Has the United States of America just sold F-16’s into the wrong hands?
- In Military & Strategic Affairs
- 08:03 AM, Mar 26, 2016
- Sobdar Baluch
Striking a deal with Pakistan (“the host of Osama Bin Laden”) and thereby selling F-16’s to it is equivalent to scratching the deep and unhealed wounds of all NATO and Afghan soldiers and civilians who have devoted their entire lives fighting Pakistan sponsored terrorists. This deal will badly affect the Balochi national cause that has been brutally targeted with Cobra helicopters and other western supplied weapons. The Balochi nation is currently engaged in its fifth attempt to regain its independence but Pakistan’s response to a peaceful political struggle has not just been hostile but brutal through military attacks, subjugation of civilians, by pursuing “kill and dump” policy through state backed death squads.
Hypothetically saying, even if the Americans don’t care about the lives of innocent Baloch people they should at least think of their own sons, daughters, wives, husbands and mothers who have been killed by Pakistani military supported Jihadist extremists in Afghanistan. There is no doubt that every IED attack or ambush is engineered and coordinated from the other side of the border in Pakistan – the Western powers specially America knows this fact but unfortunately is taking no practical step to held Pakistan accountable for its crimes.
The Americans know that Pakistan has been playing a double role in the war against terror because these very religious monsters were the creation of Pakistan and its notorious spy agency “ISI” and they used them as a tool for blackmailing the Western world to receive more financial and military aid. Think Tanks, Intellectuals and regional experts have frequently been stumped as to why despite being a super power and a globally responsive country, the USA had failed to support the secular and democratic Baloch struggle for their freedom???
As genuine Baloch leaders and activists have time and again said that a free Balochistan can guarantee durable peace in the region and will act as an important barrier to stop cross border terrorism. There is no doubt that the Baloch barrier against terrorism will be effective and put an end to Pakistan’s infiltration into Afghanistan because an independent Balochistan will not allow Pakistani military to use their soil for exporting Jihadist hatemongers into Afghanistan through Baloch territory.
There is no valid reason to sell F16 Fighter Jets to Pakistan army because Pakistan has proved itself to be the Godfather of Taliban, Haqqani Network and Al Qaida. It is somewhat hard to believe that the wounds of the victims of terrorist attacks on 9/11 in the US, 7/7 in the UK and 26/11 in Mumbai and many other places around the world have not completely healed but the US government has brushed everything aside just for their petty financial interests.
Figure 1: (L-R) Nawabzada Jamil Akbar Bugti Baloch, Shaheed Nawabzada Balach Marri Baloch, Shaheed Nawab Akbar Bugti Baloch. Photo by: Balochvoice.com
General Pervez Musharraf’s confessions
On January 4, 2005, Pakistan Army General Musharraf openly threatened Baloch nationalist leaders and other freedom seeking population. He appeared on Pakistan national TV and threatened the Baloch people: “Don’t push us. It is not the 1970s. This time you won’t even know what hit you.” Soon after his statement, the army started a massive operation across Balochistan. In August 26, 2006 the Pakistan army with the permission and direct order of General Musharraf attacked and killed 78-year-old Baloch leader Nawab Akbar Bugti in Tharatani region of Kahan, Balochistan.
In another interview to Dunya TV, General Musharraf revealed that Pakistan had trained Lashkar-e-Taiba and other groups during the 1990s' struggle in Kashmir, and that Hafiz Saeed and Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi were considered to be ‘heroes’ and ‘freedom fighters'. These statements come straight from the horse’s mouth and are confessions that the Pakistan army had been training, arming and nurturing Jihadists to support their holy war against non-Islamic nations.
Figure 2 Pakistan army in a light mood with "Good Taliban" whom General Musharraf titled as the heroes of Pakistan. Photo credits; Getty Images.
Yet Another Confession. This one from Sartaz Aziz
For years, Pakistan had denied that the Afghan Taliban enjoyed a safe haven on its soil or that Islamabad could do anything to end their violent campaign in Afghanistan that has seen tens of thousands of Afghan civilians and international troops killed since 2002. But in an unusually candid admission, Sartaj Aziz, Pakistan's adviser for foreign affairs admitted that Islamabad had considerable influence over the Taliban since its leaders live in their very own country. He further revealed that the top Taliban leadership reside in Pakistan with their family members and ‘We [Pakistan] have given them treatment’. Even though he did not reveal the exact location of the Taliban leadership, it is widely known that they live in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi and Abbottabad under state protocol.
