Baloch National Movement’s central spokesperson in his statement said that Pakistan is the common enemy of both Baloch and Pashtun nation.
In 1947, in the time of partition of Indian Subcontinent, British establishment with respect to Baloch and Pashtun areas of British Balochistan completely ignored agreements with Kalat state and treaties with Afghanistan, and decided to demarcate British Balochistan as part of Pakistan, soon before the creation of Pakistan.
Baloch leadership including Khan of Kalat rejected this decision and during a meeting with Viceroy Lord Mountbatten and the leadership of Muslim League in a round table conference in Delhi on 4 August 1947 Kalat State put this matter in front of them and demanded return of the areas belonging to British Balochistan, including Quetta, Bolan, and other Baloch areas. Similarly, Abdul Samad Khan Achakzai opposed the inclusion of Pashtun areas of British Balochistan with Pakistan.
British establishment on contrary to the agreement with Kalat State and Afghanistan violated the international rules by merging Baloch and Pashtun areas with newly created Pakistan.
He added that the Northwestern Frontier Province ( now KPK) leader Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan with Pashtun Nation opposed the inclusion of Pashtun areas with Pakistan. However, through a false referendum and against the consent and national interest of Pashtun the area of North Western Frontier Province was occupied by Pakistan.
In March 1948, going against the will of the people of Balochistan and the decision of the both Houses of the state of Kalat (then the official name of Balochistan), Pakistan forcefully occupied Balochistan. In the leadership of Agha Abdul Karim, Baloch nation started the struggle for freedom which is still continued despite of going through many ups and downs. On the other side, Afghanistan rejected the Durand Line and made a claim on Pashtun areas on the past and Pashtun nationality; as a result, till today Afghanistan rejects Durand Line as the international border.
The central spokesperson said that it is the demand of time that Baloch and Pashtun leadership should unitedly struggle against this occupation, atrocities, and genocide of Baloch and Pashtuns. Thus, at first, we should respect each others’ national interests and geographical positions. Sometimes statement comes from Pashtun leaders on Baloch geography are suspicious on to extend in Baloch areas. Statements will only be beneficial for the common enemy of both nations, Pakistan and Punjabi establishment, rather than being helpful to the united struggle of these two nations. After the allegations of DG ISPR on Pashtun Tahafuz Movement, Voice of America’s Nelofar Mughal interviewed Manzoor Pashtun on Facebook live to answer these allegations. Nelofar Mughal asked in a question, what do you mean by ” Pashtun Homeland”? While answering this question Mazoor Pashteen said, ” from Swat to Chitral, and Quetta to Bolan all is Pashtun homeland”. This statement of Manzoor Pashtun is based on expansionist approach; the area of Quetta and Bolan are important areas of Balochistan and ambiguous to the Pashtun homeland.
Pashtun homeland’s large part is on the other side of Durand Line in Afghanistan and on both sides of the Durand line is entire Pashtunistan. Hence don’t know, why did Manzoor Pashtun avoid to say the other part of Durand Line as part of Pashtunistan?
The BNM’s central spokesman said that that was not the first time any Pashtun leader had commented such regarding Baloch areas like Quetta and Bolan. Pashtun leader those accepted the false geographical position of Pakistan and its constitution had often now and then made such baseless claims regarding Baloch areas but Baloch political parties and organizations who are struggling for the freedom of Balochistan ignored their statements on the ground that such statements were made to please their Punjabi lords, increasing their vote bank, and attempt to gain power. However, the statement by Mazoor Pashteen holds serious problems, because PTM has emerged as the new movement of the Pashtun that without any hesitation directly held
Pakistan, its force and intelligence agencies responsible for the destruction of the Pashtuns on both sides of Durand Line through proxy war extending to four decades. As a result, it gains a lot of support and publicity from the Pashtuns, especially the youth, and Baloch pro-freedom are viewing this as a positive development and are looking forward to work seriously with PTM and struggle jointly against the common enemy.
In such a state, the statement of PTM’s leader about Baloch country can harm the efforts and possibilities of joint struggle against the enemy. Its benefit will directly go to Pakistan, its army and intelligence agencies of Pakistan.
The statement of the PTM leader about Quetta and Bolan is contrary to national, geographical and historical facts and groundless. In 1883 the British had gained Quetta from Khan Kalat on board lease. The area of Bolan was also taken by the British from Khan Kalat on lease.
Later, the British Balochistan province Quetta as being the capital of British Balochistan, Quetta cantonment and railway links, became the center of administrative, economic, commercial and political activities. Till today of Quetta has the same importance, due to which it has been populated with Pashtun, Punjabi settlers and Hazara. Such settlements can not negate the power of Baloch on their own territory, while there is not a single Pashtun tribe in Bolan.
The Baloch National Movement believes that independent Balochistan, along with its friendly neighbor, Afghanistan, will resolve any ambiguity and conflict between the two countries from the bilateral, cordial and peaceful process.
At this time, the Baloch and the Pashtun nationalist forces should focus on the Pakistani occupation and liberation from Punjabi slavery.
