An&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aninews.in/search?query=anti-Pakistan%20protest">anti-Pakistan protest</a>&nbsp;was held by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aninews.in/search?query=Baloch%20parties">Baloch parties</a>&nbsp;at 10 Downing Street in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aninews.in/search?query=London">London</a>&nbsp;against the abduction of women and children in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aninews.in/search?query=Balochistan">Balochistan</a>&nbsp;on Sunday.

<a href="https://www.aninews.in/search?query=World%20Baloch%20Organisation">World Baloch Organisation</a>&nbsp;(WBO), Baloch National Movement (BNM), Baloch Students&#39; Organisation-Azad (BSO-A) and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aninews.in/search?query=World%20Sindhi%20Congress">World Sindhi Congress</a>&nbsp;(WSC) took part in the protest and highlighted gross human rights violations committed in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aninews.in/search?query=Balochistan">Balochistan</a>&nbsp;by Pakistan.

The protesters were seen carrying banners and placards, urging rights groups to act against Pakistan for carrying out atrocities over Baloch people.

&quot;Raise your voice against the abduction of innocent Baloch women and children by Pakistan army,&quot; a banner read.

Protesters shouted slogans with placards in their hands that read: &quot;Pakistan carrying genocide&quot; and &quot;stop abducting Baloch women and children.&quot;

Last week, a Washington-based organisation urged international bodies to help set free an abducted Baloch leader&#39;s wife and daughter from the captivity of Pakistani security forces.

Washington-based American Friends of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aninews.in/search?query=Balochistan">Balochistan</a>&nbsp;(AFB) has appealed to the United Nations, US State Department, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, UNICEF, International Service for Human Rights and other international bodies to step in to free four women and three babies from the illegal captivity of the Pakistan security forces.

Fazila Baloch, wife of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aninews.in/search?query=Balochistan">Balochistan</a>&nbsp;freedom leader Dr. Allah Nazar Baloch and his adopted daughter Popal Jan, four; Fazila&#39;s friend Bibi Salma and her one-and-half years&#39; old son named Irfan; Ayaal and her two-years-old daughter Zairak and a fourth woman Gohar Jan, were abducted on October 30 from Quetta.

At least 8,000 Baloch are still victims of enforced disappearances in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aninews.in/search?query=Balochistan">Balochistan</a>&nbsp;while 1500 such victims were killed and dumped, according to human rights organisations.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

An?anti-Pakistan protest?was held by?Baloch parties?at 10 Downing Street in?London?against the abduction of women and children in?Balochistan?on Sunday.

An anti-Pakistan protest was held by Baloch parties at 10 Downing Street in London against the abduction of women and children in Balochistan on Sunday. World Baloch Organisation (WBO), Baloch National Movement (BNM), Baloch Students' Organisation-Azad (BSO-A) and World Sindhi Congress (WSC) took part in the protest and highlighted gross human rights violations committed in Balochistan by Pakistan. The protesters were seen carrying banners and placards, urging rights groups to act against Pakistan for carrying out atrocities over Baloch people. "Raise your voice against the abduction of innocent Baloch women and children by Pakistan army," a banner read. Protesters shouted slogans with placards in their hands that read: "Pakistan carrying genocide" and "stop abducting Baloch women and children." Last week, a Washington-based organisation urged international bodies to help set free an abducted Baloch leader's wife and daughter from the captivity of Pakistani security forces. Washington-based American Friends of Balochistan (AFB) has appealed to the United Nations, US State Department, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, UNICEF, International Service for Human Rights and other international bodies to step in to free four women and three babies from the illegal captivity of the Pakistan security forces. Fazila Baloch, wife of Balochistan freedom leader Dr. Allah Nazar Baloch and his adopted daughter Popal Jan, four; Fazila's friend Bibi Salma and her one-and-half years' old son named Irfan; Ayaal and her two-years-old daughter Zairak and a fourth woman Gohar Jan, were abducted on October 30 from Quetta. At least 8,000 Baloch are still victims of enforced disappearances in Balochistan while 1500 such victims were killed and dumped, according to human rights organisations.

Baloch parties hold anti-Pak protest in London

Pakistan&#39;s Balochistan province government has released the recently detained wife and children of a top Baloch militant commander who is accused of targeting security forces in the restive southwestern state.

Balochistan Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti said, three women and three children&nbsp;including the family of Dr. Allah Nazar, the chief of the banned Baloch Liberation Front (BLF), were arrested while travelling illegally into Pakistan from neighbouring Afghanistan last month.

He said that all women and children had been released in keeping with the Baloch traditions.

&quot;The other women included sister of Aslam, alias Acho, commander of the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) who was killed in a security operation, and wife of Dileep, another leading commander of the BLF,&quot; Bugti was quoted as saying by the Express Tribune.

&quot;The security forces handed over all the women and children to Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehri and we have released them. Allah Nazar&#39;s wife left for Karachi with his brother Mehrullah,&quot; he told reporters in the provincial capital Quetta yesterday.

The minister said that during the investigation, it was revealed that the women were involved in distributing funds to the banned Baloch outfits.

&quot;Despite committing crimes of illegally crossing the&nbsp;border and distributing funds among terrorists, the government treated them with respect,&quot; he said.

The minister rejected the rumours that the women were abducted. &quot;They were arrested,&quot; he insisted.

Pakistan's Balochistan province government has released the recently detained wife and children of a top Baloch militant commander who is accused of targeting security forces in the restive southwestern state

Pakistan's Balochistan province government has released the recently detained wife and children of a top Baloch militant commander who is accused of targeting security forces in the restive southwestern state. Balochistan Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti said, three women and three children including the family of Dr. Allah Nazar, the chief of the banned Baloch Liberation Front (BLF), were arrested while travelling illegally into Pakistan from neighbouring Afghanistan last month. He said that all women and children had been released in keeping with the Baloch traditions. "The other women included sister of Aslam, alias Acho, commander of the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) who was killed in a security operation, and wife of Dileep, another leading commander of the BLF," Bugti was quoted as saying by the Express Tribune. "The security forces handed over all the women and children to Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehri and we have released them. Allah Nazar's wife left for Karachi with his brother Mehrullah," he told reporters in the provincial capital Quetta yesterday. The minister said that during the investigation, it was revealed that the women were involved in distributing funds to the banned Baloch outfits. "Despite committing crimes of illegally crossing the border and distributing funds among terrorists, the government treated them with respect," he said. The minister rejected the rumours that the women were abducted. "They were arrested," he insisted.

Pakistan releases family of top Baloch militant commander

&nbsp;At least five people were killed and eight others injured in a roadside blast that took place in Quetta`s Sariab Mill area&nbsp;on Wednesday.

The Dawn quoted security sources as saying that a roadside bomb exploded when a police vehicle, carrying 35 police personnel, passed on Quetta-Sibbi road.

Civil Hospital Quetta Spokesperson Wasim Baig confirmed the casualties, saying that five people lost their lives while at least eight injured have been brought to the medical facility where emergency has been imposed.

Security forces have cordoned off the area and are investigating the explosion.

Security personnel is often targeted in roadside explosions and suicide attacks in Balochistan province.&nbsp;

Eight others were injured in the roadside blast in the Sariab Mill area

At least five people were killed and eight others injured in a roadside blast that took place in Quetta`s Sariab Mill area on Wednesday. The Dawn quoted security sources as saying that a roadside bomb exploded when a police vehicle, carrying 35 police personnel, passed on Quetta-Sibbi road. Civil Hospital Quetta Spokesperson Wasim Baig confirmed the casualties, saying that five people lost their lives while at least eight injured have been brought to the medical facility where emergency has been imposed. Security forces have cordoned off the area and are investigating the explosion. Security personnel is often targeted in roadside explosions and suicide attacks in Balochistan province.

Pakistan: Roadside blast kills five in Quetta

It was a rare snub to Pakistan from a normally reliable ally, but Chinese President Xi Jinping missed a meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summer in Astana, the Kazakh capital, after two Chinese teachers were murdered in Balochistan.

Sharif met the presidents of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Russia, but a meeting with Xi Jinping was notably missing.

More, the state-run media in China emphasised Xi&#39;s meetings with leaders from India and Russia. Xi&#39;s snub comes after deep disappointment and grief felt in China over the killings, after two Chinese teachers were kidnapped&nbsp;in Quetta last month and were reportedly murdered by Islamic State terrorists.

News of their kiling was published just before the SCO summit on June 8-9, in which Pakistan and India were made members.

&nbsp;

Economic connections?

Hua Chunying, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said the murders were in no way connected to the $50 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which Baloch nationalists oppose. The CPEC, in turn, is part of China&#39;s multi-billion dollar Belt and Road intuitive (BRI).

&quot;This incident will not have any necessary connection with the BRI,&quot; nor with the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, meeting being held in Astana, Hua had said.

China has deployed hundreds of Chinese workers to work for the CPEC which connects Gwadar port in Balochistan with China&#39;s Xinjiang through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Hua said Pakistan pays great attention to the protection of Chinese citizens in the institutions there and made great efforts for their security.

&quot;As per BRI we should be prepared for risks if want to go global. Since the three years after the BRI,&quot; she had said.

This comes after deep disappointment felt in China over the killings, after two teachers were kidnapped?in Quetta last month

It was a rare snub to Pakistan from a normally reliable ally, but Chinese President Xi Jinping missed a meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summer in Astana, the Kazakh capital, after two Chinese teachers were murdered in Balochistan. Sharif met the presidents of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Russia, but a meeting with Xi Jinping was notably missing. More, the state-run media in China emphasised Xi's meetings with leaders from India and Russia. Xi's snub comes after deep disappointment and grief felt in China over the killings, after two Chinese teachers were kidnapped in Quetta last month and were reportedly murdered by Islamic State terrorists. News of their kiling was published just before the SCO summit on June 8-9, in which Pakistan and India were made members. Economic connections? Hua Chunying, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said the murders were in no way connected to the $50 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which Baloch nationalists oppose. The CPEC, in turn, is part of China's multi-billion dollar Belt and Road intuitive (BRI). "This incident will not have any necessary connection with the BRI," nor with the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, meeting being held in Astana, Hua had said. China has deployed hundreds of Chinese workers to work for the CPEC which connects Gwadar port in Balochistan with China's Xinjiang through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Hua said Pakistan pays great attention to the protection of Chinese citizens in the institutions there and made great efforts for their security. "As per BRI we should be prepared for risks if want to go global. Since the three years after the BRI," she had said.

Xi Jinping snubs Pak's Sharif after two Chinese nationals killed in Balochistan

The Islamic State group on Thursday claimed the killing of two Chinese citizens who were kidnapped last month by armed gunmen in southwestern Pakistan&#39;s restive Balochistan province. The jihadist group made the claim in a brief Arabic message carried by the group&#39;s Amaq news agency. There was no immediate confirmation from Chinese or Pakistan officials.

Hours earlier, Pakistan&#39;s army issued a statement saying its forces conducted an operation against the IS group earlier this month, killing up to 15 militants from the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi Al-Almi who were in communication with IS about establishing a base in Balochistan.

The two Chinese workers were abducted in Quetta, where the pair had been studying Urdu at a language centre, according to a Chinese envoy in the country. China&#39;s foreign ministry said it was working to &quot;verify relevant information through various channels, including working with Pakistani authorities&quot;.

&quot;We have taken note of relevant reports and we express our grave concern. We have been trying to rescue the two kidnapped hostages over the past days,&quot; the official Xinhua news agency quoted spokeswoman Hua Chunying as saying.

Beijing is ramping up investment in its South Asian neighbour as part of a plan unveiled in 2015 that will link its far-western Xinjiang region to Gwadar port in Balochistan with a series of infrastructure, power and transport upgrades.

Pakistan has been battling Islamist and nationalist insurgencies in mineral-rich Balochistan since 2004, with hundreds of soldiers and militants killed in the fighting. Bordering Iran and Afghanistan, it is the largest of Pakistan&#39;s four provinces, but the roughly seven million inhabitants have long complained they do not receive a fair share of its gas and mineral wealth.

The IS group has been making inroads in the country through alliances with local militant outfits, although its presence is generally downplayed by the government.

