... FOR RELEASE Baluchistan

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January 25, 2010

Correspondents our portal met with one of the leaders of the Movement for the Emancipation of Baluchistan, who is currently in Moscow. Due to the fact that all actions of this man are under the close supervision of Pakistani security services, for security reasons, we do not disclose his real name. In the future we shall call him Dr. Sanai. Dr. Sanai comes from a family beludzhiyskih aristocrats. While in Moscow, he kindly agreed to speak about the situation in the Pakistani province of Baluchistan and the possible geopolitical developments in South Asia.

-Please tell us about the situation in Balochistan. From the reports of mass media, we know that there are plans to transfer operations of the American military presence in the so-called Afghan "anti-terrorist campaign" in Baluchistan.

-You are right, in Baluchistan indeed, a difficult situation. In order to understand it requires a retrospective review of our recent history. In 1947. British colonies in India gained independence, after which the country was divided into two states: Hindu (India) and Muslim (Pakistan). As part of Pakistan and the British incorporated Khanate Kelat inhabited by Baluchis.However, the fact that Balochistan never formally belonged to the British colony of India! Kelat was semi-independent principality, who was a vassal state of England. Learning of this injustice then Kelat Khan went to London, insisting on the establishment of an independent Baluchi state. The English replied that included in the Baluchistan province of Pakistan, as Baluchis - Muslims, like Punjabis, Sindhis and other peoples of Pakistan. Khan said reasonably, that if such logic and Pakistan must unite with other Muslim states, for example, Egypt or Iraq. In the future, the Baluchis have felt all the charm of a single state. Their rights are ignored, the language and culture is not being developed, the best land is deducted for the settlers from the Punjab, and indigenous people displaced in the desert.

Double Baluchi raised major uprisings: in 1963 and 1973. In 1973. to revolt against the government troops climbed 50 thousand Baluchis. At that time the country was weakened after the unsuccessful war with India and the independence of Bangladesh (up to 1972. Bangladesh was a part of Pakistan as a province of East Pakistan - approx. Ed.). The Pakistani army was in a demoralized state. Assistance to Pakistan in suppressing the uprising had the then Shah of Iran Reza Pahlavi. The structure also includes Iran beludzhiyskie land and Shah feared that separatism will spread to its territory. Shah highlighted the then Pakistani permeru Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, $ 600 million, unprecedented for that time, the amount to rebuild the army. Settlements Baluchis in the first time had been bombed from the air, which also was attended by Iranian pilots.

Succeeded in suppressing the uprising, and many leaders of the liberation movement had fled to Afghanistan, then to President Daud. While in Kabul, my father contacted the Soviet Embassy. He asked the Soviet Union assistance for the establishment of an independent Baluchistan. After entering the Soviet troops in Afghanistan, we actually received assistance. And Baluchis are not left in debt. Baluchis in Afghanistan supported by the Soviet troops in the Afghan provinces of Helmand and Nimroz. One can say that "shuravi" in Afghanistan were based in the northern provinces of the Tajiks and Uzbeks in the south - to the Baluch. In Pakistan, the Baloch were not allowed on their land of the Afghan mujahideen, and even fought with the armed struggle.

- And How was your political activities after the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan?

- After the withdrawal of Soviet troops and the death of President Zia ul-Haq, the Pakistani Baluchis, many returned to their homeland. Moreover, the new prime minister Benazir Bhutto (her husband Zardari half-Baluchi), even promised autonomy for Baluchistan. In the nineties in Pakistan's Balochistan was the situation of unstable equilibrium. All for something hoped for. Unfortunately, the promises of the authorities proved to be a bluff. The situation further worsened after coming to power of General Musharraf, who has shown himself an enemy of beludzhiyskogo people. Musharraf's plans included even division of Balochistan into three parts. Northern areas were ceded to the Pashtun Northwest Frontier Province, the southern seaside - to Cindy, and displace the indigenous population planning in the most arid and arid central regions. One of the reasons this plan was our natural wealth. Baluchistan on potential reserves of natural gas can compete with Algeria. In our territory there are the largest in South Asia, gold and copper deposits (this information is not a bluff. July 1 in the newspaper Asian Times released information that the Canadian company Berrik Gold and Chile's Antofagasta plans to invest in the development of gold and copper Rico Dick deposits in Baluchistan 3 billion, even against the warnings of global consulting agencies).

-How do you comment on the construction of the Chinese port of Gwadar in Baluchistan and the persistent penetration of China in Pakistan in recent times?

-Traditions of China-Pakistan strategic partnership goes back more than forty years. China, Pakistan and profitable as a strategic ally against India, and as the shortest way of transportation in Xinjiang hydrocarbons. This can be done through Gwadar. But note: the Pakistani one hand give concessions to the Chinese port of Gwadar, while the other allows the Americans to build in Baluchistan, a large airfield. This is due to the fact that Pakistan wants to maintain its geopolitical stability based on how China and the United States. China was providing military and diplomatic assistance. The Americans and Saudi Arabia provide loans. Interestingly, the Pakistani army is fighting the Taliban in sovey territory, but Pakistani intelligence supported the Taliban in Afghanistan.

-Perhaps this is because the Taliban - is a Pashtun movement, and the territory of Pakistan is home to over twenty million Pashtuns. The Pashtuns are prominent among the Pakistani officer corps, so that Islamabad just can not help the Taliban.

-This is true, but here there is another factor. Pakistani elite regards Afghanistan as its zone of influence. Her dream is to create a confederation of Pakistan and Afghanistan, as it was during the Mughal and Babur. Generally, Pakistani strategists believe their country heir to the Mughal Empire (and indirectly, and the empire of Genghis Khan) and the Arab Caliphate. And that means their territorial claims extend to the former Soviet Central Asia and India. At one time, when in 1999. between the two countries, it almost came to military conflict, General Musharraf told the Indians: at least we and less, and our economy is weaker, we still have to win. First, we are Muslims and are not afraid to die, killed by the soldiers in any case become martyrs and will get to heaven. Secondly, India is the fifth column of Pakistan - 200 million Muslims in Pakistan and Indian agents of influence there.

-What do you think are the prospects of Russia-Pakistan relations?

Today, Pakistan, flirting with all its neighbors except India, wants security guarantees and from Russia. I know that the Chief of General Staff of the Pakistani Kyyany came to Russia and offered cooperation on a wide range of issues: from the fight against terrorism and extremism to cooperation in the laying of gas pipelines. The fact that it is now considered a very unfavorable to Russia the prospect of construction of the Nabucco gas pipeline to Europe. However, the Turkmen and Kazakh gas will not go there. The only option - connection to the project of Iran. The Pakistanis say: "Let us, we will promote pipeline IPI (Iran-Pakistan-India). Then the entire Iranian gas will be piped to the East and in Europe you will have no competitors. But Pakistan can not be fully trusted. He was never a friend of Russia. Pakistanis will still compete with Russia in its former republics in Central Asia and play the role of Saudi Arabian outpost in the Middle East.

-What would you wish to Russia?

-More actively pursue its policy in the Middle East, South Asia. Russia must not passively watch the events. You should be stronger and smarter, to influence the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan. American strategy is to encircle Russia problem areas in the CIS countries (Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus) that you think should forget about the rest of the world and became a second-rate power with the persistent problems at the borders. And then they will transfer instability inside your borders: the North Caucasus, Chechnya, Tatarstan, the Far East. Russia needs an offensive rather than defensive policy.