Pak claims India backing Baloch militant group

Rezaul H Laskar

Islamabad, Apr 22 (PTI) Pakistan Wednesday alleged that
India was backing the banned militant group Baloch Liberation
Army (BLA) for fuelling unrest in its southwestern Balochistan
province.

"The BLA was raised with funding from the Soviet Union
(during the Soviet-Afghan war) and it is now backed by India,"
Interior Ministry chief Rehman Malik said during a debate in
the Senate on the situation in Balochistan.
The BLA remained dormant after the Soviet-Afghan war but
was reactivated after the killing of Baloch national leader
Nawab Akbar Bugti, he said.

Malik claimed that Bugti's grandson Brahamdagh Bugti has
sought Indian and US support for independence of Balochistan.
Several nationalist groups demanding a greater say in
decision-making and exploitation of natural resources are
active in Balochistan. The under-developed province recently
witnessed widespread violence after three nationalist leaders
were kidnapped and murdered by unidentified persons.

Referring to Brahamdagh Bugti's recent interview to a
Pakistani TV channel, Malik said the Baloch nationalist leader
was asked if India was "involved in secret operations in
Balochistan" and whether it was sending funds to the province.
Malik quoted Bugti as replying: "We are not denying it.
We want somebody should support us. I am appealing through
your channel to the Indians, Americans and UN to support us.
We will welcome any support."

Malik also alleged that an Indian consulate in an Iranian
city bordering Balochistan was involved in subversive
activities.

At the same time, he hinted that Afghan authorities were
taking no action against Baloch nationalists living in that
country, including Brahamdagh Bugti.

"Brahamdag Bugti is living in Kabul only five houses away
from the palace of (Afghan President Hamid) Karzai," he
claimed.

The Afghan government has denied Bugti's presence in the
country though Islamabad has repeatedly raised the issue with
Kabul, he added.


Malik also claimed that the handlers of the persons who
recently kidnapped UNHCR official John Solecki from
Balochistan's capital Quetta were based in Kabul. This had
come to light through intercepts of phone conversations
between the kidnappers and their handlers.

Seven phone numbers traced by Pakistani authorities "led
to Brahamdag Bugti," he alleged.

Though the matter was taken up with the Afghan government
by Pakistan's Foreign Office, the US administration and the UN
Secretary General, Karzai had done little to help, he claimed.
Solecki was freed earlier this month after almost two
months in captivity. The little-known Balochistan Liberation
United Front had claimed responsibility for his abduction. PTI