While Balochistan continues to burn, it seems everyone has an opinion on the root cause of the conflict. Now the commander of the United Jihad Council, Syed Salahuddin, has charged that the real target of the war on terror is not Afghanistan but Pakistan. From the platform of his organisation, largely active in Kashmir, he voiced concern that like Kashmir, India was working to separate Balochistan from Pakistan.
The commander is voicing views which have already been presented by the Interior Minister, who presented a dossier of proof to his counterpart several months ago. Camera sessions continue to leak with tales of foreign interference and ulterior motives. Even the Supreme Court’s committee stated that foreign involvement was a factor in the distress of the province. While such allegations are repeatedly made in every possible forum and backed by powerful and influential governmental figures, conclusive proof to stem this interference or which rewards the efforts expended with success has remained woefully unavailable. Meanwhile, as a province sharing a border with war torn Afghanistan, it is natural that Balochistan is in the eye of the storm. However, reports of sectarian strife, law enforcing agencies overstepping their bounds, financial interest intricately bound in feudal and administrative corruption cannot be ignored. The SC is correct in stating that Balochistan reflects a constitutional breakdown and a total failure of the state to protect life, land and property of it citizens. How many more times must one implore the government to open its eyes and act decisively?
