We are the richest in terms of mineral resources and the poorest in terms of economic well-being,’ said Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani.
KARACHI: Unrest in Balochistan could seriously dent the government’s operation against the Taliban and its economy as well, a report in the Financial Times said.
According to the report, the insurgency in Balochistan could distract security forces from tackling the Taliban along the lawless Afghan border and in Swat.
Separatists are targeting important buildings and other strategic installations in the region and have asked outsiders to leave as soon as possible, FT says.
‘They are openly telling the Punjabis, ‘leave while you can.’ While everyone is worried about Swat, Balochistan is getting out of control,’ a senior provincial security official said.
Balochis has long been demanding a share in the revenue earned by the government from selling natural gas obtained from gas reserves situated in the province.
‘We are the richest in terms of mineral resources and the poorest in terms of economic well-being,’ said Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani.
Political leaders are also of the view that Balochistan should be given its due share in the revenue.
‘All the proceeds from the gas have to come to Balochistan,’ said Balochistan National Party chief Abdul Malik Baloch.
Malik said the government must withdraw armed forces from the region to earn support and trust of the local people.
‘Military should be withdrawn from the province as part of a necessary reconciliation process that must begin to address ways of overcoming the anger in Balochistan,’ he said.
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/d ... ling-out-of-control-qs-16
Baloch unrest could impede drive against Taliban
* Security official says while everyone is worried about Swat, Balochistan is getting out of control
* BNP president favours withdrawing military from province
Daily Times Monitor
LAHORE: Bomb blasts in Balochistan that killed one person and injured another 10 on Friday were a grim reminder that Swat is by no means the only security threat the government faces, a Financial Times report says.
The unrest has prompted China to suspend plans to build Pakistan’s largest oil refinery in Gwadar.
A low-intensity militancy has gone on for decades. But the violence now appears to be at its most intense since the early 1970s and threatens to distract security forces from tackling Taliban fighters along the Afghan border. The blasts, which destroyed a power transmission line, coincided with Independence Day celebrations.
The militants have carried out a number of attacks on the troops since the 2006 death of Nawab Akbar Bugti, then the most vocal tribal leader.
Settlers from other parts of Pakistan, especially Punjab, have been given deadlines to leave. “It is a very grim situation and in many respects is deteriorating,” a senior provincial security official told the paper.
Out of control: “[The separatists] are openly telling the Punjabis, ‘Leave while you can.’ While everyone is worried about Swat, Balochistan is getting out of control,” he said.
A college professor, who teaches Pakistan Studies, said he had received death threats.
Since the country’s largest natural gas reserves were discovered in the province four decades ago, the Baloch have repeatedly criticised Islamabad for failing to give the province its share of gas royalties. “We are the richest [in terms of mineral resources] but also the poorest [in terms of economic well-being],” Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani told Financial Times.
Withdrawal: Abdul Malik Baloch, president of the Balochistan National Party, said, “All the proceeds from the gas have to come to Balochistan.” He also favoured withdrawal of the military from the province “as part of a necessary reconciliation process that must begin to address ways of overcoming the anger in Balochistan”.
The nationalists are also demanding the release of “hundreds of disappeared” colleagues believed to be in the custody of the security agencies.
“There is a widespread feeling that Balochistan has been badly suppressed. Conciliatory steps such as ending the military’s presence and addressing the issue of the disappeared will only be enough to lay the course for reconciliation,” Malik was quoted as saying. “But then, there has to be reconciliation.”
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default. ... 816story_16-8-2009_pg7_12
No comments:
Post a Comment