(AFP)

There was no immediate confirmation from Chinese or Pakistan officials

The Islamic State group on Thursday claimed the killing of two Chinese citizens who were kidnapped last month by armed gunmen in southwestern Pakistan's restive Balochistan province. The jihadist group made the claim in a brief Arabic message carried by the group's Amaq news agency. There was no immediate confirmation from Chinese or Pakistan officials. Hours earlier, Pakistan's army issued a statement saying its forces conducted an operation against the IS group earlier this month, killing up to 15 militants from the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi Al-Almi who were in communication with IS about establishing a base in Balochistan. The two Chinese workers were abducted in Quetta, where the pair had been studying Urdu at a language centre, according to a Chinese envoy in the country. China's foreign ministry said it was working to "verify relevant information through various channels, including working with Pakistani authorities". "We have taken note of relevant reports and we express our grave concern. We have been trying to rescue the two kidnapped hostages over the past days," the official Xinhua news agency quoted spokeswoman Hua Chunying as saying. Beijing is ramping up investment in its South Asian neighbour as part of a plan unveiled in 2015 that will link its far-western Xinjiang region to Gwadar port in Balochistan with a series of infrastructure, power and transport upgrades. Pakistan has been battling Islamist and nationalist insurgencies in mineral-rich Balochistan since 2004, with hundreds of soldiers and militants killed in the fighting. Bordering Iran and Afghanistan, it is the largest of Pakistan's four provinces, but the roughly seven million inhabitants have long complained they do not receive a fair share of its gas and mineral wealth. The IS group has been making inroads in the country through alliances with local militant outfits, although its presence is generally downplayed by the government. (AFP)

Islamic State claims killing two Chinese citizens kidnapped in southwest Pakistan

By Agnisheik Chatterji

Nineteen years. That&#39;s how long after Pakistan launched its national census this year.&nbsp;

The two-phase counting, which started on March 15, will culminate on May 25. The result is expected to be announced by end-July.

But what made Islamabad delay a fresh headcount by nine years?

The problems are manifold.&nbsp;Lack of political will, ethnic insecurity, security concerns, redistribution of wealth and political clout, are but some of the main reasons for the years-long delay.

Finally, the Pakistan government had to follow the orders of the country&#39;s supreme court. After all, the government is constitutionally bound to conduct a census every decade.

Largest-ever national headcount

Let&#39;s get down to the brass tacks of the nationwide enumeration first.

The government has spent 14.5 billion Pakistan rupees.

Around 200,000 army personnel were deployed and 118,000 civilian enumerators hired to compile the data.

Why even have a census?

It is vital for socio-economic planning.&nbsp;

And if the United Nations&#39; word is to believed, census is a &quot;powerful tool for planning&quot; not only for religious minorities &quot;but all the population of Pakistan&quot;.

For instance, if the government needs to put a schooling system in place, the census data can make their job a lot easier. Prior to building a school, the planning team will know the number of children that will benefit from this, and also the most conducive location.

Likewise with constructing roads, hospitals and other key institutions that can bolster social indices of a country.

The data will also help Islamabad in tracking internal migration.

For a fast-growing country like Pakistan, this is vital. The country is in the throes of rapid urbanisation. Three per cent every year -- the fastest in South Asia.&nbsp;

The data will help the country know the resources required to keep pace with the burgeoning population in urban centres.&nbsp;

Also, the matter of Afghan migrants. This census will count them as well. It will help the administration to keep a track on the influx of refugees in their country.

To surmise, the census is a key source tool for every country.&nbsp;

Experts say it is improbable for a country to implement social policies based on guesstimates. Especially for a developing country like Pakistan, which is hobbled by a lack of basic infrastructure.

The 1998 census pegged Pakistan&#39;s head count at 132.35 million. But experts suggest the number might now be around 200 million.

To nick a quote from the head of an Islamabad-based think tank, Abid Suleri, implementing policies in Pakistan is akin to &quot;stitching someone&rsquo;s clothes without knowing the age, height, weight and measurements&quot;.

Loss of status quo

So why has the establishment been so queasy about holding a census?

As mentioned earlier, there will be a redistribution of wealth and electoral seats.

There is a vested interest in maintaining a status quo. The powers-that-are are the keenest to keep things as they are.

Electoral seats in Pakistan are determined by population density. So, the flow of internal migration in recent years would upend the existing balance of power.&nbsp;

That has made powerful feudal landlords and political families squeamish.

At the moment, Punjab is the most politically critical province in Pakistan. Of the 342 seats in the national assembly, Punjab has 183.&nbsp; 
That means the province can single-handedly decide the outcome of a national election.

The powerful political parties enjoy widespread support in the province.&nbsp;

So, if there is a &#39;devolution&#39; of electoral seats in Punjab, parties would have to redraw their political blueprint.

Political power is likely to change hands in the country&#39;s southeast Sindh province.&nbsp;

Currently, upper Sindh is the political underdog but the recent counting is likely to change that. Lower and middle part of the province -- the hitherto political heavyweights -- would lose their current status.

Also, one of the observations gleaned from the 2013 national election is that sharp ethnic faultlines have riven the country&#39;s rural areas.&nbsp;

But rapid urbanisation, coupled with the eventual loss of electoral seats in rural areas in the aftermath of the national head count, would bring an end to such vicious votebank politics.

Regional concerns

Several concerns have been raised from various parts of the country.&nbsp;

None more so than in Pakistan&#39;s poorest province Balochistan.

Balochistan is a sparsely populated region. To give perspective, the province comprises 44 per cent area of the country, yet contributes just 4.96 per cent of the total population.&nbsp;

The federal government&#39;s decision to count Afghan refugees have been stoutly opposed by the Baloch populace.

They fear they would be relegated to minority status in their own heartland as there has been a steady influx of Afghan refugees in their province.&nbsp;

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has also raised the government&#39;s intention to count the data in Islamabad.&nbsp;

While lack of equipment has been cited as the official reason, Pashtun leaders fear data would be fudged (read undercounting) to perpetuate the region in socio-economic doldrums.

They believe that undercounting would result in the region continuing to get less funds from the federal government.

The country&#39;s 500,000-odd Ahmadis -- who are viewed by the Sunni-dominant people of Pakistan as heretics -- are also worried about the census, though they have only spoken about it in hushed tones, given the levels of persecution they have been subjected to in the last seven decades.

They are concerned that identifying themselves as Ahmadis would expose them to discrimination.

Also, Ahmadi names are not different from a Muslim name. There is a danger that the enumerator might tick an uneducated Ahmadi as a Muslim on their behalf. If caught, the person might be jailed for three years for falsely identifying himself as a Muslim.

There was also a brief flutter over the lack of recognition of all religious minorities.

The initial census form had drawn up different categories for people to state their religion -- Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Ahmadi and &#39;others&#39;.

But there was a conspicuous omission -- the Sikhs were left out.

Ironically, the Sikh religion was founded about 500 years back in what is now Pakistan.

But that was later sorted out when the courts intervened.&nbsp;

And the shining beacon of this census is that transgenders will be counted for the first time. However, there was a fork in the soup.&nbsp;

People in Peshawar were given forms without that choice. But that glitch was later wrinkled out.

(WION)

The headcount gets over on May 25, but the multi-million dollar programme has been 19 years in the making

By Agnisheik Chatterji Nineteen years. That's how long after Pakistan launched its national census this year. The two-phase counting, which started on March 15, will culminate on May 25. The result is expected to be announced by end-July. But what made Islamabad delay a fresh headcount by nine years? The problems are manifold. Lack of political will, ethnic insecurity, security concerns, redistribution of wealth and political clout, are but some of the main reasons for the years-long delay. Finally, the Pakistan government had to follow the orders of the country's supreme court. After all, the government is constitutionally bound to conduct a census every decade. Largest-ever national headcount Let's get down to the brass tacks of the nationwide enumeration first. The government has spent 14.5 billion Pakistan rupees. Around 200,000 army personnel were deployed and 118,000 civilian enumerators hired to compile the data. Why even have a census? It is vital for socio-economic planning. And if the United Nations' word is to believed, census is a "powerful tool for planning" not only for religious minorities "but all the population of Pakistan". For instance, if the government needs to put a schooling system in place, the census data can make their job a lot easier. Prior to building a school, the planning team will know the number of children that will benefit from this, and also the most conducive location. Likewise with constructing roads, hospitals and other key institutions that can bolster social indices of a country. The data will also help Islamabad in tracking internal migration. For a fast-growing country like Pakistan, this is vital. The country is in the throes of rapid urbanisation. Three per cent every year -- the fastest in South Asia. The data will help the country know the resources required to keep pace with the burgeoning population in urban centres. Also, the matter of Afghan migrants. This census will count them as well. It will help the administration to keep a track on the influx of refugees in their country. To surmise, the census is a key source tool for every country. Experts say it is improbable for a country to implement social policies based on guesstimates. Especially for a developing country like Pakistan, which is hobbled by a lack of basic infrastructure. The 1998 census pegged Pakistan's head count at 132.35 million. But experts suggest the number might now be around 200 million. To nick a quote from the head of an Islamabad-based think tank, Abid Suleri, implementing policies in Pakistan is akin to "stitching someone’s clothes without knowing the age, height, weight and measurements". Loss of status quo So why has the establishment been so queasy about holding a census? As mentioned earlier, there will be a redistribution of wealth and electoral seats. There is a vested interest in maintaining a status quo. The powers-that-are are the keenest to keep things as they are. Electoral seats in Pakistan are determined by population density. So, the flow of internal migration in recent years would upend the existing balance of power. That has made powerful feudal landlords and political families squeamish. At the moment, Punjab is the most politically critical province in Pakistan. Of the 342 seats in the national assembly, Punjab has 183. That means the province can single-handedly decide the outcome of a national election. The powerful political parties enjoy widespread support in the province. So, if there is a 'devolution' of electoral seats in Punjab, parties would have to redraw their political blueprint. Political power is likely to change hands in the country's southeast Sindh province. Currently, upper Sindh is the political underdog but the recent counting is likely to change that. Lower and middle part of the province -- the hitherto political heavyweights -- would lose their current status. Also, one of the observations gleaned from the 2013 national election is that sharp ethnic faultlines have riven the country's rural areas. But rapid urbanisation, coupled with the eventual loss of electoral seats in rural areas in the aftermath of the national head count, would bring an end to such vicious votebank politics. Regional concerns Several concerns have been raised from various parts of the country. None more so than in Pakistan's poorest province Balochistan. Balochistan is a sparsely populated region. To give perspective, the province comprises 44 per cent area of the country, yet contributes just 4.96 per cent of the total population. The federal government's decision to count Afghan refugees have been stoutly opposed by the Baloch populace. They fear they would be relegated to minority status in their own heartland as there has been a steady influx of Afghan refugees in their province. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has also raised the government's intention to count the data in Islamabad. While lack of equipment has been cited as the official reason, Pashtun leaders fear data would be fudged (read undercounting) to perpetuate the region in socio-economic doldrums. They believe that undercounting would result in the region continuing to get less funds from the federal government. The country's 500,000-odd Ahmadis -- who are viewed by the Sunni-dominant people of Pakistan as heretics -- are also worried about the census, though they have only spoken about it in hushed tones, given the levels of persecution they have been subjected to in the last seven decades. They are concerned that identifying themselves as Ahmadis would expose them to discrimination. Also, Ahmadi names are not different from a Muslim name. There is a danger that the enumerator might tick an uneducated Ahmadi as a Muslim on their behalf. If caught, the person might be jailed for three years for falsely identifying himself as a Muslim. There was also a brief flutter over the lack of recognition of all religious minorities. The initial census form had drawn up different categories for people to state their religion -- Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Ahmadi and 'others'. But there was a conspicuous omission -- the Sikhs were left out. Ironically, the Sikh religion was founded about 500 years back in what is now Pakistan. But that was later sorted out when the courts intervened. And the shining beacon of this census is that transgenders will be counted for the first time. However, there was a fork in the soup. People in Peshawar were given forms without that choice. But that glitch was later wrinkled out. (WION)

Enumerating Pakistan's census exercise

Kulbhushan Jadhav, who was arrested by Pakistan on allegations of spying, has been awarded death sentence by a military court, Pak media reported quoting Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military&#39;s media wing.

