Justice Markandey Katju delves into the recent attacks by the Baloch Liberation Army, which have resulted in significant casualties among Pakistani soldiers. Justice Katju’s article explores the historical background of Balochistan's resistance against Pakistan, from its forced integration to the ongoing struggle against exploitation by both Pakistani and Chinese interests. Justice Katju parallels global liberation movements, arguing that the BLA's actions should be understood as a fight for freedom rather than terrorism. For a comprehensive view, read more about the historical and current factors influencing Balochistan’s ongoing conflict.
Long live the Baloch Liberation Army
By Justice Markandey Katju
Recently Baloch freedom fighters have launched a series of attacks, in which 102 Pakistani soldiers were killed.
What is the background to this ?
Balochistan never joined that fake, artificial country called Pakistan when it was formed on 14th August 1947. In fact, the Balochs declared independence on that day.
It was only 227 days later that the Balochs were forced to join Pakistan at the point of the gun.
However, the brave Balochs never accepted this fraud, and have been fighting for freedom from Pakistan ever since.
Though sparsely populated, Balochistan has huge deposits of gold, oil, gas, copper, and other natural resources. Instead of these being used for the welfare of the Baloch people, most of whom live in abject poverty, the Pakistani businessmen, most of whom are Punjabis, have been taking these away for a song.
And now the Chinese have jumped in, and are looting Balochistan, like vultures.
So the recent militant attacks by the Baloch Liberation Army should be seen in this historical background, as a reaction to the loot of Balochistan by outsiders.
It is important to remember that some people's 'terrorists' are other people's freedom fighters. The BLA is fighting a war of liberation, and it would be wrong to brand them as terrorists. Nelson Mandela and other African National Congress leaders in South Africa were branded as terrorists by the white racist government, though in fact, they were fighting for the emancipation of their people.
One is reminded of the words of the great Indian freedom fighter, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, during British rule in India. In 1908, Indian revolutionaries launched bomb attacks on British officials in Bengal, resulting in several British casualties.
Tilak, critical of the moderate approach to the independence struggle, wrote in his newspaper ‘Kesari’: “Violence, however deplorable, becomes inevitable when rulers turn the nation into a prison, oppress the people, and create despondency. Then, the sound of the bomb spontaneously emerges as a warning to authorities that the people have reached their tolerance limit for oppression.”
(Justice Katju is a retired judge of the Supreme Court of India. These are his personal views.)
