Adeel Mukhtar
The dead body of a Pakistani journalist, Sajid Hussain, was found by the Swedish police. Mr. Hussain has been missing for the last two months. Mr. Hussain was the ‘Editor’ of an ethnic Baloch news website and fled to Sweden in 2012, allegedly getting death threats. On the basis of this, he was also granted political asylum in Sweden.
Now according to the foreign media, “Pakistani intelligence was behind Hussain’s disappearance in early March.” The charity Organization-Reporters Without Borders (RSF) blamed Pakistani intelligence agency just on the basis of speculations just because of Mr. Hussain’s writings on Pakistan’s Baluchistan province. Foreign media also depict the story in the words like, “Balochistan, in the west of Pakistan, has been the scene of a long-running nationalist insurgency. The Pakistani military has been accused of torturing and disappearing dissidents. Insurgent groups have also killed members of non-Baloch ethnic groups.” What foreign media does not share with the general public is ulterior motives of Pakistan’s enemies, such as India, in Baluchistan, which surfaced in the shape of the arrest of Kulbhushan Yadav-an Indian serving naval officer working for destabilizing Pakistan though terrorist activities. His activities were monitored any financed by Research Analysis Wing (RAW).
The Indian interference in Pakistan’s affairs is not new. India played a critical role in the dismemberment and creation of Bangladesh in 1971. Baluchistan has been politically as well as financially backward and neglected area of Pakistan. That is why, it is an easy target for outside involvement to interfere in the domestic affairs. According to S. M. Hali’s article titled “RAW at War-genesis of Secret Agencies in Ancient India”, “The Indian history of spying is very old and, even in the ancient times of Kautilya the system of espionage was used for getting information about the neighbouring states and the enemies. India’s history of espionage in the neighbouring countries such as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Nepal, Myanmar, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, in the modern times is equally daunting.”
Recently, the Indian spying has been uncovered in Pakistan, when eight individuals from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad got ousted from Pakistan in November 2016. They were discovered engaged with making turmoil and were working covert for their insight authority. Pakistan’s Foreign Office guaranteed that they have contacts with the Tehreak-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which is a terrorist association in Pakistan. This issue has been brought up in pretty much every meeting between the Indian and Pakistani initiative. They have been, on numerous occasions, helped to remember their help for the Baloch Separatists and TTP to destabilize Pakistan through India’s extended nearness in Afghanistan. Afghanistan is likewise being named as a facilitator of the Baloch seperatists. It is accepted that the preparation camps, weapons, and cash are on the whole being directed through Afghanistan. The capture of Kulbhushan Yadev in Balochistan is one more proof of the Indian impedance in Pakistan. In June 2015, the Indian Prime Minister Modi, during his visit to Bangladesh openly “admitted that India was involved in the activities to destabilise Pakistan.” He expressed his views that “India had no regrets for assisting Mukti-Bahini Movement for creating Bangladesh.” Furthermore, he said “he was one of the young volunteers who came to Delhi in 1971, to participate in the Satyagraha Movement, launched by Jana Sangh, as a volunteer to support Mukti-Bahini.”
Currently, Baluchistan is on its path to development and prosperity, especially because of Province’s economic and political engagement through China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). According to Baluchistan’s Chief Minister Mr. Jam Kamal, “effective development planning and policies have been finalised for sustainable development of Balochistan. The current provincial government has put Balochistan on development path.” Secretary Energy Sheharyar Taj and Secretary Industries Ghulam Ali Baloch also informed that “We are prepared to move forward for Gwadar’s 300MW power project. We have also signed MoU with Inner-Tech Company. The company would commence installation of Renewable Plant in district Pishin. The provincial government has 8% share in the company’s income.” Moreover, “the provincial government has allocated Rs4.60 billion in the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) in order to uplift energy sector in Balochistan and given tenders of 52 out of 67 schemes.”
In this context, international community should differentiate between genuine concerns and fake news. Regarding Mr. Hussain’s death, Sweden police told BBC that “their initial investigation did not suggest any foul play in the death.” Therefore, it is wrong to blame Pakistan for such heinous crimes. Pakistani leadership and its armed forces are working day and night to preserve the integrity of Pakistan, for which no stone will remain unturned.