Over a hundred pro-separatist Baluch militants fighting against Pakistani forces in southwestern Baluchistan province have surrendered yesterday, officials said.
These militants, who fought for a separate Baluchistan, were from different parties such as Baluch Republican Army (BRA), Baluch National Movement (BNM), and Lashkare-e-Baluchistan (Army of Baluchistan).
We were trapped by our leaders who said they are fighting for the rights of Baluchs, but later we realised that they were enjoying their lives abroad and had pushed us and our families to a war here.
-Obaidullah alias Babrak, Commander, Lashkar-e-Baluchistan
59 militants, including two key commanders, appeared before the media to announce they would end militant activities and become a “useful part” of society.
These people were in fact misled by the anti-state elements who are being funded by foreign spy agencies. They have now pledged to lead a good life as true Pakistanis.
-Sanaullah Zehri, Minister, Baluchistan
They followed the lead of 47 militants who did the same yesterday.
The appearances were in presence of senior politicians and government officials. All the militants were given amnesty by the government.
Pakistan’s Less Known War for Baluchistan
Apart from being testing ground for Pakistan’s nuclear weapons in 1998, Balochistan has been home to al-Qaeda’s leadership council, ‘Quetta Shura’, according a 2013 report in AlJazeera.
Baluch inhabitants, roughly seven million, demanding more autonomy and control over gas and mineral resources, which the province is naturally rich in, have frequently targeted security forces and police for years.
The Baloch separatists claim that the province is being exploited for its resources but never given enough in return in terms of infrastructure, education, medical and health facilities or returns from the gas and minerals.
Pakistan’s largest province - which borders Iran and Afghanistan - is also riven by sectarian strife and Islamist violence.
The numbers of ‘disappearance’ of people who support the separation of Balochistan are alarming.
Violation of human rights as a part of what the Baloch people call as the ‘Kill and Dump’ policy of the Pakistan forces is not the fight that is known to the other parts of the world.
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