Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared support for the struggle of the Balochi people during his Independence Day speech.  Since then, the Modi government has been actively supporting the cause of the Balochistan people in Pakistan.  What is the CPI(M)’s understanding on the issue?

Piyush Kumar, Delhi

BALOCHISTAN is a resource-rich province of Pakistan which borders Afghanistan and Iran.  There has been, over the decades, spurts of insurgency for seeking a separate status for Balochistan with some forces demanding independence. 

At different points of time, the armed insurgency has been put down by the forces of the Pakistani army.  Successive governments have resorted to heavy handed methods of suppressing the Balochi dissidents which has involved large-scale violation of human rights too.  Balochistan has seen an influx of people from Afghanistan after the years of protracted conflict in that country. This has also brought about a significant demographic change in the province.  The jihadi extremist forces are operating in the province and committed various terrorist attacks.  The army is conducting operations against these groups.  It should also be noted that the Taliban Shura, which was headed by Mullah Omar earlier, is also based in Quetta, the capital of the province.  Obviously, they have been able to stay there with the protection of the Pakistani regime.

Having said this, it should be noted that at no time has India questioned the fact that Balochistan is a part of Pakistan.  Neither is there international recognition for any claim that Balochistan is a separate entity from Pakistan. 

Prime Minister Modi raised the question of human rights violations in Balochistan and support for the people of Balochistan in response to Pakistan making Kashmir a central issue during its Independence Day celebrations on August 14.  This tit for tact policy is shortsighted and will prove counterproductive.  Prime Minister Modi studiously ignored speaking about the mass unrest in Kashmir in his Independence Day address.  The brutal police repression on the people’s movement had already caused a large number of casualties including the blinding of young boys and girls.  To use human rights in Balochistan as a counter on such an occasion had no credibility.

Firstly, it undermines the position taken by the Indian government that Kashmir is an internal issue of India.  By raising the Balochistan issue, Pakistan has got the pretext to claim that India is interfering in its internal affairs.

Secondly, the BJP-RSS combine is advocating support to the Balochistani independence movement.  The separatist Balochi leaders-in-exile are being invited by the RSS think tanks and their cause is being promoted.

Thirdly, any support to the Balochistani separatist claim will cause alarm in the neighbouring countries of Iran and Afghanistan as they are enmeshed in the problem of extremists and insurgents operating across their borders. 

The CPI(M) condemns the repression and human rights violations in Balochistan. It calls for a democratic solution to the Balochistani national question within the framework of Pakistan.  While doing so, it demarcates from and opposes the Modi government’s opportunistic and provocative tactics vis-à-vis the Balochistan issue.