He was sentenced to death for &quot;his involvement in espionage and sabotage activities against Pakistan&quot;, the military said.

&quot;The spy has been tried through Field General Court Martial (FGCM) under Pakistan Army Act and awarded death sentence,&quot; the military&#39;s media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.

Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa confirmed his death sentence, the statement added.

Even as the news spread, the Ministery of External Affairs(MEA) in India summoned Abdul Basit, the Pakistan High Commissioner &amp; issued a demarche saying proceedings that led to the sentence of Kulbhushan Jadhav were &quot;farcical&quot;.

&quot;If basic norms of law and justice are not observed then the government and people of India will regard it as premeditated murder,&quot; MEA said in the demarche.

&quot;It is significant that our High Commission was not even informed that Kulbhushan Jadhav was being brought to trial,&quot; the statement added.

Pakistan claims its security forces had arrested Jadhav from the restive Balochistan province on March 3 last year after he reportedly entered from Iran. It also claimed that he was &quot;a serving officer in the Indian Navy&quot;.

The Pakistan Army had also released a &quot;confessional video&quot; of Jadhav.&nbsp;India had demanded Consular access to Jadhav, but Pakistan repeatedly denied it.&nbsp;The ISPR statement, however, said Jadhav alias Hussein Mubarak Patel was &quot;provided with defending officer as per legal provisions&quot;.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Demarche issued by MEA to Pakistan High Commissioner today. Pl see press release at <a href="https://t.co/K55zof27it">https://t.co/K55zof27it</a> <a href="https://t.co/PLZCv5B3gD">pic.twitter.com/PLZCv5B3gD</a>
&mdash; Gopal Baglay (@MEAIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/MEAIndia/status/851399663638921217">April 10, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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Jadhav reportedly entered Pakistan&#39;s Balochistan from Iran. He was arrested by Pakistan security officials on March 3 last year on allegations of planning subversive activities in the country.

India has acknowledged that he was a retired Indian Navy officer but refuted the allegations that he is connected to the government in any way.

&nbsp;

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Indian R&amp;AW agent <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kalbushan?src=hash">#Kalbushan</a> awarded death sentence through FGCM by Pakistan Army for espionage and sabotage activities against Pakistan. <a href="https://t.co/ltRPbfO30V">pic.twitter.com/ltRPbfO30V</a>
&mdash; Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficialDGISPR/status/851365691898724352">April 10, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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In 2013, an Indian national, Sarabjit, was brutally killed by fellow inmates&nbsp;in Lahore&#39;s Kot Lakhpat jail. He was sentenced to death in 1991&nbsp;for his alleged involvement in a string of bombings in Pakistan.&nbsp;

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Anything is possible in Pak, after all they&#39;ve hanged one of their Prime Ministers in past: AS Dulat, former RAW Chief on Kulbhushan Jadhav <a href="https://t.co/vtZuALDeKs">pic.twitter.com/vtZuALDeKs</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/851404178266230785">April 10, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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(WION with inputs from PTI) 
&nbsp;

Pakistan claims Jadhav was arrested from the restive Balochistan province in March last year after he reportedly entered from Iran

Kulbhushan Jadhav, who was arrested by Pakistan on allegations of spying, has been awarded death sentence by a military court, Pak media reported quoting Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military's media wing. He was sentenced to death for "his involvement in espionage and sabotage activities against Pakistan", the military said. "The spy has been tried through Field General Court Martial (FGCM) under Pakistan Army Act and awarded death sentence," the military's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement. Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa confirmed his death sentence, the statement added. Even as the news spread, the Ministery of External Affairs(MEA) in India summoned Abdul Basit, the Pakistan High Commissioner & issued a demarche saying proceedings that led to the sentence of Kulbhushan Jadhav were "farcical". "If basic norms of law and justice are not observed then the government and people of India will regard it as premeditated murder," MEA said in the demarche. "It is significant that our High Commission was not even informed that Kulbhushan Jadhav was being brought to trial," the statement added. Pakistan claims its security forces had arrested Jadhav from the restive Balochistan province on March 3 last year after he reportedly entered from Iran. It also claimed that he was "a serving officer in the Indian Navy". The Pakistan Army had also released a "confessional video" of Jadhav. India had demanded Consular access to Jadhav, but Pakistan repeatedly denied it. The ISPR statement, however, said Jadhav alias Hussein Mubarak Patel was "provided with defending officer as per legal provisions". Demarche issued by MEA to Pakistan High Commissioner today. Pl see press release at https://t.co/K55zof27it pic.twitter.com/PLZCv5B3gD — Gopal Baglay (@MEAIndia) April 10, 2017 × Jadhav reportedly entered Pakistan's Balochistan from Iran. He was arrested by Pakistan security officials on March 3 last year on allegations of planning subversive activities in the country. India has acknowledged that he was a retired Indian Navy officer but refuted the allegations that he is connected to the government in any way. Indian R&AW agent #Kalbushan awarded death sentence through FGCM by Pakistan Army for espionage and sabotage activities against Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/ltRPbfO30V — Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) April 10, 2017 × In 2013, an Indian national, Sarabjit, was brutally killed by fellow inmates in Lahore's Kot Lakhpat jail. He was sentenced to death in 1991 for his alleged involvement in a string of bombings in Pakistan. Anything is possible in Pak, after all they've hanged one of their Prime Ministers in past: AS Dulat, former RAW Chief on Kulbhushan Jadhav pic.twitter.com/vtZuALDeKs — ANI (@ANI_news) April 10, 2017 × (WION with inputs from PTI)

Pakistan military court sentences 'spy' Kulbhushan Jadhav to death, India calls it a 'farce'

Pakistan Senate&#39;s Standing Committee on Communications has expressed dissatisfaction over the federal government&#39;s attitude regarding the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.

Committee chairman Muhammad Daud Khan Achakzai of the Awami National Party said on Friday that it was strange that trade convoys had started passing without the completion of the western route of the corridor,&nbsp;the Dawn reports.

&quot;Whenever we ask about the progress on the western route, we hear the excuse that the funds and workforce are not available,&quot; he said.

The chief secretary of Balochistan also confessed before the members that a committee formed on the orders of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to acquire land in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had not held any meeting, hence no area had been acquired.

Achakzai said it meant that the route existed only on papers and the facts were entirely different as compared to what was being portrayed.

&quot;The parliamentary committee has suggested to the ministry of finance many times to release funds and complete the process of appointments in the Motorway Police. Even a report has been tabled in the Senate but there is no progress over it,&quot; he said.

The committee suggested that the salaries of Motorway Police be increased by 20 per cent.

(ANI)

The committee's chairman?said?it was strange that trade convoys had started passing without the completion of the western route of the corridor

Pakistan Senate's Standing Committee on Communications has expressed dissatisfaction over the federal government's attitude regarding the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project. Committee chairman Muhammad Daud Khan Achakzai of the Awami National Party said on Friday that it was strange that trade convoys had started passing without the completion of the western route of the corridor, the Dawn reports. "Whenever we ask about the progress on the western route, we hear the excuse that the funds and workforce are not available," he said. The chief secretary of Balochistan also confessed before the members that a committee formed on the orders of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to acquire land in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had not held any meeting, hence no area had been acquired. Achakzai said it meant that the route existed only on papers and the facts were entirely different as compared to what was being portrayed. "The parliamentary committee has suggested to the ministry of finance many times to release funds and complete the process of appointments in the Motorway Police. Even a report has been tabled in the Senate but there is no progress over it," he said. The committee suggested that the salaries of Motorway Police be increased by 20 per cent. (ANI)

Dissatisfied over government's attitude on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, says Pakistan Senate committee

A journalist was shot dead close to the Afghan and Iranian border in the restive province of Balochistan in Pakistan&nbsp;by unidentified attackers, police said Friday.&nbsp;

Muhammad Jan, 37, who worked for local Urdu language daily newspaper Qudrat, was shot late Thursday while on his way home on a motorcycle in Qalat district, some 160 kilometres south of Quetta, the provincial capital.

&quot;Two attackers on motorcycle opened fire on him, using a pistol and killing him on the spot,&quot; senior police officer Muhammad Ali told AFP.

The attackers fled the scene, he said.

Pakistan is ranked among the world&#39;s most dangerous countries for journalists.&nbsp;

Reporting critical of the military is considered a major red flag, with journalists at times detained, beaten and even killed; while restive Balochistan has been wracked for more than a decade by Islamist, sectarian and separatist insurgencies.

However the motive for Jan`s killing is not yet clear, Ali said. He had not complained of any threats from militant groups or mentioned any family or tribal dispute.&nbsp;

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the killing, and Ali said police were investigating.

Jan was also working as a press secretary for the Balochistan media council as well as a teacher in a government school.

(AFP)

Pakistan is ranked among the world's most dangerous countries for journalists

A journalist was shot dead close to the Afghan and Iranian border in the restive province of Balochistan in Pakistan by unidentified attackers, police said Friday. Muhammad Jan, 37, who worked for local Urdu language daily newspaper Qudrat, was shot late Thursday while on his way home on a motorcycle in Qalat district, some 160 kilometres south of Quetta, the provincial capital. "Two attackers on motorcycle opened fire on him, using a pistol and killing him on the spot," senior police officer Muhammad Ali told AFP. The attackers fled the scene, he said. Pakistan is ranked among the world's most dangerous countries for journalists. Reporting critical of the military is considered a major red flag, with journalists at times detained, beaten and even killed; while restive Balochistan has been wracked for more than a decade by Islamist, sectarian and separatist insurgencies. However the motive for Jan`s killing is not yet clear, Ali said. He had not complained of any threats from militant groups or mentioned any family or tribal dispute. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the killing, and Ali said police were investigating. Jan was also working as a press secretary for the Balochistan media council as well as a teacher in a government school. (AFP)

Journalist shot dead in Pakistan's restive province of Balochistan

An event called &nbsp;&quot;The Saga of Balochistan, What the World Needs to Know&quot;, has been called off by a private club in Kolkata.

An email sent to the event&#39;s&nbsp;organisers by the club cited the reason for the cancellation as &quot;to ensure cordial atmosphere&quot;.&nbsp;

The email, sent out on January 4, three days before the event was to be held, said the club was not in a position to hold the event due to &quot;unavoidable circumstances&quot;, and that the event stands cancelled.&nbsp;

Activist Tarek Fatah, who was to be one of the speakers at the event, took to Twitter, writing: &quot;- Kolkata Police on urging of CM Mamata Banerjee forces the club to shut talk on #Kashmir #Balochistan.&quot;

The organisers&nbsp;allege the club was pressured by Kolkata Police to call off the event, to avoid a possible law and order situation.&nbsp;

&quot;The club had agreed to hold the event. On December 30, an executive meeting was called and we were asked to drop the word &#39;Kashmir&#39; from the event keeping in mind the issue being sensitive. We had agreed on that and we got new passes and posters printed without the name Kashmir on it. On January 4, suddenly we get a mail from the club authorities that they have called off the event. We had paid the advance too. Now it is impossible to shift the venue in such a short notice,&quot; said Col Diptangshu Chaudhury, one of the event&#39;s&nbsp;organisers.&nbsp;

Col Chaudhary alleges the club succumbed to the pressure from Kolkata Police and called off the event.

&quot;We have learnt that a meeting took place between the authorities and senior officials of Kolkata Police. The senior officials asked the authorities to cancel the event,&quot; he said.&nbsp;

Additional commissioner of Kolkata Police (I), Vineet Goyal, however, said, &quot;The club had earlier sought permission from us. But today they informed us that the event stands cancelled.&quot;

He refused to comment when asked if Kolkata Police had raised any objections to the event taking place.