Quetta is the stronghold of the Haqqani Network where they have access to Pashtun dominated cities such as Qila Saifullah, Pashin, Qila Abdullah, Baloch-Afghan bordering area of Chaman and Kuchlak city where recently Shabaz Taseer was released after 5 years of abduction. A senior Baloch journalist and analyst, Zulfiqar Baloch while in an interview with BBC Urdu said that Kuchlak is a place for recruitment and training for Taliban.
Treating the War Wounded---Humanitarian or an Elaborate Ruse?
Afghanistan is facing a full fledge insurgency since the US lead forces landed in Afghanistan after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Every day we receive reports of gun battle between Taliban and Afghan forces but the question arises where do those injured Afghan Taliban go for treatment? Sources say that the Pakistan army and the ISI have given standing instructions to hospitals to treat Taliban fighters. These terrorists after crossing the Afghan border are brought in by plain clothed FC in private ambulances, later admitted in hospitals until they fully recover and are able to join ISI’s holy war in Afghanistan again. On 31st December 2015, former cricketer and the Chief of Tehrek-e-Insaf Imran Khan while speaking to Hamid Mir of Geo News TV admitted that some Taliban top leadership were indeed treated at his Shaukat Khanim Cancer Hospital in Lahore. He further said that “He came to know only when he received a letter thanking him from Afghan Taliban leaders.” He further revealed that “many people from Afghanistan come to SKMCH for medical treatment.”
Former ISI Chief Asad Durrani’s Admission
In an episode on Head to Head, Mehdi Hasan challenged General Durrani on whether Pakistan was really fighting or fueling international terrorism. "They deluded themselves in believing that they were allies. Actually, they were not," said former Director-General of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) commenting on Pakistan's rocky relationship with the United States.
Finally, from the Defense Minister of Pakistan
Pakistani defense Minister Khawaja Asif in interview regarding Pakistani nukes boldly said that the Pakistani nuclear weapons were not for a showcase. “We should pray that such an option never arises, but if we need to use them (nuclear weapons) for our survival we will.”
Observers believe that at present Pakistan fears nothing as much as the Baloch struggle for freedom. So it is quite possible if Pakistan army sees their defeat which is inevitable in Balochistan they ‘will’ use the nuclear weapons even against Baloch people.
Sadly, Dr. Shakil Afridi is not Raymond Davis
In January 2011, Raymond Davis gunned down two motorcyclists who were following him suspiciously in Lahore. He was subsequently arrested and later released by the Pakistani authorities after claiming that the families of victims have pardoned Mr. Davis. Maybe blood money was also paid. However, Dr. Shakil Afridi who had helped the US intelligence pin point the hideout of Osama Bin Laden has been abandoned to his fate. After Osama’s episode, Mr. Afridi was arrested and sent behind bars for 30 years. This decision of Pakistan army contradicts the claims that it is allied with the USA in war on terror. Mr. Afridi who helped America to find and kill the most wanted man on earth, is currently languishing in prison in Pakistan.
The world is turning a blind eye ---AGAIN!
Some American Senators who voted in favor of the F16 deal with Pakistan may have unjustly feared that if their government did not sell fighter jets to Pakistan, then apparently Pakistan would buy similarly configured planes from Russia or France. These senators and officials are, however, ignoring the fact that Pakistan is like a snake and that it bites the very hand that feeds it.
After losing the US Umbrella, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia also announced an economic package of 122 Million $ to Pakistan. The Saudis apparently want to buy nuclear weapons from Pakistan to be able to counter Iranian threats. It is a perfect quid pro quo with the Saudis wanting Pakistan’s support in the fight against Yemini Houthis and Pakistan wanting Saudis to shut their eyes and ears to Pakistani campaigns in Balochistan. Also, the huge sums provided by the Saudi government will probably be used to pay for the F16 fighter jets and other military hardware that Pakistan is buying. These weapons and jets will undoubtedly be used against the Baloch civilians and Saudi and US are knowingly or unknowingly are playing their part in furthering Pakistan’s dirty war against Baloch people. In the 70’s the world ignored Pakistan’s dirty war against Bengali people and now it is frightening that they are supporting Pakistan’s dirty war against Baloch people. History will not remember such collusion and collaboration in good words.
