Balochistan crisis:

Ongoing crisis in Balochistan is presenting the glimpse of East Pakistan

Causes:
1: Ongoing insurgency:
 The central government and Bloch groups entered into a ceasefire in 2008. However,
military broke the ceasefire since they felt that talks were not meaningful
 Marri, Bughti and Mengal tribes are at the forefront of Bloch insurgency. Killing of Bughti
has given a new lease of life to Baloch militancy.
 Bloch Liberation Army (BLA) & Bloch Liberation Front (BLF) are indigenous(native)
group. Pipelines, Railway and govt infrastructure are being attacked.

2: Military operations:
 5 military operations have been launched; while , fifth military operation was conducted
during Musharraf regime. Aftermath of Military operation….
o Arrested of 4,000 political leaders.
o Disappearance of 450 political activists.
o 140,000 people had been displaced
o Killing of large no of people
o Voices have been stifled by gun machines.

3: poverty and Illiteracy:

 63% people are living below poverty line and illiteracy rate is 18%
 53% children are compelled to get religious education.

4: Exploitation of natural resources:

Produce 40% of country’s natural gas and has estimate of

 19 trillion cubic feet of gas

 6 trillion barrels of oil

Federal govt earns 95 billion and returns 6 billion

Reko Diq
 ‘Below the sands lie some 12.3 million tons of copper and 20.9 million ounces of gold.
The copper-gold deposits at Reko Diq are believed to be even bigger than those of
Sarcheshmeh in Iran and Escondida in Chile’.
 A Canadian and Chilean company Tethyan Copper Company (TCC) was given the
licence for exploring copper, gold and other base metals in EL-5 area, by the government
of Balochistan. Under the agreement, 75 per cent shares were given to TCC and 25 per
cent to the Balochistan Development Authority (BDA)
 The mind-boggling question is why 75% of reserves are being given to get 25% back after
investing 25% in (EL-5) project?
  BHP, the world’s leading copper mining company, which had been given a mining lease
for discovery of gold and copper reserves in Reko Diq in 1993. After 20 years Supreme
Court held it void ab initio.

5: Religious extremism:
 For centuries, the Bloch tribe adheres to Islam, but in 1980 the provincial proximity with
Afghanistan and its substantial pushtun population turned Balochistan in hub of jihad.
 At the same time, the Iranian revolution elicited a strong sunni response in Pakistan and
Balochistan. Iran border gained strategic significance in this context.

6: Infringement of fundamental rights:

 Art (9) of Constitution : no person shall be deprived of life and liberty.
 Art(10) of Constitution: a person shall be entitled to a fair trial and process
 Issue of missing person

7: Lack of political will:

 Economy had never been sole problem. If economy had been a problem then Balochistan
package would have certainly yielded some positive result.

8: Foreign intrusion:
 Passing of resolution by US that Balochistan has right of self-determination is an
intrusion in national affairs and sab on its sovereignty.