(WION)

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The organisers allege Kolkata Police pressured the club to cancel the event, in order to avoid a possible law & order situation

An event called "The Saga of Balochistan, What the World Needs to Know", has been called off by a private club in Kolkata. An email sent to the event's organisers by the club cited the reason for the cancellation as "to ensure cordial atmosphere". The email, sent out on January 4, three days before the event was to be held, said the club was not in a position to hold the event due to "unavoidable circumstances", and that the event stands cancelled. Activist Tarek Fatah, who was to be one of the speakers at the event, took to Twitter, writing: "- Kolkata Police on urging of CM Mamata Banerjee forces the club to shut talk on #Kashmir #Balochistan." The organisers allege the club was pressured by Kolkata Police to call off the event, to avoid a possible law and order situation. "The club had agreed to hold the event. On December 30, an executive meeting was called and we were asked to drop the word 'Kashmir' from the event keeping in mind the issue being sensitive. We had agreed on that and we got new passes and posters printed without the name Kashmir on it. On January 4, suddenly we get a mail from the club authorities that they have called off the event. We had paid the advance too. Now it is impossible to shift the venue in such a short notice," said Col Diptangshu Chaudhury, one of the event's organisers. Col Chaudhary alleges the club succumbed to the pressure from Kolkata Police and called off the event. "We have learnt that a meeting took place between the authorities and senior officials of Kolkata Police. The senior officials asked the authorities to cancel the event," he said. Additional commissioner of Kolkata Police (I), Vineet Goyal, however, said, "The club had earlier sought permission from us. But today they informed us that the event stands cancelled." He refused to comment when asked if Kolkata Police had raised any objections to the event taking place. (WION)

India: Balochistan summit at Kolkata club cancelled, Tarek Fatah was a speaker

Equating atrocities in Balochistan to the massacre of Bengalis by Pakistan Army during the 1971 liberation war, a self-exiled Baloch leader has sought Bangladesh&#39;s support to raise the issue at the UN and help liberate the restive region from &quot;Pakistan&#39;s occupation&quot;.

&quot;They (Pakistan) are committing the same atrocities that they had committed with you,&quot; Mir Suleman Dawood Jan Ahmedzai said here yesterday, referring to Bangladesh&#39;s independence struggle during which 3 million Bengalis were killed.

&quot;The family of the present prime minister (Sheikh Hasina) went through the same crisis and even worse,&quot; he said, referring to Bangladesh&#39;s founding father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who led the independence movement.

He said &#39;Pakistan occupied his country&#39; in March 1948 and since then has been carrying out atrocities to suppress public uprisings.

Ahmedzai said Balochs are expecting &quot;cooperation and diplomatic understanding of the situation they are going through&quot; from Bangladesh so that Dhaka can take it up to the UN.

&quot;We, Balochistan, cannot speak in the UN as we are not a member. We want members to speak for us,&quot; bdnews24.Com quoted him as saying.

In Balochistan, they are committing atrocities on a daily basis, he said, adding that Pakistan has adopted ?kill and dump? policy in Balochistan.

&quot;More than 25,000 people are missing and over a million displaced. First, people go missing and then they are found in the wilderness....Tortured, bullet-ridden bodies.&quot;

&quot;Our only plan is to regain independence for Balochistan. We are optimistic,&quot; he said.

He accused Pakistan of &quot;spreading terrorism from Manila to California with its army intelligence&quot;.

&quot;Only difference between normal terrorists and Pakistani army is that they are wearing uniforms while the others are not. Both are terrorists. One has a shield of the government and the other one is a non-state actor,&quot; he said.

&quot;Going to the background as to who they back or finance, you will trace them in every terrorist link from Manila to California&quot;.

Ahmedzai has been staying in Britain since 2007 to gather international support for their cause of an independent Balochistan.

He was in Dhaka to take part in a seminar organised by the Centre for Genocide Studies at the Dhaka University.

The Balochistan issue returned to the spotlight in the region after Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day speech in August pointed at human rights violations in the province.

(PTI)

'They (Pakistan) are committing the same atrocities that they had committed with you (Bangladesh)', Mir Suleman Dawood Jan Ahmedzai said

Equating atrocities in Balochistan to the massacre of Bengalis by Pakistan Army during the 1971 liberation war, a self-exiled Baloch leader has sought Bangladesh's support to raise the issue at the UN and help liberate the restive region from "Pakistan's occupation". "They (Pakistan) are committing the same atrocities that they had committed with you," Mir Suleman Dawood Jan Ahmedzai said here yesterday, referring to Bangladesh's independence struggle during which 3 million Bengalis were killed. "The family of the present prime minister (Sheikh Hasina) went through the same crisis and even worse," he said, referring to Bangladesh's founding father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who led the independence movement. He said 'Pakistan occupied his country' in March 1948 and since then has been carrying out atrocities to suppress public uprisings. Ahmedzai said Balochs are expecting "cooperation and diplomatic understanding of the situation they are going through" from Bangladesh so that Dhaka can take it up to the UN. "We, Balochistan, cannot speak in the UN as we are not a member. We want members to speak for us," bdnews24.Com quoted him as saying. In Balochistan, they are committing atrocities on a daily basis, he said, adding that Pakistan has adopted ?kill and dump? policy in Balochistan. "More than 25,000 people are missing and over a million displaced. First, people go missing and then they are found in the wilderness....Tortured, bullet-ridden bodies." "Our only plan is to regain independence for Balochistan. We are optimistic," he said. He accused Pakistan of "spreading terrorism from Manila to California with its army intelligence". "Only difference between normal terrorists and Pakistani army is that they are wearing uniforms while the others are not. Both are terrorists. One has a shield of the government and the other one is a non-state actor," he said. "Going to the background as to who they back or finance, you will trace them in every terrorist link from Manila to California". Ahmedzai has been staying in Britain since 2007 to gather international support for their cause of an independent Balochistan. He was in Dhaka to take part in a seminar organised by the Centre for Genocide Studies at the Dhaka University. The Balochistan issue returned to the spotlight in the region after Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day speech in August pointed at human rights violations in the province. (PTI)

Baloch leader seeks Bangladesh's help to raise Balochistan issue

At least 52 people were killed and more than 105 were wounded in an explosion at the Shah Noorani shrine in Balochistan&#39;s Khuzdar district, the Pakistani publication DawnNews reported.&nbsp;

According to reports in local media, the blast took place inside the premises of the shrine, injuring several devotees, including women and children.&nbsp;

&ldquo;People who are critically injured in the blast will be transported to Karachi,&quot; Balochistan interior minister Mir Sarfaraz Ahmed Bugti told DawnNews.&nbsp;

In-charge Edhi Foundation Lasbella Hakeem Lassi confirmed the explosion to Geo News, saying that more than 500 people were inside the shrine when the blast took place.&nbsp;

Authorities said they were facing difficulty in accessing the site of the incident due to its remote location in a hilly terrain. Communication and electricity services were also hit by the blast, adding to the problems of the emergency services trying to reach the injured.&nbsp;

The injured are being transported to Karachi for treatment as no major hospital is located near the blast site.&nbsp;

The local government declared an emergency in all hospitals of Khuzdar district. Bugti promised that action would be taken if any security lapses are found on part of the state.&nbsp;

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the suicide&nbsp;attack, but Bugti did not confirm the claim.&nbsp;

President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif have strongly condemned the bomb blast. They directed the concerned authorities to speed up the rescue activities and provide best medical facilities to the injured.

This is not the first time that extremists have targeted a shrine in Balochistan. This is the third major incident of a bombing in the province since August.

In August, about 70 people were killed in a suicide bomb attack outside the civil hospital in the provincial capital Quetta. Last month, 64 police cadets and two army men were killed when three terrorists raided a police training centre in Quetta.&nbsp;

(WION) 
&nbsp;

Emergency services from Karachi were rushed to the remote location, no major hospitals are located near the shrine

At least 52 people were killed and more than 105 were wounded in an explosion at the Shah Noorani shrine in Balochistan's Khuzdar district, the Pakistani publication DawnNews reported. According to reports in local media, the blast took place inside the premises of the shrine, injuring several devotees, including women and children. “People who are critically injured in the blast will be transported to Karachi," Balochistan interior minister Mir Sarfaraz Ahmed Bugti told DawnNews. In-charge Edhi Foundation Lasbella Hakeem Lassi confirmed the explosion to Geo News, saying that more than 500 people were inside the shrine when the blast took place. Authorities said they were facing difficulty in accessing the site of the incident due to its remote location in a hilly terrain. Communication and electricity services were also hit by the blast, adding to the problems of the emergency services trying to reach the injured. The injured are being transported to Karachi for treatment as no major hospital is located near the blast site. The local government declared an emergency in all hospitals of Khuzdar district. Bugti promised that action would be taken if any security lapses are found on part of the state. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the suicide attack, but Bugti did not confirm the claim. President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif have strongly condemned the bomb blast. They directed the concerned authorities to speed up the rescue activities and provide best medical facilities to the injured. This is not the first time that extremists have targeted a shrine in Balochistan. This is the third major incident of a bombing in the province since August. In August, about 70 people were killed in a suicide bomb attack outside the civil hospital in the provincial capital Quetta. Last month, 64 police cadets and two army men were killed when three terrorists raided a police training centre in Quetta. (WION)

Balochistan shrine blast: At least 52 killed, 105 wounded in explosion

The&nbsp;Pakistan-based militant organisation, Al-Alami faction of the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) group said on Wednesday that it had carried out the attack on the police training facility in Quetta with the Islamic State&#39;s support.&nbsp;

The Islamic State group released photographs of the attackers which killed at least 61 police cadets in the massive midnight raid at the training centre in Balochistan.&nbsp;

Asked whether the two had worked together, Ali bin Sufyan, a spokesman for LeJ Al-Alami, told AFP: &quot;Yes, of course&quot;, adding: &quot;We are ready to work with all the groups in Pakistan whether they belong to ISIS or al-Qaeda&quot;. LeJ is a former affiliate of al-Qaeda.

This has been the strongest evidence to date that the IS group has built links in Pakistan, and could pose a key rival to al-Qaeda, which is rapidly losing strength in what was once its &quot;home ground&quot;. The extent of the material assistance to local groups from the IS remains unclear.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/quetta-terror-attack-as-quetta-bleeds-pakistan-must-remember-what-is-at-stake-7947/">Also&nbsp;read the opinion piece on Quetta attack here:&nbsp;As Quetta bleeds, Pakistan must remember what is at stake</a>

A military source claimed, &quot;the militant groups including Al-Qaeda and Pakistani Taliban have been completely dismantled and those left out are now regrouping and attempting to become part of IS.&quot;

The vacuum has created opportunities for IS to step in and develop new relationships with local militants in need of financial and logistical support, a militant source added.

Last month, Pakistan&#39;s military admitted for the first time that the IS had a presence in the country but said it had detained hundreds of its militants and prevented them from carrying out major attacks.&nbsp;

And officials say rank-and-file LeJ members were among the first Pakistani militants to travel to Syria after IS announced its so-called Caliphate.

(WION with inputs from AFP) 
&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The extent of support from the Islamic State is unclear, but Pakistani military last month admitted to the group's presence in the country

The Pakistan-based militant organisation, Al-Alami faction of the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) group said on Wednesday that it had carried out the attack on the police training facility in Quetta with the Islamic State's support. The Islamic State group released photographs of the attackers which killed at least 61 police cadets in the massive midnight raid at the training centre in Balochistan. Asked whether the two had worked together, Ali bin Sufyan, a spokesman for LeJ Al-Alami, told AFP: "Yes, of course", adding: "We are ready to work with all the groups in Pakistan whether they belong to ISIS or al-Qaeda". LeJ is a former affiliate of al-Qaeda. This has been the strongest evidence to date that the IS group has built links in Pakistan, and could pose a key rival to al-Qaeda, which is rapidly losing strength in what was once its "home ground". The extent of the material assistance to local groups from the IS remains unclear. Also read the opinion piece on Quetta attack here: As Quetta bleeds, Pakistan must remember what is at stake A military source claimed, "the militant groups including Al-Qaeda and Pakistani Taliban have been completely dismantled and those left out are now regrouping and attempting to become part of IS." The vacuum has created opportunities for IS to step in and develop new relationships with local militants in need of financial and logistical support, a militant source added. Last month, Pakistan's military admitted for the first time that the IS had a presence in the country but said it had detained hundreds of its militants and prevented them from carrying out major attacks. And officials say rank-and-file LeJ members were among the first Pakistani militants to travel to Syria after IS announced its so-called Caliphate. (WION with inputs from AFP)

Quetta terror attack: Pakistan-based militant group LeJ claims IS support in attack on police college

A militant attack on a police training academy in Pakistan&#39;s western city of Quetta has left at least 58 people dead and a 118 injured.&nbsp;

The home minister of Balochistan province, Sarfaraz Bugti, said the attack &ndash; which began last night at 11.30 pm local time &ndash; was carried out by three militants&nbsp;and not six as was previously estimated by the&nbsp;Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

Bugti said two of the three gunmen blew themselves up to avoid being captured and that the third militant was killed in a gunfight with Pakistani security forces.

