan.
However, Baloch separatism then became an ideological movement, and Pakistan strategically captured Balochistan in March 1948 for fear of Indian influence. Baloch people strongly opposed Pakistani rule against this occupation done with the help of military force. It is from here that a dispute started, which has become a violent struggle today, where bomb blasts, suicide attacks and such hijacking cases keep coming up.
The people of Balochistan have revolted several times against Pakistani rule, each of which took place on historical complaints, economic exploitation and political margins. The situation has worsened due to the action of Pakistani rule to demand and sideline the Baloch people.
Pakistan’s Hypernationalism and Baloch community
The ethnic identity of Baloch is completely opposite to the hypernationalism or hypertension, which the Pakistani rule strictly tries to implement it. Baloch people with their own separate language, culture and traditions have long opposed assimilating in Punjabi-dominated Pakistani culture. This has created a feeling of separation and marginalized in Baloch, which feel that their identity and rights are not recognized or respected by Pakistani rule.
On the other hand, the Pakistani government considers many of the Baloch nationalist groups as “terrorists”, where the demand for any protest or reform is suppressed with the help of military force. The result of this is that the condition of human rights in Balochistan has become pathetic. For example, Baloch often accuses the Pakistani army of judicial killing, forcibly disappearing and torture.
Socio-economic inequalities and exploitation of resources
Balochistan is the largest and lowest population province in Pakistan, yet it is one of the poorest and most backward regions in the country. The province is rich in natural resources, including natural gas, coal, copper and other minerals, and Pakistani rule often excavates and drilling here, which is opposed by Liberation Army and other armed groups.
For example, despite being rich in natural resources, the poverty and difficulties of Baloch people are not getting reduced. For example, the construction of Chinese funded Gwadar Mega-Port has further increased the crisis. Although this port is strategically important for Pakistan, Baloch people are out of its development process despite being in Balochistan. Illegal sales of land around Gwadar have also been sold, which accused the Pakistani rule that huge profits are being made at the cost of the local Baloch population.
Why is separatism in Balochistan?
In response to the suppression of Pakistani rule, many Baloch separatist groups have emerged in the last few years, which have been carrying out political violence against the Pakistani army. The target of these groups, including the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), is to achieve more autonomy or complete freedom for Balochistan.
Also read: Big terrorist attack in Pakistan: Baloch Liberation Army kidnapped a train full of 120 passengers
Especially the BLA and other armed groups of Baloch have been campaigning against the Government of Pakistan for decades, in which Balochistan’s rich gas and mineral reserves are alleged to be incorrectly grabbing. These groups have also attacked many times on Pakistani security forces, government officials and Chinese workers involved in CPEC projects.
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a multi-billion dollar project, and is one of the main reasons for the struggle in Balochistan in recent years, while the Pakistani government describes CPEC as a game-scenger for the country’s economy, Baloch people see it as a means of exploiting their resources and pushing them more.
Due to these projects, a large number of people of the community have been displaced, the area has been militarized and a large number of Chinese workers are living, due to which the anger of the Baloch against the Pakistani rule has increased. BLA and other Baloch separatist groups have rapidly targeted Chinese gas and other projects in Pakistan as well as Chinese workers. The purpose of these attacks is to ban CPEC and give a message to China that there will be strong opposition to its participation in Balochistan.
Despite the seriousness of the human rights situation in Balochistan, the struggle at the international level is ignored to a large extent. Social workers and politicians have accused the Government of Pakistan of massacre in this area, but no special attention or action has been taken on these allegations at the international level. For example, it will now be seen that after the recent train hijacking, what attitude Pakistani rule takes.
