India goes tough on Pakistan; Modi exposes Pakistan
on Baluchistan and POK
India has always had enough information on
Pakistan-sponsored Jihadi machinations and terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, but
New Delhi has also begun to expose Pakistan’s dismal human rights record in its
region of Balochistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. In a scathing attack,
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has brought to the fore the atrocities
committed by the Pakistan Army in these regions, and exposed how these gross
human rights violation are tacitly approved by the Pakistani establishment.
One of the highlights of Modi’s speech on the 70th Indian
Independence Day was his reference to Balochistan. “The people of
Balochistan, the people of Gilgit, the people of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir have
thanked me in such a manner, from places that I have never been and never had a
chance to meet, they have sent wishes to the people of India and thanked us,”
the Indian prime minister said. “I am grateful to them.” This was the
second instances within a few days’ time that the Indian PM had highlighted the
sordid plight of the Baloch people and Pakistan’s atrocities in POK. Mincing no
words, the PM slammed Islamabad: “Pakistan forgets that it bombs its own
citizens using fighter planes. The time has come when Pakistan shall have
to answer to the world for the atrocities committed by it against people in
Balochistan and PoK.”
This stance by India is a much needed and significant
policy shift in its policy towards Pakistan. The reference to atrocities
in Balochistan and POK has totally rattled Pakistan, which for a long side has
swept its genocidal role and the illegal occupation of Balochistan under the
carpet. Prime Minister Modi has found widespread support from Baloch
activists, who have expressed their pleasure that for the first time ever, an
Indian PM has expressed his wish to support the Baloch people, and this is a
very crucial decision taken by Indian government. Brahumdagh Bugti the
exiled leader of the Balochistan Republican Party was quoted by a leading India
news service: “We hope that the Indian government and Indian media and whole
nation will not only raise voices for the Baloch nation but also strive to help
practically the Baloch independence movement.”
Ashraf Sherjan, leader of the Baloch Republican Party
also hailed Modi’s speech and thanked him for highlighting the atrocities faced
by the people of Balochistan. Terming Prime Minister Modi’s speech as very
encouraging. Exiled Pakistani author and columnist Tarek Fatah who has written
extensively on the Balochistan question and raised this issue during his visits
to India said he was very pleased with the position taken by Mr. Modi. He
told NDT, “For decades the Baloch people have fought alone to end Pakistan’s
illegal occupation of Balochistan. Countless Baloch youth have died and many more
have simply disappeared in the torture cells of the Pakistan Army and its
Intelligence arm, the ISI.”
“Now the Baloch can count on the moral support of India
and its courageous prime minister. This changes everything. Insha’Allah,
we will see a free and independent Balochistan in our lifetime and although
most of the credit for that will go to the many Baloch men and women who
sacrificed their lives for the country, but part of it will also go to India’s
Narendra Modi and his courageous stand in bringing the issue to the
international scene,” Fatah added. Modi’s stand on Balochistan will go a
long way forward in not only bringing the plight of the legitimate Baloch
struggle before the international community, but has exposed Pakistan’s double
talks on Kashmir. Modi has certainly reminded Pakistan of the old adage
“Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones”.
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