China which is dreaming to be the next global power has already started its efforts to find a foothold in the warm waters of the Arabian Sea. To get its hand on the Strait of Hormuz it is collaborating on a naval base and other military facilities in Gwadar, Balochistan. The China-Pakistan nexus will in the future become a big headache for the US and the rest of the world. It is also certain that if China succeeds in having foothold in Balochistan then Pakistan will ditch America and become a strategic ally with China.
To contain Chinese influence in Balochistan, the US and other powers including India and some of the Gulf states should help the Balochi freedom movement. The Baloch, however, will not act as a proxy of any power but may collaborate with the US, India and Afghanistan should they cooperate with the Baloch freedom struggle.
The Baloch will until that time resist the presence of China on their land at all costs – with or without the support of the above mentioned international powers because it is simply a matter of Baloch people’s survival and national identity. China on the other hand has already started collaborating with Pakistan to intensify the genocide by displacing, arresting and killing the inhabitants of Gwadar and other areas from where the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor passes. The CPEC is not only depriving Baloch population of Gwadar but it will also cause an ethnic flooding in Balochistan which might, if not stopped, wash away the Baloch people to slum areas of Gwadar district and turn the Baloch into a minority in their own homeland.
The Killing of Baloch people with US origin equipment
A video footage surfaced in 2005 showing Pakistani bombing on civilian population in Kohistan Marri. In this short video, some local Marri tribesmen can be seen gathering around an unexploded bomb which was dropped by the PAF (Pakistan air force) in oil rich Kahan area.
Figure 2 & 3: Pakistani Mirage fighter jet ready to bomb Baloch villages in Balochistan. Photo taken from Pakistan Air Force pages.
The locals holding a hand held video camera, zoomed in onto the text on unexploded bombs where it can clearly be seen that it was a US made bomb.
Recently 10 Baloch residents of Jaladi, Saangaan, Yakho, Peer Ismail areas of Bolan districts (some 300 km away from Quetta), were brutally killed in an air strike. A similar air offensive was carried out against Bugti tribesmen in Dera Bugti region which resulted in the killing of 7 unarmed Baloch nomads. Scores of Baloch civilians have been killed and dead bodies of the deceased charred beyond recognition in Awaran, Mashkay, Khuzdar, Kalat during operations by Western Supplied Fighter jets and helicopters.
On 17 March 2006, Pakistan army and FC attacked the palace of Baloch leader Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti. The indiscriminate shelling and air strikes resulted in killing of dozens of Baloch, majority of the victims were women and children from Hindu Community living in Sui for decades. Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti narrowly escaped the life attempt when his guest house came under a direct air strike. The time of attack he was present in the building.
Figure 3: Baloch children killed during an air strike by Pakistan Air force in Kohistan Marri of Kahan District on 17th December 2006. Photo by; Balochvoice.com
Figure 4: Two Baloch nomads standing near the dead bodies of Baloch children killed during military operation in Marri area in December 2005. Photo by; Balochvoice.com
Pakistan army has been consistently engaged in ground offensives and air strikes against Baloch populations since early 2000 when the current phase of Baloch liberation movement started. During these ruthless military operations, approximately 20,000 Baloch including women, children and elderly have been killed. They either fell prey to Pakistan’s military attacks, targeted killings or were arrested, made to disappear and/or killed in custody.
The International Voice for Baloch Missing Persons keeps a data of disappeared persons on their official website (www.bygwaah.com) and they co-ordinate with Voice for Baloch Missing Persons and other Baloch group and human rights activists in Balochistan. Together they have estimated that more than 20,000 Baloch are currently in the illegal custody of Pakistani forces.
The International Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (IVBMP) held several seminars, protests and meeting with human rights representatives including the United Nations and UNHRC in Geneva. They have provided the lists of enforced-disappeared persons to the respective UN bodies and the WGEID. There are also around 400 Baloch women who were abducted during military actions in Kohistan Marri (Kohlu and Kahan districts), Dera Bugti district, Bolan and Sibbi districts.
The Home Secretary of Balochistan, Akbar Hussain Durrani, recently stated that provincial law enforcement agencies have arrested more than 9,000 suspected militants after the implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP). NAP is the draconian law which the military passed after the Army Public School Massacre of innocent school children in Peshawar on 16th December, 2014. Pakistan army has mercilessly used this law to arrest, confine and kill Baloch political activists.
