What should Pakistan do

(a) The positive and encouraging aspect of the Balochistan problem is that with the exception of three hostile sardars all the rest, 72 of them, are patriotic and cooperative. Their people should be accessed directly. Political process should be encouraged in a big way so that the inward looking tribal activities are transformed into open. wider and out ward looking activities of national kind. In short political process should eventually break the despotic powers of the sardars. (b) A network of educational institutions should be established in major parts of the province. An unlimited number of scholarships should be offered to admit tribal students in institutions of repute in the other provinces. As those tribes start making big strides in education and the whole world of opportunities dawns upon them the Bugtis, the Mengals and the Marris will soon be isolated as illiterate, primitive, ignorant bu9ch of humanity. Their people will be prompted to demand education and when such demand is voiced from every where the sardars Will have no option but to listen to it. In a well educated environment the sardars will become something of aliens. Such education should be administered absolutely free of cost. (c) The entire province should be dotted with television stations and boosters which should not only counter anti-Pakistan propaganda being spread by BLR, India and other foreign elements who wish to destabilize Balochistan, but it will also offer concrete opportunities to the people to involve them in the small, medium and mega projects so that they become trained skilled manpower. They should be convinced to the core of their hearts that construction of infra-structure in the form of roads, communication, industrial activity. mining prospecting is entirely for their benefit. (d)The print media will take time to get established. With the spread of education the demand for newspapers, magazines and all kind of reading materials will be created and Balochistan’s own press will become a force to reckon with? Meanwhile national newspapers from all over the country should be freely circulated among the people. (e)However, as a short term measure, nothing should be spared to alleviate immediate problems of the Baloch and every thing should be done to remove his sense of deprivation. The award of National Finance Commission should finally settle the issue and remove the grievances of the people. (f) A recent report on Balochistan submitted by a panel detailed by the government has recommended the recognition of Baloch employment rights, payment of royalty on gas within a fixed period and a well deserved 9 billion rupee financial package for Gwadar, Sibi and Quetta. Besides. funding for the ongoing mega projects should continue. These include Gwadar ports second phase, the coastal highway of Mirani Dam and the copper and zinc mining projects. This cash flow will directly benefit the common man. In case of Gwadar the first preference will go to the locals, next to the people of Makran and then to those from other parts of the province. The headquarters of the Gwadar Port Authority will be shifted from Karachi to the port itself. (g)Security on the borders should be tightened to stop smuggling of arms and ammunition by the miscreants. Whatever has already been smuggled should he identified and expounded. No mercy should he shown to the anti-state terrorists and the agents f other powers whose sole aim is to put an end to the strategic advantages being gained h’ Pakistan in this important region. Indian intelligence agency RAW is reported to be runi.in as many as 40 training camps to train terrorists to destabilize the province. These Camps should he destroyed by air and ground action.

The most difficult situation that has arisen as a result of China’s initiative to build Gwadar port has involved the US, India, Iran, Afghanistan, Russia and Central Asian Republics, in a chess 2ame of power politics. It is a decisive test of Pakistan’s successful aggressive diplomacy. It will x interesting to watch how it keeps all involved players in their respective places and steers clear f its difficult predicament. Its national objective is to keep China on its right side arid let the project of Gwadar go ahead unhindered and not be influenced by the pressure exerted by any power   which may Pak-China relationships.