’We do not believe in Pakistan ideology’
Kaustav Chakraborti
19 November 2009
ORF recently conducted online interviews with Dr. Wahid Baloch, President of the Baloch Society of North America (BSO-NA) and Mr. Munir Mengal, Managing Director of Baloch Voice, France. They answered questions related to their political objectives and their response to the soon to be unveiled reconciliation package, among other issues.
What will be your stand on Pakistan agreeing to a unilateral ceasefire and unconditional peace talks?
If Pakistan agrees to unilateral ceasefire, withdraw its forces from Balochistan, bring to justice those who have committed crimes against Baloch people, pay compensation to thousands Baloch people who have lost their lives and have suffered in the hands of Pakistani military and restore our pre-Partition status as an independent state, we will agree to talk and negotiate with Pakistan.
Baloch Liberation United Front (BLUF) is increasingly carrying out attacks that could be termed as terrorism. The abduction of UNCHR official John Solecki, assassinations of educators and pro-Islamabad tribal leaders all point to the same.
We strongly condemn all acts of target killings and terrorism in Balochistan. We were the first one who condemned the kidnapping of UNCHR official John Solecki. The Baloch struggle has nothing to do with these kinds of activities. Almost all Baloch political parties have condemned these activities and target killings. We do not believe in any violent struggle nor do we support violence and terrorism in its any form or shape.
Pakistan has accused India of aiding Baloch rebels groups from Afghanistan. What are your views?
We have not seen any help from India. Instead, Pakistan needs to come out clean and tell the world what it has done for the last 62 years in Balochistan. We have not seen anything but killing of our elders and leaders, students and tortures, disappearances, bombardments and loot and plunder of our natural resources.
What is the role of the Baloch diaspora in sustaining the movement in Balochistan?
I think Baloch Diaspora, with its limited resources, is playing a very effective and important role in highlighting the plights of Baloch people to the international community.
You have been campaigning for the ?cause of Balochistan? for many years. What is your agenda?
We were neither the creators of Pakistan nor do we believe in the Ideology of Pakistan. The Baloch history and identity goes back thousands of years and has developed through a natural civilizational process, unlike that of Pakistan which was artificially created. The Balochistan issue is not merely an issue of land or resources. We [Baloch] have our own language, culture, customs, religious beliefs and we have our own land of Balochistan and we were its sovereign rulers for thousands of years. Therefore our ultimate agenda is to achieve Baloch national sovereignty and ideology.
|
|
| |
|