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<h5>The attackers are believed to have been affiliated to the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi Al Almi militant group, an offshoot of the Pakistani Taliban</h5>
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Bugti had previously pegged the death toll at 44,&nbsp;but rescue officials updated the figure to 58.

&quot;In the early morning, we have the latest death toll of 58 people who died during the attack last night,&quot; doctor Nasir Sumalani at&nbsp;Quetta&#39;s government hospital told AFP.

The attackers are believed to have been affiliated to the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi Al Almi militant group, an offshoot of the Pakistani Taliban,&nbsp;senior Pakistan Army officer Sher Afghan told the Pakistani newspaper Dawn.

The militants had communicated with handlers in Afghanistan and had taken instructions from them, he added.

The attackers stormed the front gate of the Balochistan Police College, gunning down a policeman manning the only entrance to the academy.

There were some 700 police cadets on campus when the attack began.

Most of the&nbsp;injured, some of whom are in critical condition, have been admitted to three diferent hospitals in Quetta &mdash;&nbsp;Civil Hospital, Bolan Medical College Hospital, and Military Hospital.

Bugti said a Frontier Corps official and a captain were among the injured.

&quot;Security forces, including the Frontier Corps and the Pakistan Army light brigade, have cleared 95 per cent of the college area,&quot; Bugti said, when asked about the combing operation that got under way after the gunmen were dead.

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack on the training centre and directed provincial and federal authorities to crack down on the perpetrators.

The police training centre&nbsp;is considered one of the most sensitive areas of Quetta, the capital city of Balochistan province. It has previously come&nbsp;under attack in 2006&nbsp;and 2008. In 2006,&nbsp;attackers had fired rockets into the college courtyard.

Meanwhile, the United States also extended its condolences. &quot;We stand with the people of Pakistan and government of Pakistan at this difficult hour, and we will continue to work with our partners in Pakistan and across the region to combat the threat of terrorism,&quot; State Department spokesperson John Kirby said.

(WION with inputs from agencies)

Two of the attackers reportedly blew themselves up to avoid being captured, the third was killed in a gun battle with security forces

A militant attack on a police training academy in Pakistan's western city of Quetta has left at least 58 people dead and a 118 injured. The home minister of Balochistan province, Sarfaraz Bugti, said the attack – which began last night at 11.30 pm local time – was carried out by three militants and not six as was previously estimated by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). Bugti said two of the three gunmen blew themselves up to avoid being captured and that the third militant was killed in a gunfight with Pakistani security forces. The attackers are believed to have been affiliated to the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi Al Almi militant group, an offshoot of the Pakistani Taliban × Bugti had previously pegged the death toll at 44, but rescue officials updated the figure to 58. "In the early morning, we have the latest death toll of 58 people who died during the attack last night," doctor Nasir Sumalani at Quetta's government hospital told AFP. The attackers are believed to have been affiliated to the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi Al Almi militant group, an offshoot of the Pakistani Taliban, senior Pakistan Army officer Sher Afghan told the Pakistani newspaper Dawn. The militants had communicated with handlers in Afghanistan and had taken instructions from them, he added. The attackers stormed the front gate of the Balochistan Police College, gunning down a policeman manning the only entrance to the academy. There were some 700 police cadets on campus when the attack began. Most of the injured, some of whom are in critical condition, have been admitted to three diferent hospitals in Quetta — Civil Hospital, Bolan Medical College Hospital, and Military Hospital. Bugti said a Frontier Corps official and a captain were among the injured. "Security forces, including the Frontier Corps and the Pakistan Army light brigade, have cleared 95 per cent of the college area," Bugti said, when asked about the combing operation that got under way after the gunmen were dead. Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack on the training centre and directed provincial and federal authorities to crack down on the perpetrators. The police training centre is considered one of the most sensitive areas of Quetta, the capital city of Balochistan province. It has previously come under attack in 2006 and 2008. In 2006, attackers had fired rockets into the college courtyard. Meanwhile, the United States also extended its condolences. "We stand with the people of Pakistan and government of Pakistan at this difficult hour, and we will continue to work with our partners in Pakistan and across the region to combat the threat of terrorism," State Department spokesperson John Kirby said. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Quetta terror attack: 58 dead in Pakistan after 3 militants storm police college

India today called Pakistan a &quot;terrorist state&quot; and accused it of carrying out &quot;war crimes&quot; against Indians through its &quot;long-standing policy&quot; of sponsoring terrorism, hours after Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif raked up Kashmir issue at the UN General Assembly session. 
 
In a strong rebuttal, India said the terrorists designated by the UN continued to roam Pakistan&#39;s streets freely and operate with State support. 
 
Exercising India&#39;s Right of Reply to Sharif&#39;s &quot;long tirade&quot; about the situation in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, first secretary in the Permanent Mission of India to the UN Eenam Gambhir said &quot;the worst violation of human rights is terrorism.&quot;&nbsp; 
 
&quot;When practised as an instrument of state policy it is a war crime. What my country and our other neighbours are facing today is Pakistan&#39;s long-standing policy of sponsoring terrorism, the consequences of which have spread well beyond our region,&quot; she said. 
 
Gambhir said India sees in Pakistan &quot;a terrorist state&quot; which channelises billions of dollars, much of it diverted from international aid, to training, financing and supporting terrorist groups as militant proxies against it neighbours. 
 
In a reference to terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Masood Azhar and Mumbai terror attack mastermind Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, she said terrorist entities and their leaders, including many designated by the UN, continue to roam the streets of Pakistan freely and operate with State&#39;s support. 
 
&quot;With the approval of authorities, many terrorist organisations raise funds openly in flagrant violation of Pakistan&#39;s international obligations,&quot; Gambhir said. 
 
She said while Pakistan&#39;s nuclear proliferation record is marked by &quot;deception and deceit,&quot; it talks about restraint, renunciation and peace. 
 
&quot;Similar false promises it has made to us - the international community on terrorism. Perhaps renunciation of lies and self-restraint on threats could be a good place for Pakistan to start,&quot; Gambhir said. 
 
India also strongly slammed Sharif for glorifying Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani, who was killed on July 8 by the Indian forces. 
 
&quot;Even today we have heard support by the Prime Minister of Pakistan for a self-acknowledged commander of a known terrorist organisation,&quot; she said. 
 
Gambhir said Pakistan was a democracy deficit country and practises terrorism on its own people. 
 
&quot;It extends support to extremist groups, it suppresses minorities and women and denies basic human rights including through draconian laws,&quot; she added.&nbsp; 
 
(PTI)&nbsp;

India said the terrorists designated by the UN continued to roam Pakistan's streets freely and operate with State support.

India today called Pakistan a "terrorist state" and accused it of carrying out "war crimes" against Indians through its "long-standing policy" of sponsoring terrorism, hours after Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif raked up Kashmir issue at the UN General Assembly session. In a strong rebuttal, India said the terrorists designated by the UN continued to roam Pakistan's streets freely and operate with State support. Exercising India's Right of Reply to Sharif's "long tirade" about the situation in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, first secretary in the Permanent Mission of India to the UN Eenam Gambhir said "the worst violation of human rights is terrorism." "When practised as an instrument of state policy it is a war crime. What my country and our other neighbours are facing today is Pakistan's long-standing policy of sponsoring terrorism, the consequences of which have spread well beyond our region," she said. Gambhir said India sees in Pakistan "a terrorist state" which channelises billions of dollars, much of it diverted from international aid, to training, financing and supporting terrorist groups as militant proxies against it neighbours. In a reference to terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Masood Azhar and Mumbai terror attack mastermind Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, she said terrorist entities and their leaders, including many designated by the UN, continue to roam the streets of Pakistan freely and operate with State's support. "With the approval of authorities, many terrorist organisations raise funds openly in flagrant violation of Pakistan's international obligations," Gambhir said. She said while Pakistan's nuclear proliferation record is marked by "deception and deceit," it talks about restraint, renunciation and peace. "Similar false promises it has made to us - the international community on terrorism. Perhaps renunciation of lies and self-restraint on threats could be a good place for Pakistan to start," Gambhir said. India also strongly slammed Sharif for glorifying Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani, who was killed on July 8 by the Indian forces. "Even today we have heard support by the Prime Minister of Pakistan for a self-acknowledged commander of a known terrorist organisation," she said. Gambhir said Pakistan was a democracy deficit country and practises terrorism on its own people. "It extends support to extremist groups, it suppresses minorities and women and denies basic human rights including through draconian laws," she added. (PTI)

India to UN: Pakistan is a 'terrorist state', carries out war crimes

Raising the issue of Balochistan for the first time before the United Nations, India today accused Pakistan of widespread human rights violations there as well as in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). 
 
In a scathing attack on Pakistan during the 33rd Session of the UN Human Rights Council, India said the main reason for the the disturbances in Kashmir is the cross-border terrorism sponsored by Pakistan that stems from its territorial ambitions over the place that has found concrete expression in repeated armed aggressions. 
 
Pakistan&#39;s dismal track record is well known and many countries have repeatedly called upon Pakistan to end cross- border infiltration; dismantle the terrorism infrastructure, and stop acting as an epicentre of terrorism, India&#39;s ambassador and permanent representative at the UN, Ajit Kumar said. 
 
India&#39;s credentials as a peaceful, democratic, pluralistic society that is deeply committed to the welfare of its people are well established and on the contrary, Pakistan is characterised by authoritarianism, absence of democratic norms and widespread human rights violations across the country including Balochistan, Kumar said. 
 
Exercising its right of reply to the statement made by Pakistan, Kumar said Pakistan is a country, which has systematically abused and violated the human rights of its own citizens, including in Balochistan, as well as of the people of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. 
 
&quot;The fundamental reason for disturbances in Kashmir is the cross-border terrorism sponsored by Pakistan which has provided active support since 1989 to separatist groups and terrorist elements including those operating from the territory under Pakistan&#39;s control. 
 
&quot;Pakistan has once again sought to mask its territorial ambitions and use of terrorism as a state policy under the garb of concern for human rights. 
 
&quot;J&amp;K is an integral part of India and will always remain so. We reject attempts by Pakistan to denigrate the democratic choice that has been regularly exercised by the people of J&amp;K,&quot; he said. 
 
In a no-holds-barred offensive, India said while advocating restraint to others, Pakistan has no hesitation in using air power against its own people. 
 
&quot;Pakistan also continues to provide sanctuary to UN- designated terrorists. It was, therefore, no surprise that Pakistan failed to convince the international community to secure the membership of the Human Rights Council last year,&quot; Kumar added. 
 
India strongly rejects Pakistan&#39;s continued misuse of the Council to make tendentious references about internal matters pertaining to the Indian state of J&amp;K, the ambassador said. 
 
&quot;This stems from Pakistan&#39;s territorial ambitions over Kashmir that has found concrete expression in repeated armed aggressions. Pakistan continues to be in illegal occupation of a large part of territory in J&amp;K,&quot; he said. 
 
Reiterating that the situation in the Valley arose from the death of a self-acknowledged commander of Hizb-ul- Mujahideen terror group, India said it was further aggravated by sustained cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan. 
 
Kumar said the high number of causalities sustained by Indian security forces is a reflection of the tremendous restraint they have displayed in difficult circumstances.&nbsp; 
 
Kumar asserted that India has a robust institutional framework to ensure adherence to rule of law and respect for fundamental rights of the people in J&amp;K, including independent judiciary, National Human Rights Commission, vibrant civil society and free and vocal media. 
 
In contrast, the people of Pakistan as well as Pakistan Occupied Kashmir have become victims of sectarian conflict, terrorism and extreme economic hardship due to Pakistan&#39;s authoritarian and discriminatory policies in complete disregard of human rights, he added. 
 
