We can't afford severe cuts to education—and it's time for Republicans in Congress to stop them.

Fascinating debate between Pakistani and Afghan political commentators. The wisdom of one side contrasts sharply with the mediocre rhetoric and arrogance of the other. The look on the former ISI chief reflects the blood of innocents he wears with pride.

China clashes with the Baluch representtaive Mehran Baluch at the UN forum.

Reposted from Baluch Sarmachar | March 15, 2013 | Story

Mehran Baloch 

 Mehran Baloch: With the militarisation of Gwadar Port, not only Baloch will suffer but also the region and the world peace will face threats too.

By Murtaza Ali Shah

GENEVA: China has asserted that the Gwadar Port project is not only in the best interest of Pakistan and China, but also in the best interest of the region's development.

The Chinese representative spoke in favour of the Pakistan-China friendship after nationalist leader Mehran Baloch, the Baloch Representative to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), used his speech to the United Nations' 22nd general debate session of HRC to allege that Balochistan's natural resources are being exploited by Pakistan with help from China.

China took over management of the port on the Arabian Sea last week to finance more than 80 percent of the $248 million development cost of the port. This agreement is part of a plan to open up an energy and trade corridor from the Gulf, across Pakistan to western China but the deal has not been liked by India, America and Baloch nationalists who see it as the consolidation of Pakistani power in the trouble-hit province.

China rarely replies to the criticism leveled against it at the UN forums but as if anticipating that the issue of Gwadar port would be discussed, the Chinese delegation had come prepared.

Mehran Baloch said that Saindak copper mines were being already “milked” by China and “now Gwadar port has been handed” to China and it will be soon that China will build a military base there too as former Defence Minister Ahmad Mukhtar had publicly requested China to do so.

The Chinese representative, answering Mehran Baloch’s charges, told the delegates that China and Pakistan are friendly neighbours and for a long time the Chinese enterprises have taken an “active part in the development and construction in all sections of Pakistan”.

He told that the Chinese enterprises are engaged in the Gwadar development project as a joint co-opertion project between the two countries. “It’s part of the friendly cooperation between the two countries” and nothing more should be read in it.

Mehran Baloch said that with militarisation of Gwadar Port not only Baloch will suffer but also the region and the world peace will face threats too. “It is not the port alone. The planned airport there is 6,000 acres which is twice the size of Heathrow London. A country which has its foreign exchange reserves less than second string billionaires certainly cannot build the airport on its own.”

The Chinese representative replied that Gwadar port is not only in the “best interest of the two countries and both people but also in the best interest of the region’s development”.

Mehran Baloch said that Balochistan is used as drug conduit as the UN office on drugs and crime (UNODC) has reported that drugs worth $30 billion pass through Pakistan. He told the delegates that the data released by state banks implicitly proves that this passes through Quetta and Peshawar.

He alleged that “the illegal money finances the war of terror in Afghanistan and the death squads in Balochistan. Illegal money multiplies in turmoil and it means people are deprived of their share”.

An open letter to Hamid Mir (Geo TV) by Dr. Allah Nazar.

Dear Hamid Mir,

I’m writing you this letter with the hope that perhaps the historians – standing in the witness box of history – of next century will reveal the truth about the oppressed Baloch nation and hold the colonial powers and occupying rulers of the day accountable and examine the role and discourse of its advocates and intelligentsia. This shouldn’t be the case that today’s columnists, intellectuals are restrained just because of the fear of the ruler or its lust of conquest.

A century ago, British Lord B. Fell said, “we know and understand the history of Egypt far better than the Egyptians do.” Even hundred and 25 years later these contemptuous words remain on the pages of the history. Similarly, the President ofPakistan Asif Ali Bhutto while in Gadhi Khuda Baksh said, “Baloch should learn politics from us.” The expression was that the Baloch are ignorant, illiterate and unfamiliar with the statecraft. The aim is that the Baloch are born to be slaves. There is only the gap of a century between the words of B. Fell and Zardari Bhutto but, the subject and message is the same: lesson of slavery.

