The Baloch National Resistance: problems and prospects

Dr. Naseer Dashti

The happenings in Balochistan during the past few years have created an atmosphere of enthusiasm, determination, and a sense of immense patriotism among every Baloch inside Balochistan or in Diaspora. For many Baloch this new phase of Baloch resistance may be the beginning of the realization of Baloch dream of liberation and perhaps many among us may be fantasizing to become the citizen of an independent Balochistan in near future. But on the ground the situation may not be so simple. The present stage of Baloch Resistance is complex and it has many unresolved internal issues to be resolved and complex external dimensions to be taken in to consideration. Although, armed resistance has been intensified and there is a strong, committed and vocal political cadre in at least one part of Balochistan, it should be recognised that no struggle can be win arbitrarily, according to subjective whims and fancies without dealing with fundamental issues.

The foremost question which comes in to mind while discussing Baloch resistance to Pakistani and Iranian occupation is: what is the ultimate aim of Baloch resistance? The other questions which may draw the attention are: Who are the representatives of the Baloch masses? How the masses should be lead in the tortuous task of achieving the objective of national liberation? What will be the reaction of international community towards Baloch demand of national self-determination? The answers to these questions are important and at the same time it is also imperative to take into account the strength and weaknesses of our own and that of our enemies and the political and strategic development occurring in the whole region.

Beginning from the day of the capitulation of Kalat State in Eastern Balochistan and annexation of Baloch land in the west by Iran, Baloch masses have been expressing their voices in support of a sovereign, united and independent Balochistan. Various individual acts of heroism and generalized resistance movements in both parts of Baloch land during this long dark period of subjugation are the clear indication of the well of Baloch people. There has been readiness to respond to the strategy of armed struggle with all the enormous sacrifices which this involves. The dream of an independent homeland and desire to fight for the realization of that dream has been and is the undisputed and universal phenomenon among Baloch.

The question of a genuine leadership representing the well of Baloch people has been resolved in the Eastern Balochistan by the immense sacrifices and relentless struggle of the known Baloch leaders during the past many decades. No body is in doubt that who is speaking on behalf of Baloch people and who is fighting and organizing the political and armed resistance in that part of Balochistan. There is a visible existence of a political leadership capable of gaining the organized allegiance of the people for armed struggle and which has both the experience and the ability to carry out the painstaking process of planning, preparation and overall conduct of the operations. Nevertheless; the situation in Pakistani occupied Balochistan can not be fully described as satisfactory in terms of a clear line of action among different national figures and unity among various political organizations.

The state of affairs in Western Balochistan is quite unsatisfactory regarding political organization and leadership issues. But one should not blame the Baloch masses and political cadre in Iran occupied Balochistan for their inability to produce credible and universally acceptable leadership to lead a resistance movement. The way Baloch have been treated in Iran is unprecedented in the history of subjugation of one nation by another in the contemporary world. The division of Baloch population in more than four regions, the zero tolerance approach towards formation of any Baloch political or social organization to unite the masses, and ruthless prosecution of political activists by subsequent Iranian regimes and the inherent backwardness and illiteracy can be cited as the factors causing the past and present scenarios of political and social anarchy and disorganization in that part of Baloch land.

On the face of it, the over all Baloch political situations on both sides of Goldsmid line, to be honest, are not up to the marks. But there is nothing to be disappointed or to be demoralized. There have been deficiencies in the resistance movements in their earlier phases throughout the world. The successful resistance movements were able to overcome their deficiencies by dealing and thinking in a scientific and logical way. Baloch can definitely overcome the shortcomings in their complex political and social situations. This can be done by taking into consideration the prevailing ground realities and the harsh facts of not only their own circumstances but the experiences of resistance movements in the other parts of the world and the power and tactics of the occupying countries.

It is imperative for the masses, political activists, intellectuals and the honest leadership in both parts of Balochistan to acknowledge the need of the hour to take drastic measures in order to challenge the enemy in a strong position. Logical measures are necessary to streamline the resistance movement in a more meaningful way, to make possible for increasing participation of masses in the formulation of the future resistance strategies and to give impetus to the greater political mobilization of Baloch masses. In this regard, in my view the following issues should be dealt immediately, transparently and without any personal bias by our leadership in consultation with political and intellectual cadres.

Number one; the United Fronts of all resistance movements and political organizations, groups and individuals should be formed with out wasting any time for the completion of formalities on both sides of Goldsmid line. The political and armed resistance should be controlled by the leadership of the united front as well as the propaganda machinery on both internal and external front. The form of struggle should be seen as part of a series of changing processes or forms which may be decided according to the given situation. What ever be the mode of struggle at the moment, the United Front should be of the conviction that both political and economic powers are inalienable rights of the people of Balochistan. Its mission therefore should be to contribute to the task of total political and economic liberation of Balochistan.

Number two; there should not be any ambiguity regarding the ultimate goal of Baloch resistance. The aims and objective of the resistance movement should be loud, clear and understandable not only to the general public, but to the occupying establishments and to the wider international community. Wavering between the rhetoric of mastering the natural resources of Baloch, maximum provincial autonomy or federalism is creating confusion and a condition of uncertainty among the Baloch masses and international community about the real targets of Baloch resistance. The Baloch masses must be given a clear target and that should be the right of self determination for Baloch people on both sides of Goldsmid line. The fear of ruthless rebuttal from Iran and Pakistan should not be presented as the logic for not pronouncing the ultimate aim of the nation for a united independent Balochistan. The sky will not come down further on the shoulders of Baloch leadership, political cadres and organizations; it is already there with its full weight. The Baloch land is already drenched with the blood of political activists and innocent women and children. Baloch will lose nothing except what they have lost earlier.