Emphasising that terrorism was the grossest violation of human rights and should be so acknowledged by any impartial observer. 
 
&quot;The heart of the matter is that we are dealing with a state that regards the use of terrorism as a legitimate instrument of statecraft. 
 
&quot;The world watches with concern as the consequences of Pakistan?s actions have spread beyond its immediate neighbour. All of us stand prepared to help, if only the creators of this monster wake up to the dangers of what they have done to themselves,&quot; the Indian envoy added. 
 
&quot;The institutions of governance in Pakistan have corroded to such an extent that it has become a hub for the global export of terror,&quot; he said. 
 
The envoy also said that it will be in the fitness of things if instead of ritually raking up alleged human rights violations elsewhere, Pakistan were to focus its energies on improving human rights situation within Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. 
 
It must also take action against the perpetrators of terrorist attacks on its neighbours who are roaming freely in Pakistan with impunity, so that terrorism emanating from Pakistan - the gravest risk for peace and stability of the region - could be addressed effectively, he added. 
 
(PTI)

India said the main reason for the the disturbances in Kashmir is the cross-border terrorism sponsored by Pakistan

Raising the issue of Balochistan for the first time before the United Nations, India today accused Pakistan of widespread human rights violations there as well as in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). In a scathing attack on Pakistan during the 33rd Session of the UN Human Rights Council, India said the main reason for the the disturbances in Kashmir is the cross-border terrorism sponsored by Pakistan that stems from its territorial ambitions over the place that has found concrete expression in repeated armed aggressions. Pakistan's dismal track record is well known and many countries have repeatedly called upon Pakistan to end cross- border infiltration; dismantle the terrorism infrastructure, and stop acting as an epicentre of terrorism, India's ambassador and permanent representative at the UN, Ajit Kumar said. India's credentials as a peaceful, democratic, pluralistic society that is deeply committed to the welfare of its people are well established and on the contrary, Pakistan is characterised by authoritarianism, absence of democratic norms and widespread human rights violations across the country including Balochistan, Kumar said. Exercising its right of reply to the statement made by Pakistan, Kumar said Pakistan is a country, which has systematically abused and violated the human rights of its own citizens, including in Balochistan, as well as of the people of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. "The fundamental reason for disturbances in Kashmir is the cross-border terrorism sponsored by Pakistan which has provided active support since 1989 to separatist groups and terrorist elements including those operating from the territory under Pakistan's control. "Pakistan has once again sought to mask its territorial ambitions and use of terrorism as a state policy under the garb of concern for human rights. "J&K is an integral part of India and will always remain so. We reject attempts by Pakistan to denigrate the democratic choice that has been regularly exercised by the people of J&K," he said. In a no-holds-barred offensive, India said while advocating restraint to others, Pakistan has no hesitation in using air power against its own people. "Pakistan also continues to provide sanctuary to UN- designated terrorists. It was, therefore, no surprise that Pakistan failed to convince the international community to secure the membership of the Human Rights Council last year," Kumar added. India strongly rejects Pakistan's continued misuse of the Council to make tendentious references about internal matters pertaining to the Indian state of J&K, the ambassador said. "This stems from Pakistan's territorial ambitions over Kashmir that has found concrete expression in repeated armed aggressions. Pakistan continues to be in illegal occupation of a large part of territory in J&K," he said. Reiterating that the situation in the Valley arose from the death of a self-acknowledged commander of Hizb-ul- Mujahideen terror group, India said it was further aggravated by sustained cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan. Kumar said the high number of causalities sustained by Indian security forces is a reflection of the tremendous restraint they have displayed in difficult circumstances. Kumar asserted that India has a robust institutional framework to ensure adherence to rule of law and respect for fundamental rights of the people in J&K, including independent judiciary, National Human Rights Commission, vibrant civil society and free and vocal media. In contrast, the people of Pakistan as well as Pakistan Occupied Kashmir have become victims of sectarian conflict, terrorism and extreme economic hardship due to Pakistan's authoritarian and discriminatory policies in complete disregard of human rights, he added. Emphasising that terrorism was the grossest violation of human rights and should be so acknowledged by any impartial observer. "The heart of the matter is that we are dealing with a state that regards the use of terrorism as a legitimate instrument of statecraft. "The world watches with concern as the consequences of Pakistan?s actions have spread beyond its immediate neighbour. All of us stand prepared to help, if only the creators of this monster wake up to the dangers of what they have done to themselves," the Indian envoy added. "The institutions of governance in Pakistan have corroded to such an extent that it has become a hub for the global export of terror," he said. The envoy also said that it will be in the fitness of things if instead of ritually raking up alleged human rights violations elsewhere, Pakistan were to focus its energies on improving human rights situation within Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. It must also take action against the perpetrators of terrorist attacks on its neighbours who are roaming freely in Pakistan with impunity, so that terrorism emanating from Pakistan - the gravest risk for peace and stability of the region - could be addressed effectively, he added. (PTI)

India raises Balochistan for first time at UN, lashes out at Pak

Balochistan activists have decided to take their fight for freedom to the doors of the United Nations.&nbsp; 
 
The activists from the oppressive establishment in Pakistan said they will now hold protests on September 13 outside the United Nations General Assembly. 
 
Baloch activists have found support in India for their freedom movement. They recently visited New Delhi to intensify their protests against the alleged human rights situation in Balochistan.&nbsp; 
 
Dilshad Baloch, a prominent activist thanked Indian prime minister Narendra Modi for lending support to the movement.&nbsp; 
 
He had requested other world leaders to also take note of the genocide in Balochistan. 
 
Following Modi&#39;s Independence Day speech, the United States had also expressed concern over the Baloch oppression. 
 
Washington has consistently urged all parties in Pakistan to resolve their differences peaceably and through a &quot;valid political process&quot;. 
 
India&#39;s junior minister Jitendra Singh had last week asserted that Balochistan is a very important security concern for India.&nbsp; 
 
He said Pakistan should put an end to &quot;operational atrocities&quot; unleashed by Islamabad in the region. 
 
&quot;You cannot allow your neighbourhood to be on fire because sooner or later it is going to impact you, you cannot build a heaven inside and leave a hell outside,&quot; the minister said. 
 
(WION) 
 
&nbsp;

Balochistan activists call attention to alleged human rights atrocities by Pakistan in the region

Balochistan activists have decided to take their fight for freedom to the doors of the United Nations. The activists from the oppressive establishment in Pakistan said they will now hold protests on September 13 outside the United Nations General Assembly. Baloch activists have found support in India for their freedom movement. They recently visited New Delhi to intensify their protests against the alleged human rights situation in Balochistan. Dilshad Baloch, a prominent activist thanked Indian prime minister Narendra Modi for lending support to the movement. He had requested other world leaders to also take note of the genocide in Balochistan. Following Modi's Independence Day speech, the United States had also expressed concern over the Baloch oppression. Washington has consistently urged all parties in Pakistan to resolve their differences peaceably and through a "valid political process". India's junior minister Jitendra Singh had last week asserted that Balochistan is a very important security concern for India. He said Pakistan should put an end to "operational atrocities" unleashed by Islamabad in the region. "You cannot allow your neighbourhood to be on fire because sooner or later it is going to impact you, you cannot build a heaven inside and leave a hell outside," the minister said. (WION)

Baloch activists to hold protests outside UNGA

The Balochistan government will send a delegation of parliamentarians to international forums, including the United Nations, to draw the attention of the world on the situation in the province, local media reported today.&nbsp; 
 
The govenment has decided to send the lawmakers to friendly to raise the issue of India&rsquo;s involvement&nbsp;in fomenting violence in the province, a report by Pakistan daily The Express Tribune said.&nbsp; 
 
Balochistan chief minister Sardar Sanaullah Zehri reportedly spoke to the media in Lahore on Sunday and said he is planning to write to&nbsp; the UN Secretary-General in this regard.&nbsp; 
 
&ldquo;These international institutions talk of democracy all the time. The parliamentarians are the true representatives of the Balochistan people and when they talk at these forums their voce carry weight,&rdquo; he was quoted as saying by another Pakistan daily, The Nation, while referring to the negative propaganda of enemies of Pakistan at international level.&nbsp; 
 
During the Indian&nbsp;Independence Day address last month, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had &quot;thanked&quot; the people of Balochistan, the people of Gilgit and the people of Pakistan-controlled Kashmir for &quot;the goodwill they have showed towards him&quot;.&nbsp; 
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<h5>During the Indian&nbsp;Independence Day address last month, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had &quot;thanked&quot; the people of Balochistan, the people of Gilgit and the people of Pakistan-controlled Kashmir for &quot;the goodwill they have showed towards him&quot;.&nbsp;</h5>
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&quot;Time has come that Pakistan shall have to answer to the world for the atrocities committed by it against people in Balochistan and PoK,&quot; he had earlier said at an all-party meeting on Kashmir Valley.&nbsp; 
 
However, his remarks were clearly rejected by Pakistan following which Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif formed a team of 22 members of parliament as special envoys to &quot;travel to various countries and highlight the situation on the Kashmir issue&quot; and &quot;cement Pakistan&#39;s stand in the long-standing Kashmir dispute&quot;. 
 
People in Balochistan recently took to streets against Modi&#39;s remark, Zehri pointed out.&nbsp; 
 
&ldquo;Why did even ten persons had not gathered anywhere in Balochistan to support Mr Modi&rsquo;s assertions? The reason is simple. The so-called separatist elements do not enjoy any public support.&quot;&nbsp; 
 
The chief minister also accused the separatist leader of provoking the youth.&nbsp; 
 
(WION) 
 
&nbsp;

A delegation of lawmakers from the state in Pakistan would also try to draw world's attention towards the province, said local media reports

The Balochistan government will send a delegation of parliamentarians to international forums, including the United Nations, to draw the attention of the world on the situation in the province, local media reported today. The govenment has decided to send the lawmakers to friendly to raise the issue of India’s involvement in fomenting violence in the province, a report by Pakistan daily The Express Tribune said. Balochistan chief minister Sardar Sanaullah Zehri reportedly spoke to the media in Lahore on Sunday and said he is planning to write to the UN Secretary-General in this regard. “These international institutions talk of democracy all the time. The parliamentarians are the true representatives of the Balochistan people and when they talk at these forums their voce carry weight,” he was quoted as saying by another Pakistan daily, The Nation, while referring to the negative propaganda of enemies of Pakistan at international level. During the Indian Independence Day address last month, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had "thanked" the people of Balochistan, the people of Gilgit and the people of Pakistan-controlled Kashmir for "the goodwill they have showed towards him". During the Indian Independence Day address last month, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had "thanked" the people of Balochistan, the people of Gilgit and the people of Pakistan-controlled Kashmir for "the goodwill they have showed towards him". "Time has come that Pakistan shall have to answer to the world for the atrocities committed by it against people in Balochistan and PoK," he had earlier said at an all-party meeting on Kashmir Valley. However, his remarks were clearly rejected by Pakistan following which Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif formed a team of 22 members of parliament as special envoys to "travel to various countries and highlight the situation on the Kashmir issue" and "cement Pakistan's stand in the long-standing Kashmir dispute". People in Balochistan recently took to streets against Modi's remark, Zehri pointed out. “Why did even ten persons had not gathered anywhere in Balochistan to support Mr Modi’s assertions? The reason is simple. The so-called separatist elements do not enjoy any public support." The chief minister also accused the separatist leader of provoking the youth. (WION)

Balochistan chief minister likely to write to UN head over 'India meddling'

All India Radio (AIR), the national public radio broadcaster of India, would soon start programs in Balochi language.&nbsp; 
 
AIR director general Fayyaz Sheheryar disclosed in a meeting recently that the external services division of the national broadcaster is shortly going to start an exclusive news bulletin in &ldquo;Balochi&rdquo; language particularly for the people living in Balochistan province of Pakistan and other areas, according to PTI news agency.&nbsp; 
 
ANI news agency also confirmed the report today.&nbsp; 
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All India Radio(AIR) too soon start programs in Balochi language. Govt gives approval : AIR sources
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This comes close on the heels of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s Baloch remark where he referred to the human rights violations in Balochistan triggering sharp reactions from Pakistan. He made the comments during the Indian Independence Day speech on August 15. Modi also said that he was thanked by the people of Balochistan and Pakistan-controlled-Kashmir, including Gilgit-Baltistan, for flagging their problems. 
 
