The unrest in the strip straddling the Durand Line is relatively new compared to that in Balochistan. Though the former has been the focus of attention lately, Baloch issues remain the festering wound that continues to bleed Pakistan. The province shot back into the spotlight this month when three popular Baloch nationalist leaders were found dead after they went missing. The issue heated up further this week when a parliamentarian compared the state’s attitude towards the Baloch with that of the pre-1971 Bengali. The reason why this topic should interest India is because this week, Pakistan has for the first time leveled serious allegations at India for being the germ of the strife in Balochistan. Over the week, all news items relating to the matter were front page displays. The News on April 22 reported senior PPP member Senator Raza Rabbani telling the Senate in a debate on the Balochistan issue that “a new phenomenon of Anglo-Bharat imperialism was emerging in the region and Pakistan was being made to play a subservient role. The role the US had given to Shah of Iran is now being assigned to India.” Interior Advisor Rehman Malik, also participating in the debate, contributed with observations that helped his office. Daily Times on April 23 reported his views: “Winding up debate in the Senate on the unrest in Balochistan, Rehman said ‘some hostile agencies’ were hatching conspiracies to destabilise Pakistan. He also claimed the ‘militant organisation raised by Russia during the Afghan war is now being backed by India’. The charges, however, were solidly refuted by India.” Dawn on April 24 quoted an MEA spokesperson as saying: “These are entirely baseless allegations and we see no reason to dignify them with a response.” Malik, as reported by Dawn on April 24, also tabled proof in the Senate to back his view on India’s alleged involvement. “Some senators told Dawn that Mr Malik had shown some video clips and documentary evidences about involvement of India and Afghanistan in incidents of terrorism in Pakistan. Conspiracies are being hatched to destabilise and isolate Pakistan. A militant organisation, the Balochistan Liberation Army, was formed which is being funded by Russia and backed by India. The organisation is headed by Brahamdagh Bugti who is stationed in the Afghan capital. About 1,000 students were trained in Russia and now they are back in Balochistan,” a senator quoted Mr Malik as telling Dawn.  

... contd.