Even though the arrest of 9000 ‘militants’ from Balochistan was admitted, there is no further elaboration about the well-being, the conditions under which they are kept and most importantly about the whereabouts of these 9000 ‘suspected militants’. Baloch pro-freedom groups and human rights organizations, however, argue that these people were innocent and peaceful political activists and that they disappeared after their abduction by Pakistan paramilitary FC and the army.
Mr. Durrani also admitted that 1,840 Intelligence Based Operations (IBOs) have been conducted in Balochistan after the implementation of NAP since 24 December 2014 till September 2015. He further added that during these military operations, 204 people have been killed among them some high profile names but again failed to give any further details about the killed persons.
Threats to Baloch identity
Pakistan has ignored Baloch people at all forums. Pakistan has been deliberately distorting Baloch history, geography, culture and tradition. In the Subject “Sociology of Pakistan, the Baloch people have been described as ‘uncivilized, illiterate and Savage’. The Federal Board in Punjab has allowed this book to be published and taught to intermediate students. This is a clear and pre-planned conspiracy to distort Baloch civilization and culture to brainwash the next generation against the Baloch people.
Figure 5: Pakistan is teaching its college students that Balochis are savage, uncivilized and busy in fighting and looting.Photo from Google.
Figure 6: Pakistan is teaching its students that Baloch are savage, uncivilized and busy in fighting and looting.Photo from Google.
Similarly, in a survey conducted by BBC Urdu service’s Sharjil Baloch who asked the University level students in Punjab province to name major cities of Balochistan or if they knew anything about Balochistan at all. The supposedly educated youth of Pakistan could not name any single city of Balochistan and none of them knew anything about Baloch history, tradition, culture and geography. Some of them managed to name Quetta and Gwadar. Perhaps they knew Quetta and Gwadar because of the Army presence in those areas. The views of the majority of Pakistan students exactly reflects the fact that Baloch history and culture is deliberately misrepresented and distorted by the Punjabi elite at all levels.
Mass Graves in Balochistan
On 25 January 2014, three mass graves were unearthed on the outskirts of Khuzdar district in Tootak (Misri). www.balochwarna.com, an online News portal reported that “On January 25, a shepherd found pieces of human bodies dispersed within the earth field. He took no time and went to deliver the message to the Levis force, when they dug up the field they found numerous graves in which human remains were buried in bulk. Soon the news rapidly reached to the Baloch nation and they left for the concerned area to identify these bodies but they were totally decomposed. “
Figure 7 Balochistan officials standing near one of Mass graves discovered in Balochistan Khuzdar area. Photo by; Fahim Siddiqui
http://www.balochwarna.com/archives/modules/features/article.php?storyid=119
Asian Human Rights Commission issued a report on Balochistan Mass graves stating that “From the three mass graves; 17, 8 and 78 bodies were found but the local people say that a total of 169 bodies have been found.
http://www.humanrights.asia/news/ahrc-news/AHRC-STM-023-2014
Baloch pro-freedom leader Hyrbyair Marri in a statement termed the recovery of mass graves in Tootak Khuzdar as Pakistan army’s war crimes on Balochistan. He has said that “The silence of international media and human rights organizations on the heart wrenching incident of the discovery of mass graves in Tootak area of Khuzdar Balochistan is encouraging Pakistan to continue its crimes against the Baloch people.”
He reminded the international bodies and democratic countries that “The same international organizations intervened and raised voice for East Timor, Kosovo and South Sudan whereas the Balochistan conflict is also of the same magnitude as Kosovo and East Timor but the human rights organizations are ignoring it.”
http://www.balochwarna.com/archives/modules/world/article.php?storyid=97
Figure 8: (R-L) Baloch leader Hyrbyair Marri, Ted Poe, Jawad Mella, Kurdish exile leader, Dana Rohrabacher, Abdulla Baloch and Graham Williamson in London
Balochistan needs International Attention and Assistance
Whenever you type Balochistan on any online search you will encounter the disturbing images and pictures of decomposed bodies of Baloch civilians. The bodies are not the aftermath of any civil war nor are they the victim of any epidemic or natural disaster but ones that have been targeted by the Pakistan army and its air force with impunity and without any hurdle from the UN and the global community.
By supporting Pakistan, the US is indirectly supporting brutal Jihadists– the likes of Daesh, ISIS or Boko Haram who pose a threat to world peace. The US which has repeatedly been calling Pakistan the breeding place for Taliban, Al Qaida, Haqqani Network et/al. is today arming Pakistan with more F-16s. Mr. Sartaj Aziz categorically has said that its army will never hit those Taliban who are against the US.