The remark, however, prompted Pakistan&#39;s foreign office spokesman Nafees Zakaria &nbsp;to say that &#39;Modi had crossed the red line&#39; with the statement. He also claimed that the statement had further strained the ties between the two countries amid the ongoing unrest in Kashmir Valley. Zakaria was referring to the ongoing protests in Kashmir Valley that were triggered following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8.&nbsp; 
 
A top Baloch leader, Brahumdagh Bugti, president of the Baloch Republican Party also alleged last week that Pakistan is engaged in &#39;tsunami of human rights violations in Balochistan&#39; as he sought the help of international community and India.&nbsp; 
 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The external services division would soon start the 'exclusive' programs, AIR director general Fayyaz Sheheryar disclosed in a meeting

All India Radio (AIR), the national public radio broadcaster of India, would soon start programs in Balochi language. AIR director general Fayyaz Sheheryar disclosed in a meeting recently that the external services division of the national broadcaster is shortly going to start an exclusive news bulletin in “Balochi” language particularly for the people living in Balochistan province of Pakistan and other areas, according to PTI news agency. ANI news agency also confirmed the report today. All India Radio(AIR) too soon start programs in Balochi language. Govt gives approval : AIR sources — ANI (@ANI_news) August 31, 2016 This comes close on the heels of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Baloch remark where he referred to the human rights violations in Balochistan triggering sharp reactions from Pakistan. He made the comments during the Indian Independence Day speech on August 15. Modi also said that he was thanked by the people of Balochistan and Pakistan-controlled-Kashmir, including Gilgit-Baltistan, for flagging their problems. The remark, however, prompted Pakistan's foreign office spokesman Nafees Zakaria to say that 'Modi had crossed the red line' with the statement. He also claimed that the statement had further strained the ties between the two countries amid the ongoing unrest in Kashmir Valley. Zakaria was referring to the ongoing protests in Kashmir Valley that were triggered following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8. A top Baloch leader, Brahumdagh Bugti, president of the Baloch Republican Party also alleged last week that Pakistan is engaged in 'tsunami of human rights violations in Balochistan' as he sought the help of international community and India. (WION with inputs from agencies)

All India Radio to air Baloch news bulletin?

China will &quot;have to get involved if any Indian plot disrupts the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in Pakistan&#39;s Balochistan&quot;, a Chinese Think Tank was reported saying. 
 
The statement came following Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing concern &nbsp;over the restive Balochistan. 
 
Hu Shisheng, Director of the Institute of South and Southeast Asian and Oceanian Studies at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR), affiliated with the country&#39;s Ministry of State Security, said that India&#39;s growing military ties with the US and its changed attitude on the disputed South China Sea were not welcomed by China. 
 
&quot;It could be regarded as a watershed moment in India&#39;s policy towards Pakistan. Why Chinese scholars are concerned is because this is for the first time India has mentioned it,&quot; Hu said. 
 
He said that China was concerned about India using &quot;anti-government&quot; elements in Balochistan where Beijing is building the $46 billion CPEC -- crucial to the success of its One Road One Belt project. 
 
&quot;India may take the same approach that it believes Pakistan is taking, asymmetrically using anti-government factors in Pakistan,&quot; Hu said. 
 
&quot;If this kind of plot causes damage to the CPEC, China will have to get involved,&quot; he said. 
 
The CPEC will connect China&#39;s largest province, Xinjiang, with Pakistan&#39;s Gwadar port in Balochistan, marked by rebels and separatists. India has opposed the corridor as it will pass through Gilgit-Baltistan and Pakistan-controlled Kashmir which India calls its own. 
 
Hu pointed that the defence cooperation between New Delhi and Washington had increased significantly after Modi took over as Prime Minster, also referring to US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter&#39;s visit to India in April. 
 
&quot;There is renewal of defence and technological cooperation (between India and the US) for another 10 years, enhancing the cooperation under the framework of DTTI (Defence Technology and Trade Initiative),&quot; Hu added. 
 
India must resist pressure from the US and Japan in countering China, he said. 
 
A UN court had in July rejected China&#39;s claims over the the Nine-Dash line -- which covers almost 90 per cent of the contested South China Sea -- and backed the Philippines which has overlapping claims in the waters, also partly claimed by Vietnam, Brunei, Taiwan and Malaysia. 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies)

China is concerned about the Indian Prime Minister's comments hampering the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project work in Balochistan

China will "have to get involved if any Indian plot disrupts the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in Pakistan's Balochistan", a Chinese Think Tank was reported saying. The statement came following Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing concern over the restive Balochistan. Hu Shisheng, Director of the Institute of South and Southeast Asian and Oceanian Studies at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR), affiliated with the country's Ministry of State Security, said that India's growing military ties with the US and its changed attitude on the disputed South China Sea were not welcomed by China. "It could be regarded as a watershed moment in India's policy towards Pakistan. Why Chinese scholars are concerned is because this is for the first time India has mentioned it," Hu said. He said that China was concerned about India using "anti-government" elements in Balochistan where Beijing is building the $46 billion CPEC -- crucial to the success of its One Road One Belt project. "India may take the same approach that it believes Pakistan is taking, asymmetrically using anti-government factors in Pakistan," Hu said. "If this kind of plot causes damage to the CPEC, China will have to get involved," he said. The CPEC will connect China's largest province, Xinjiang, with Pakistan's Gwadar port in Balochistan, marked by rebels and separatists. India has opposed the corridor as it will pass through Gilgit-Baltistan and Pakistan-controlled Kashmir which India calls its own. Hu pointed that the defence cooperation between New Delhi and Washington had increased significantly after Modi took over as Prime Minster, also referring to US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter's visit to India in April. "There is renewal of defence and technological cooperation (between India and the US) for another 10 years, enhancing the cooperation under the framework of DTTI (Defence Technology and Trade Initiative)," Hu added. India must resist pressure from the US and Japan in countering China, he said. A UN court had in July rejected China's claims over the the Nine-Dash line -- which covers almost 90 per cent of the contested South China Sea -- and backed the Philippines which has overlapping claims in the waters, also partly claimed by Vietnam, Brunei, Taiwan and Malaysia. (WION with inputs from agencies)

'Will get involved if India stirs up trouble in Balochistan', Chinese think tank warns

A Baloch leader today, August 27 alleged that Pakistani forces were engaging in a &quot;tsunami of human rights violations&quot; in Balochistan. 
 
The leader has asked for the international community&#39;s (including India) intervention in the Baloch natiolist movement. 
 
Baloch Republican Party president Brahumdagh Bugti thanked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for recently raising concern over the situation in Balochistan. 
 
&quot;Pak forces are engaged in tsunami of human rights violations. We do not want to live with Pakistan anymore,&quot; said the Switzerland-based Bugti. 
 
He insisted on a referendum of Baloch people under the supervision of the United Nations. 
 
He made an appeal to the US, NATO countries, Israel and India, to help them in their fight for independence. 
 
He said he is ready for a dialogue with the Pakistani government but insisted that there is no going back on freedom movement. 
 
Balochistan, of the size of France, is Pakistan&#39;s largest province which has been under &#39;illegal Pakistani occupation for the last seven decades&#39;, he said. 
 
Bugti called Modi&#39;s recent remarks the &quot;most powerful statement&quot; in the last seven decades. 
 
&quot;It is for the first time that an Indian Prime Minister has spoken. We believe that India should have taken this step a long time ago,&quot; he said. 
 
&quot;I am thoroughly indebted to Prime Minister Modi. I thank Prime Minister Modi for speaking raising the voice of Baloch people in his Independence Day address,&quot; he added.&nbsp; 
 
He claimed that the use of aerial bombardment, and gases against the people of Balochistan was a routine, calling Balochistan the world capital of missing people. 
 
&quot;We are political people. We want to solve this with peaceful means. But there is no way we are going to be part of the Pakistan any more. We want freedom from Pakistan. We are not fools to try our luck again and again with Pakistan. We are ready to negotiate through peaceful means,&quot; Bugti said. 
 
&quot;So far we have never received any support from any international countries including India. We want to request India and other countries to help Balochistan. It is genocide of (the) Baloch (people) in Pakistan going on,&quot; he said. 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies)

Baloch Republican Party president Brahumdagh Bugti has sought international intervention in the Balochistan issue

A Baloch leader today, August 27 alleged that Pakistani forces were engaging in a "tsunami of human rights violations" in Balochistan. The leader has asked for the international community's (including India) intervention in the Baloch natiolist movement. Baloch Republican Party president Brahumdagh Bugti thanked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for recently raising concern over the situation in Balochistan. "Pak forces are engaged in tsunami of human rights violations. We do not want to live with Pakistan anymore," said the Switzerland-based Bugti. He insisted on a referendum of Baloch people under the supervision of the United Nations. He made an appeal to the US, NATO countries, Israel and India, to help them in their fight for independence. He said he is ready for a dialogue with the Pakistani government but insisted that there is no going back on freedom movement. Balochistan, of the size of France, is Pakistan's largest province which has been under 'illegal Pakistani occupation for the last seven decades', he said. Bugti called Modi's recent remarks the "most powerful statement" in the last seven decades. "It is for the first time that an Indian Prime Minister has spoken. We believe that India should have taken this step a long time ago," he said. "I am thoroughly indebted to Prime Minister Modi. I thank Prime Minister Modi for speaking raising the voice of Baloch people in his Independence Day address," he added. He claimed that the use of aerial bombardment, and gases against the people of Balochistan was a routine, calling Balochistan the world capital of missing people. "We are political people. We want to solve this with peaceful means. But there is no way we are going to be part of the Pakistan any more. We want freedom from Pakistan. We are not fools to try our luck again and again with Pakistan. We are ready to negotiate through peaceful means," Bugti said. "So far we have never received any support from any international countries including India. We want to request India and other countries to help Balochistan. It is genocide of (the) Baloch (people) in Pakistan going on," he said. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Baloch leader hits at Pakistani forces, calls Balochistan 'world capital of missing people'

Six soldiers and a provinicial government official were killed in an ambush on&nbsp;their convoy today when armed gunmen attacked them in the&nbsp;southwest province of Balochistan. 
 
The incident took place 80 kilometres from Gwadar, a vital port in a planned&nbsp;China-Pakistan economic corridor from the Arabian sea to China&#39;s western&nbsp;Xinjiang district. 
 
The gunmen hurled grenades and fired rockets at the convoy, informed the Gwadar deputy district commissioner. 
 
Separatist groups in Balochistan&nbsp;have been involved in several attacks on the&nbsp;country&#39;s security forces as part of their struggle for independence. 
 
Baloch activists have claimed that security forces have carried out extrajudicial&nbsp;killings, and thousands of people have disappeared from the region. 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies)

The gunmen hurled grenades and fired rockets at the convoy, informed the deputy district commissioner of southwestern Gwadar port city

Six soldiers and a provinicial government official were killed in an ambush on their convoy today when armed gunmen attacked them in the southwest province of Balochistan. The incident took place 80 kilometres from Gwadar, a vital port in a planned China-Pakistan economic corridor from the Arabian sea to China's western Xinjiang district. The gunmen hurled grenades and fired rockets at the convoy, informed the Gwadar deputy district commissioner. Separatist groups in Balochistan have been involved in several attacks on the country's security forces as part of their struggle for independence. Baloch activists have claimed that security forces have carried out extrajudicial killings, and thousands of people have disappeared from the region. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Attack on convoy kills 7 in Pakistan's Balochistan

When Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met top aides to prepare last week&#39;s annual Independence Day address, some senior bureaucrats warned him against mentioning Balochistan, arch-rival Pakistan&#39;s restive southwestern province. 
 
Referring to Balochistan in such a prominent speech would be a highly unusual move bound to ratchet up tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours more used to trading barbs over northern Kashmir state, the cause of two of their three wars. 
 
