A Letter to
President Bush
By Munawar Laghari
The World Sindhi Institute
Washington, DC
We write to you on the occasion of the visit
to the United States of Prime Minister Shaukat
Aziz of Pakistan. We would like to express our
grave concerns about a military operation going
on in the country’s Balochistan province
during the past month.
Starting last December 17th, the military has
mounted an all-out assault in district Kohlu and
Dera Bugti. At first denying the action, then
calling it a “law and order” operation
to root out criminals, security forces have used
troops, helicopter gunships and jet fighters in
their attacks, which have caused many civilian
casualties.
Following a recent visit to the area by the independent
Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, the mission
“expressed serious alarm over the rapidly
deteriorating situation in and around Dera Bugti
and reiterated its demand that all armed conflict
cease immediately and a process of negotiation
begun.” According to the Commission, the
area has been effectively sealed off and most
of the inhabitants have left. The mission itself
came under attack when it was trying to cross
the border into Balochistan.
The Baloch have long opposed the central government’s
treatment of the people and resources. The province
provides the majority of the country’s gas
resources, yet it receives only 12.4% of the profits.
The literacy rate is an appalling 25% for men
and 5% for women. What development does take place
mainly benefits the non-Baloch. Resorting to force
to subdue the protests of the citizens for their
rights has not worked in the past and is not likely
to work now. What is needed is a dialogue with
the Baloch people and a sincere effort to resolve
their grievances. Without this, there will not
be an end to the bloodshed.
We urge you to discuss this matter with Prime
Minister Aziz when you meet with him and to make
clear that the US strongly supports dialogue and
negotiation between a government and its citizens
as a means to resolve conflict, not airstrikes.
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