Prominent Baloch leader Akbar Khan Bugti was assassinated on the instructions of former Pakistan army chief General Musharraf. General Raheel Sharif had categorically and repeatedly said that his army will utilize state machinery to crush Baloch Liberation Movement.
Balochis have genuine fears that if these F16 planes are delivered to Pakistan, the next day the world will receive more images of innocent civilians killed because Pakistan had already started a ruthless widespread military offensive against Baloch populations across Balochistan. The Pakistani judiciary, media, military and civilian governments are on the same page with regard to Balochistan’s issue. The only solution that comes to their mind is the brutal use of military and the annihilation of the Baloch nation.
The Baloch plea to the US public is “don’t support policies that are a direct threat to the very existence of another nation – in this case the Baloch nation and eventually on itself!
Baloch people who are struggling for their fundamental rights and independence should be provided with the latest technology and wherewithal to defend themselves. Balochistan is rich due to untapped natural resources which Pakistan and China have planned to exploit under CPEC.
The US and other International powers are committing a grave blunder by ignoring the Baloch people and their struggle for freedom. One day, International powers will be needing the same Baloch against Pakistan’s jihadists but by then it might be too late – as too little is being done to support the Baloch TODAY!!!
REFERENCES
Abubakar, S. (2016, March 02). Senior Official Admits Pakistan Housing Afghan Taliban Leaders. Retrieved March 05, 2016, from gandhara.rferl.org/: http://gandhara.rferl.org/a/pakistan-afghanistan-taliban-presence/27584876.html
AFP. (2015, December 31). Afghan Taliban leader was treated at Shaukat Khanum Hospital: Imran Khan. Retrieved March 15, 2016, from Geo.tv: http://www.geo.tv/latest/8930-afghan-taliban-leader-was-treated-at-shaukat-khanum-hospital-imran-khan
AFP. (2015, July 06). Option to use nuclear weapons always available: Asif. Retrieved March 01, 2016, from GeoNews.com.pk: http://www.geo.tv/latest/4351-option-to-use-nuclear-weapons-always-available-asif
Baloch, S. (2014, November 27). Panjab On Balochistan. Retrieved March 12, 2016, from BBC Urdu Youtube Page: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDWXQdlJqT8
Commission, A. H. (2006, December 10). Arrests in Balochistan by Police and Army. Retrieved March 12, 2016, from Asian Human Rights Commission: http://www.humanrights.asia/news/urgent-appeals/UA-396-2006
Commission, A. H. (2014, January 27). More than 100 dead bodies from three mass graves were found in one district of Balochistan. Retrieved March 10, 2016, from Asian Human Rights Commission: http://www.humanrights.asia/news/ahrc-news/AHRC-STM-023-2014
Marri, H. (2014, January 30). The issue of discovery of mass graves is discussed with the member of US congress. Retrieved March 12, 2016, from www.Balochwarna.com: http://www.balochwarna.com/archives/modules/world/article.php?storyid=97
Mehdi, H. (2015, April 10). Pakistan: Victim or exporter of terrorism? Retrieved March 08, 2016, from www.AlJazeera.com: http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/headtohead/2015/03/pakistan-exporting-terror-150324130451504.html
Mugdha, V. (2015, Oct 28). Osama Bin Laden, Hafiz Saeed were Pakistan's heroes; we trained Taliban, LeT: Pervez Musharraf. Retrieved March 10, 2016, from Ibtimes.co.in: http://www.ibtimes.co.in/osama-bin-laden-hafiz-saeed-were-pakistans-heroes-we-trained-taliban-let-pervez-musharraf-652207
Saeed, A. S. (2015, Sep 16). More than 8,000 suspected militants arrested: Balochistan govt. Retrieved March 12, 2016, from Dawn.com.pk: http://www.dawn.com/news/1207343
Shahbaz, R. (2016, March 11). Saudis to give Pakistan $122m in aid. Retrieved March 11, 2016, from The Express Tribune : http://tribune.com.pk/story/1063733/saudis-to-give-pakistan-122m-in-aid/
Shahzor, B. (2014, February 19). Mass graves in Balochistan and duty of International Community. Retrieved March 10, 2016, from WWW.BalochWarna.Com: http://www.balochwarna.com/archives/modules/features/article.php?storyid=119
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