According to a senior official at the meeting in early August, the more hawkish politicians in the room, angered by what they saw as Pakistan&#39;s recent trouble-making in Kashmir, thought differently, and so did Modi. 
 
By siding with the hawks, and including Balochistan in his address, Modi signalled a more muscular approach towards Pakistan. 
 
That dims prospects of bringing the bitter rivals closer together to reduce economic pain and the risk of more violence, an issue that will be high on US secretary of state John Kerry&#39;s agenda when he lands in New Delhi on Monday for a three-day visit. 
 
&quot;The bureaucrats suggested that talking about Balochistan is a good idea but may be the Independence Day speech was not a good platform for it,&quot; said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the meeting&#39;s sensitivity. 
 
Defence minister Manohar Parrikar &quot;rejected these ideas&quot;, while home minister Rajnath Singh &quot;supported him (Parrikar) by saying we should do everything to silence Pakistan&quot;, this official said. 
 
India&#39;s ministry for external affairs declined to comment on the debate about Modi&#39;s speech. His office, and the defence and home ministries, did not respond to requests for comment. 
 
Speaking from the ramparts of the 17th-century Red Fort in Old Delhi on August 15, Modi thanked the Baloch people for their support after a number of separatist leaders published videos praising him for acknowledging their cause previously. 
 
He also lashed out at supporters of &quot;terrorism&quot;, in a more familiar broadside against India&#39;s old foe. 
 
Crossing the red line 
 
Pakistan has seized on Modi&#39;s speech as evidence that India has a hand in a decades-long Baloch separatist campaign, in which insurgents in the resource-rich yet impoverished region have launched sporadic attacks and demanded independence. India denies the charge. 
 
A senior foreign ministry official in Islamabad said Modi had &quot;crossed the red line&quot;. 
 
Indian officials said Modi&#39;s speech was designed to remind the world about alleged human rights abuses by Pakistani forces in Balochistan, just as Pakistan accuses India of abusing civilians in the disputed region of Kashmir during recent unrest. 
 
But outside Modi&#39;s entourage, questions are being asked about what strategic reward, if any, India can hope to gain by raising the geopolitical stakes. 
 
&quot;Politically, it&#39;s much less useful in terms of Pakistan using this as evidence of Indian meddling. It gives them ammunition,&quot; said Daniel Markey, a South Asia expert at Johns Hopkins University in Washington, referring to Modi&#39;s mention of Balochistan. 
 
But he added: &quot;There is a strategic utility in looking a little unhinged, in sending that message.&quot; 
 
A New Delhi-based diplomat from a major power with traditionally close ties to India said it will only escalate tension. 
 
Deteriorating relations 
 
Relations between India and Pakistan have deteriorated since the killing of a separatist leader in Indian-ruled Kashmir on July 8 sparked the worst violence in the disputed territory in six years. 
 
At least 66 protesters and two security personnel have been killed and thousands wounded on both sides, according to official state figures. 
 
India blames Pakistan for failing to stop militants crossing the heavily-militarised de facto border between them and attacking Indian security forces. Pakistan denies this. 
 
Two senior Indian officials said Modi had become frustrated with Pakistan&#39;s latest attempt to draw wide international attention to the Kashmir question and the current clampdown, and to take the matter to the United Nations. 
 
&quot;Dealing with militancy is our internal issue and we will not tolerate any other country&#39;s interference,&quot; said one of the officials, from Modi&#39;s nationalist ruling party, who is closely involved in regional policy. 
 
At the August meeting, Parrikar, the defence minister, also said that by raising Balochistan, Modi would be highlighting China&#39;s role in unrest in the region, said the official present. 
 
The reference to China reflects Indian unease at Beijing&#39;s backing of a $46 billion trade corridor running through land in northeast Pakistan that New Delhi claims, onward through Balochistan to the port of Gwadar on the Arabian Sea coast. 
 
Some of the Baloch separatist leaders who praised Modi before his address worry that their battle for a homeland will become a political football between the South Asian neighbours. 
 
&quot;If India&#39;s support is just a reaction to the politics and to Kashmir, then it could damage the political struggle,&quot; said Geneva-based Baloch Republican Party leader Brahamdagh Bugti. 
 
He said New Delhi had rejected his application for Indian asylum in 2007. 
 
(Reuters) 
&nbsp;

By including Balochistan in his address, Modi signalled a more muscular approach towards Pakistan.

When Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met top aides to prepare last week's annual Independence Day address, some senior bureaucrats warned him against mentioning Balochistan, arch-rival Pakistan's restive southwestern province. Referring to Balochistan in such a prominent speech would be a highly unusual move bound to ratchet up tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours more used to trading barbs over northern Kashmir state, the cause of two of their three wars. According to a senior official at the meeting in early August, the more hawkish politicians in the room, angered by what they saw as Pakistan's recent trouble-making in Kashmir, thought differently, and so did Modi. By siding with the hawks, and including Balochistan in his address, Modi signalled a more muscular approach towards Pakistan. That dims prospects of bringing the bitter rivals closer together to reduce economic pain and the risk of more violence, an issue that will be high on US secretary of state John Kerry's agenda when he lands in New Delhi on Monday for a three-day visit. "The bureaucrats suggested that talking about Balochistan is a good idea but may be the Independence Day speech was not a good platform for it," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the meeting's sensitivity. Defence minister Manohar Parrikar "rejected these ideas", while home minister Rajnath Singh "supported him (Parrikar) by saying we should do everything to silence Pakistan", this official said. India's ministry for external affairs declined to comment on the debate about Modi's speech. His office, and the defence and home ministries, did not respond to requests for comment. Speaking from the ramparts of the 17th-century Red Fort in Old Delhi on August 15, Modi thanked the Baloch people for their support after a number of separatist leaders published videos praising him for acknowledging their cause previously. He also lashed out at supporters of "terrorism", in a more familiar broadside against India's old foe. Crossing the red line Pakistan has seized on Modi's speech as evidence that India has a hand in a decades-long Baloch separatist campaign, in which insurgents in the resource-rich yet impoverished region have launched sporadic attacks and demanded independence. India denies the charge. A senior foreign ministry official in Islamabad said Modi had "crossed the red line". Indian officials said Modi's speech was designed to remind the world about alleged human rights abuses by Pakistani forces in Balochistan, just as Pakistan accuses India of abusing civilians in the disputed region of Kashmir during recent unrest. But outside Modi's entourage, questions are being asked about what strategic reward, if any, India can hope to gain by raising the geopolitical stakes. "Politically, it's much less useful in terms of Pakistan using this as evidence of Indian meddling. It gives them ammunition," said Daniel Markey, a South Asia expert at Johns Hopkins University in Washington, referring to Modi's mention of Balochistan. But he added: "There is a strategic utility in looking a little unhinged, in sending that message." A New Delhi-based diplomat from a major power with traditionally close ties to India said it will only escalate tension. Deteriorating relations Relations between India and Pakistan have deteriorated since the killing of a separatist leader in Indian-ruled Kashmir on July 8 sparked the worst violence in the disputed territory in six years. At least 66 protesters and two security personnel have been killed and thousands wounded on both sides, according to official state figures. India blames Pakistan for failing to stop militants crossing the heavily-militarised de facto border between them and attacking Indian security forces. Pakistan denies this. Two senior Indian officials said Modi had become frustrated with Pakistan's latest attempt to draw wide international attention to the Kashmir question and the current clampdown, and to take the matter to the United Nations. "Dealing with militancy is our internal issue and we will not tolerate any other country's interference," said one of the officials, from Modi's nationalist ruling party, who is closely involved in regional policy. At the August meeting, Parrikar, the defence minister, also said that by raising Balochistan, Modi would be highlighting China's role in unrest in the region, said the official present. The reference to China reflects Indian unease at Beijing's backing of a $46 billion trade corridor running through land in northeast Pakistan that New Delhi claims, onward through Balochistan to the port of Gwadar on the Arabian Sea coast. Some of the Baloch separatist leaders who praised Modi before his address worry that their battle for a homeland will become a political football between the South Asian neighbours. "If India's support is just a reaction to the politics and to Kashmir, then it could damage the political struggle," said Geneva-based Baloch Republican Party leader Brahamdagh Bugti. He said New Delhi had rejected his application for Indian asylum in 2007. (Reuters)

Indian PM Modi goaded Pakistan on Balochistan in deliberate but risky move

Balochistan is Pakistan&#39;s most complicated region and significant parts of the restive province are not necessarily controlled by the government, according to a former Pakistani diplomat. 
 
&quot;Balochistan is Pakistan&#39;s most complicated region, and unfortunately people try to simplify the problems there. It is not all about the mistakes of the Pakistani military, or the corruption of civilians in power, or the nationalists, or the presence of the Taliban. It is all those things,&quot; the former Pakistan Ambassador to the US, Husain Haqqani, said in an interview to The Atlantic magazine. 
 
Noting that significant parts of Balochistan are not necessarily controlled by Pakistan&#39;s central government, Haqqani said the ethnic Baloch areas have a greater sympathy for nationalists who would like to see either an independent or autonomous Balochistan. 
 
&quot;The army tries to suppress them, sometimes with the help of religious extremists,&quot; he said. 
 
&quot;Also, the elected government in the province did not get significant mandates because the Baloch parties boycotted the last election and many people were elected with the low turnout of 10, 12, in some places 15 per cent. So these political leaders are seen by the majority of Baloch as the puppets of Islamabad,&quot; he added. 
 
Responding to a question on freedom movement in Balochistan, Haqqani said this goes back to the country&#39;s creation, when the Muslim majority part of India left and became Pakistan. 
 
&quot;Some Baloch leaders say Balochistan&#39;s integration into Pakistan was done forcefully. But more important than that is the neglect. This is a resource-rich province, and instead of the people benefitting from those resources, they end up in other parts of Pakistan,&quot; he said. 
 
The Pakistani military, he said, has to have a clear definition of who it considers the enemy. 
 
Instead of cultivating one group of jihadi and fighting others, it needs to go after all jihadi and extremist groups. 
 
&quot;It also needs to start a process of reconciliation with the Baloch nationalists. These are citizens of Pakistan who feel they have been neglected, and therefore are feeling restive and unhappy. Putting in more troops is only going to escalate the violence. Not end it,&quot; Haqqani said.&nbsp; 
 
(PTI)

Ex-diplomat noted there are several factors behind Pakistan central government's inability to control large swathes of the restive region

Balochistan is Pakistan's most complicated region and significant parts of the restive province are not necessarily controlled by the government, according to a former Pakistani diplomat. "Balochistan is Pakistan's most complicated region, and unfortunately people try to simplify the problems there. It is not all about the mistakes of the Pakistani military, or the corruption of civilians in power, or the nationalists, or the presence of the Taliban. It is all those things," the former Pakistan Ambassador to the US, Husain Haqqani, said in an interview to The Atlantic magazine. Noting that significant parts of Balochistan are not necessarily controlled by Pakistan's central government, Haqqani said the ethnic Baloch areas have a greater sympathy for nationalists who would like to see either an independent or autonomous Balochistan. "The army tries to suppress them, sometimes with the help of religious extremists," he said. "Also, the elected government in the province did not get significant mandates because the Baloch parties boycotted the last election and many people were elected with the low turnout of 10, 12, in some places 15 per cent. So these political leaders are seen by the majority of Baloch as the puppets of Islamabad," he added. Responding to a question on freedom movement in Balochistan, Haqqani said this goes back to the country's creation, when the Muslim majority part of India left and became Pakistan. "Some Baloch leaders say Balochistan's integration into Pakistan was done forcefully. But more important than that is the neglect. This is a resource-rich province, and instead of the people benefitting from those resources, they end up in other parts of Pakistan," he said. The Pakistani military, he said, has to have a clear definition of who it considers the enemy. Instead of cultivating one group of jihadi and fighting others, it needs to go after all jihadi and extremist groups. "It also needs to start a process of reconciliation with the Baloch nationalists. These are citizens of Pakistan who feel they have been neglected, and therefore are feeling restive and unhappy. Putting in more troops is only going to escalate the violence. Not end it," Haqqani said. (PTI)

Balochistan is Pakistan's most complicated region, says former Pakistan ambassador to US

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