Mr. Hamid Mir, you hold the leading position among the contemporary intellectuals belonging to the colonial state’s electronic and print media. Many of the policies of the state are devised and executed on the advice of your community. But knowledge and consciousness demands to be on the side of truth. Just like Sartre, who despite being French supported the Algerian freedom movement against colonial system with his pen and wrote a golden chapter of history. But on the other hand; Mr. Hamid Mir, you are an intellectual. Yet you not only support the inhumane, immoral and terrorizing conduct of the occupying state in Balochistan, but also been active advising the state how to eliminate the Baloch freedom fighters and to perpetuate its occupation over Baloch land by intimidating the younger brother of Shaheed Assad Baloch, Akhar Mengal so that you would enable the state to conquer the strong fortress of Baloch by building a Trojan horse out of him. If Akhtar Menagl is intimidated and taken in by you; it would be a masterpiece by your molding hand. With the threat of state terrorism, not only you tried to intimidate him into submission but became a bridge to make him cut a deal with the secret agencies of the state. You have never thought that Baloch is a nation and freedom is a right to every nation. Is it just to deprive a nation from its freedom through the use of intellectual ploy? If it was just – five hundred years ago Nicholas Machiavelli advised the prince that the kings and rulers are not bound by any values and permanent morals – then why Machiavelli is under critique? They never incriminate them because all the court-intellectuals are subservient to their respective masters. In order to maintain their stranglehold, they advice their masters and propagate their policies and the struggle of the oppressed is portrayed as wrong and being result of ignorance and sometimes religion is also utilized to subdue them. The intelligentsia of the occupier is doing the same to the Baloch and you are also involved in it.

Mr. Mir Sahib you claim to be the banner bearer of human rights and when Malala Yousufzai was attacked you were among the first to condemn this inhumane act. Although it is commendable but on December 25, 2012, when Pakistani occupying forces were showering fire and iron with their helicopter gunships at Tank of Mashkay area, in which 18 innocent women, children and elderly men were killed, among them Bahti was 2 years old and Bibi Mahnaz, 70. All the Pakistani intellectuals, including you were silent. Is this justice to your intellect or beneficial to the vicious rulers? You decide. Two years back Bibi Zamur Baloch Baloch and her daughter were martyred by Pakistani beasts in the streets of Karachi. Previously, Pakistani state agents abducted Zarina Marri along with her infant child Murad while on her way to school in Quetta. On January 21st, 2013, in Besima of Kharan district, Pakistani forces along with the local death squad, broke in to the house and martyred a prominent Balochi and Brahvi poet, Qasim Baloch along with his sister Rozina Baloch. On such poignant, heart rendering incidents not a single word comes out of the mouths of Pakistan intellectuals. Perhaps, it is because these oppressed people are Baloch.

At present Baloch are fighting a war for their freedom and the blood of freedom loving nation is cheap. The only way to do justice with their blood is to forget it altogether. Because, forgetting is the only way to escape the wrath of the master.

Those are just few examples among thousands of incidents, mutilated dead bodies of our martyrs and Baloch prisoners that I mentioned herein. Mir Sahib, nations never die. If it were so then Israeli nation would have not existed at all. Even after two thousand years of persecution they have their state. Although their suppressive treatment to the Palestinians is condemnable. General Dyer is not alive anymore but British prime minister calls the Jalyanwala Bagh mishap shameful. And your Bangladeshi history is a latest one.

Mir Sahib, lest the words of Zardari and Lord B. Fell and your silence would be deemed Machiavellian. Perhaps, our great grandchildren, while reading the bitter facts of history after a century would conclude that today’s enlightenment has not been against oppression but utilized to maintain oppression. Anyway, it has now become a chapter of history that the Pakistani intellectuals have advised the occupying army to control Makuran and Bolan in order to controlling Balochistan successfully.

Regards,

Dr. Allah Nazar Baloch

March 15, 2013

Translated by: Archen Baloch

Source: Daily Tawar,

BRP protests against illegal occupation, March 17 massacre and Iran-China intervention in Balochistan

organized references and protests in different parts of Balochistan, Karachi, Sweden and United Kingdom on Sunday (March 17) to commemorate the victims of Pakistani forces bombardment in Dera Bugti on March 17, 2005 and forceful occupation of Balochistan on March 27, 1948.

Hundreds of BRP and BRSO activists along with a large number of supporters including women and children took out a protest rally in Karachi to protest the barbaric attack of Pakistan army on Dera Bugti on March 17. Protestors carried banners reading different slogans against state atrocities in Balochistan and chanted slogans in favor of Baloch freedom struggle and martyrs of Balochistan.

BRP and BRSO leaders addressed the protestors and said that state atrocities that started almost a decade ago continue unabated and gaining momentum with every passing moment. Military operations have been extended to every breadth and corner of Balochistan; Enforced disappearances and extra-judicial killings political activists, teachers, students, lawyers, intellectuals and innocent Baloch people have become a daily routine. They said that Baloch nation had no trust in any institution of the state and only relation between Baloch nation and state is of the oppressor and the oppressed.