Number three; there comes a time in the life of every nation to take some unpleasant steps in order to safeguard the collective political and social well being of the nation. This time has arrived for Baloch nation. Visible lines should be drawn which should enable Baloch people to choose between supporting occupying forces (directly or indirectly) and their own resistance movement. Hypocrites and persons and organizations of dubious characters should be exposed and be politically and socially isolated. Today, the question of the United Front of nationalists should not be to win over the support of the established collaborators and opportunist leadership and their political organizations; rather it should concern the unity of the genuine nationalists themselves. Baloch United Fronts should struggle against the opportunist ideas, and the groups who are claiming to be nationalist while justifying capitulation and surrender at the same time causing confusions in the ranks of political activists and masses.

Number four; the pure myth of invincibility of our enemies which has been propagated by the enemy with the help of collaborators within Baloch lines should be exposed to our masses in a convincing manner. Pakistan is an international basket case and it’s economy (if there is any) is being kept alive artificially on the donations of Western Powers. All the institutions which are considered to be the pillars on which the structure of a state is erected are rotten and even the faith and trust of Punjabi masses on the long term sustainability of state is evaporating. In all practical purposes today’s Pakistan as a state is a house of cards and can implode with a little pressure. The Persian State is also at the verge of collapse for quite different reasons. The implosion of Persian State will be caused by 25 years of economic, social and cultural mismanagement under the fanatical rule of Ayattollahs. The imminent international economic sanctions and military actions against Iran in near future will be the last nails into the coffin of a rogue Persian Empire.

Historically speaking, there has been a persistent view among some quarters of nearly all subjugated nations that it is too much for them to resist the colossal invading might of the occupying forces, and that some sort of adjustment with enemy should be arrived at. This is a mere phantom projected through the fear-ridden shallow politicians, to intimidate the people into accepting their line of capitulation. They carried within them only the defeated hearts. Unfortunately, many a good-intentioned nationalist workers among Baloch became the victims of this historical phenomenon and the failure of grasping the actuality of the problem has made many a well-intentioned nationalist workers turn opportunists. They always overestimate the enemy in spite of its practical inability to crush us in the past many years and they have failed to recognise that the issue of national honour and dignity is not a contest of strength and weakness but it is that of justice and injustice and upholding of our historical right of resistance against the aggressive forces. This should be the moral duty of United Fronts to expose and identify such individuals and groups acting with façades of intellectualism and nationalist slogans and creating pessimism and confusion among Baloch masses.

Number five; the role of international community in the furtherance of national cause of subjugated nations in pivotal. In the contemporary world, new dimensions are being witnessed in international affairs since the fall of Soviet Union. It is imperative for a resistance movement to understand the ground realities of international polity. The West’s overwhelming threat perception from Islamic militancy and fundamentalism are developing some sort of hope among the oppressed nationalities in Islamic and fundamentalist states. On the international level a polarization of forces has occurred. There are forces of fundamentalism, and terrorism creating chaos and instability. There are forces which would like the world to be a safe place for all humanity. Baloch must take side in this conflict and it should be clearly and loudly be declared that Baloch are on the side of the international forces fighting against religious fundamentalism and international terrorism.

The new and apparently the final phase of Baloch resistance is taking place in the context of a new world political milieu, in which the fundamentalist and religious and rogue states are increasingly under pressure from world community to reform their social, economic and political systems. In this perspective, international pressure is highest on the countries where Baloch are being subjugated as a nationality. In near future the political and geographical situations in some of these countries are bound to be drastically changed. Iran has been portrayed by the West as the bastion of international terrorist activities and centre of militant Islam. There is the wide spread belief among the political observers on international affairs that a major strike by Western Powers is on card against Pakistan after the castration and taming of Iranian militancy. The destruction or demilitarization of Pakistani and Persian state institutions and military apparatus is among the prime objectives of Western alliance. This situation is a god given opportunity for the Baloch. In the fight for national emancipation assistance from any quarter must be sought and welcomed regardless of this assistance coming from right or left, east or west, god or devil. It should be the moral duty of every Baloch to exploit the prevailing international situation in the favour of Baloch national resistance and contribute to the fulfilment of the mission of emancipation. In this regard the people in Diaspora can play an important role by convincing parliamentarians, political parties and civil society in their respective countries in favour of Baloch cause.

The ideal of liberation of one’s people and land is noble and cherish-able and worth fighting and dying for but at the same time it is highly imperative for the Baloch to walk on the ground and work within the given geo-strategic situation of the new world. National resistance is successful but only when backed by firm resoluteness, clear ideology and robust leadership. The defeat of a people is not always brought about by the superiority of the adversary in strength but through incorrect leadership and pursuit of unfounded policy. A people that fail to admit the maxim that national victory is impossible without correct policy and correct leadership is doomed to ultimate fiasco. Policy could be realistic when it is based on the actual conditions of the people concerned and their enemy, and the world in general. The favourable conditions for any resistance movement are connected and interdependent. They are not created by subjective and ideological activity only but also by the long hard grind of resistance movement. The myth of invincibility of enemies should be exposed and our minor weaknesses and deficiencies should not be allowed to be used as a tool for defeatist and hypocritical elements within our ranks to convince the people that actual phase for the struggle for national rights should be put off because we have not achieved an adequate level of preparation and organization. To realize our centuries-old dream of national liberation we have to continue the struggle with all our strength regardless of certain subjective inadequacies in the ranks of our people, the leadership and organizational structures.

(The article with presented at the seminar on 28^th of May, 2006 held at London University under the auspices of Balochistan National Movement (IRAN).