[whataretheysaying] Mary Madigan: On Pakistan: Why are Musharraf's efforts to fight terrorism so lukewarm?

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Posted by Mary Madigan:
On Pakistan: Why are Musharraf's efforts to fight terrorism so lukewarm?
http://whataretheysaying.powerblogs.com/posts/1194630731.shtml


   Via [1]Peter Tatchell:

     Despite six decades of Pakistani military occupation, the Baluch
     people have never given up their quest for independence. A recent
     Baluch grand jirga, or assembly, decided to approach the
     International Court of Justice at The Hague to force Pakistan to
     honour its autonomy commitments under the 1948 Instruments of
     Accession. Their legal case is strong but realpolitik may deny the
     Baluch the justice they deserve.

     The Westâs attitude towards Baluchistanâs quest for the resumption
     of its brief 1947-48 sovereignty has been less than honourable.
     Because Britain and the United States want Pakistan as an ally in
     the so-called âwar on terror,â they have armed Pakistan and
     acquiesced with its suppression of the Baluch.

     This is short-sighted political manoeuvring. Pakistanâs war against
     Baluchistan is strengthening the position of the Taliban, who have
     exploited the unstable, strife-ridden situation to establish bases
     and influence in the region. From these bases, the Taliban
     terrorise the more liberal and secular Baluch people and seek to
     enforce the Talibanisation of Baluchistan. The Pakistani government
     tolerates the Taliban, on the grounds that its presence acts as a
     second force to crush the Baluch people and weaken their struggle
     for independence.

     The Taliban bases in Baluchistan are also hide-outs from which they
     mount military operations to overthrow the imperfect but
     democratically elected government of Afghanistan. This campaign to
     usurp power in Kabul and reimpose a fundamentalist regime seems to
     be taking place with the tacit collusion of key figures in the
     Pakistani government, military and intelligence services. The
     Pakistanis are talking no serious action to stop the Taliban using
     Baluchistan as a base for its war against Afghan democracy and
     human rights.

   Tatchell's description of the oppression suffered by the people of
   Baluchistan may be one-sided, but it does show us that there are more
   factors in the conflict that we hear about in the media.

References

   1. http://hurryupharry.bloghouse.net/archives/2007/08/14/pakistan_tries_to_crush_the_people_of_baluchistan.php