Another protest demonstration was organized by the Baloch Republican Party activists in front of the UK Prime Minister’s office at 10 Downing Street, London. Activists carried banners and placards portraying Baloch genocide by Pakistani forces. Protestors raised awareness about the illegal occupation of Balochistan and war crimes committed by Pakistani forces in Balochistan.

A similar protest demonstration was organized in Sweden by the Baloch Republican Party. Party leaders and activists addressed the protestors. Speakers include Salal Balouch, Abdullah Baloch, Nawaz Ali Baloch, Asim Faiz Baloch, Aminullah Baloch, Morad Shehkhanzai Baloch, Abdul Malik Baloch, Shaeek Baloch, Mirza Baloch, Shoib Baloch and leader of the Christian community, Mr. Tarluk Maseeh. Speakers condemned the persecution of Christians in Pakistan; Mr. Tarluk Maseeh spoke against the Baloch genocide and expressed solidarity with the Baloch freedom struggle on behalf of the Christian community of India.

Baloch Republican Party organized protests in Balochistan, Karachi, UK, Sweden and other international forums to raise awareness about the illegal occupation of Balochistan by Pakistan on March 27, 1948; Barbaric attack of Pakistani forces on March 17, 2005 where 71 innocent Baloch civilians including a large number of women and children from the Hindu Baloch community were killed. Baloch Republican Party strongly condemns the unwanted international intervention in Balochistan with the support of Pakistani state and the deals regarding Baloch land and resources without the consent of indigenous Baloch people such as Gawadar port’s handover to China and Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project.

Baloch Republican Party will organize another protest demonstration in Switzerland on March 22 in front of United Nations office in Geneva to protest Gawadar handover’s to China, Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project, illegal occupation of Balochistan, Human Rights violations and war crimes committed by Pakistani forces. BRP wants to make it clear before the international community that Baloch nation is not bound to respect deals and agreements regarding Baloch land and resources done with Pakistan without the will of Baloch people rather we strongly condemn such deals and we will strongly resist and protest against them.

State atrocities in Balochistan continue unabated. Four innocent Baloch civilians have been abducted by Pakistani forces from Dera Bugti on Saturday. The abducted people were identified as Saido Bugti, Sindhi Bugti, Yousaf Bugti while the identity of fourth man could not be ascertained. Another four Baloch have also reportedly been abducted from Quetta today. Recovery of mutilated dead bodies of abducted Baloch people and military operations in Balochistan also continue with full intensity.

Hundreds protest for release of their innocent children in Quetta

Pakistani occupiers another planted story to defame the Baloch liberation struggle
Charges against our children are bogus: Families

Al Jazeera Report

Quetta: Hundreds of men, women and elderly people staged a strong protest demonstration on Thursday outside the Quetta Press Club against the arrest of 11 children being portrayed as paid workers of banned outfit United Baloch Army (UBA) by the law enforcement agencies.
The protesters were carrying placards inscribed with demands such as ‘we want justice’ and ‘release innocent children’. They chanted slogans against the government.
An aged women, resident of Killi Geo, describing herself as grandmother of Amir Khan, who is also in police custody said, “Security personnel forcibly entered our house violating our sanctity and abducted my grandson Amir.”
She said that arresting innocent children was in fact a shameful act and providing security to the people is responsibility of the government, but contrary to it the government itself is committing crime against the citizens.
“My brother Muhammad Sabir, 16, student of class IX was asleep when security personnel raided our home and picked him up saying they would only interrogate him,” Abdullah, brother of Sabir said while holding the portrait of his brother.
He said that security personnel had also abducted him but later he was set free. “Next day we searched all the nearby police stations to ascertain the whereabouts of Sabir but all out efforts went in vain,” he said, adding that they were shocked when the police produced him before the media showing him as a paid worker of UBA. “I know my brother very well. He is an intelligent boy who cannot be used by any group for the sake of a few pennies,” he remarked and demanded for his immediate release because he was giving his school papers.
Sanaullah, the brother of Munir Ahmed, 14, had a similar story to tell with tears rolling down his cheeks, “My brother Ahmed was arrested eight days ago and now the Frontier Corps and police are saying that he is a terrorist. He is an innocent boy who has nothing to do with any activities while the police are saying that he was arrested two days earlier, but the fact is he was picked up on March 7.”
The protestors later marched towards the Governor’s House where police barred them from crossing the road leading to the Governor’s House. They staged a sit-in over there and demanded immediate release of the arrested children.
Assistant Commissioner, Quetta Ahmed Ali held negotiations with the protestors and assured them that their legitimate demands would be fulfilled and their meeting would be arranged with Commissioner Quetta very soon.
Later, the protestors called off their protest and warned if their children were not released immediately they would widen their protest.