Baluchistan: ‘Pakistan needs to find political solution’

The Pakistan government needs to find a non-violent and political solution to the separatist problem of Baluchistan, experts attending a discussion on Baluchistan held on Tuesday in the national capital stated. They also advised the Indian government to not get involved in the struggle by proxy.

The discussion was held on the occasion of the launch of an autobiography of secretary-general of Pakistan Peace Coalition (PPC) B.M. Kutty, 60 Years in Self Exile: No Regrets, which profiles his life and times and political activism across the border. The book was released by former foreign minister K. Natwar Singh at the India Islamic Cultural Centre late on Tuesday evening.
Speaking on the occasion, Congress MP Mani Shankar Aiyar said that the people in India supported a non-violent and political solution to the Baluchistan problem. “No one here can suggest any other means of obtaining a solution to the issue,” Mr Aiyar said. He also called for cooperation between the two nations in resolving all the pending issues.
Presenting the Pakistani government viewpoint, Pakistani high commissioner Shahid Malik said that the government had already initiated the process of devolution of power to the provinces. “We have also changed the resource allocation pattern from population-based to other parameters like backwardness and poverty as was demanded by several provinces,” Mr Malik said.
He stated high powered commissions had been established to look into the allegations of human rights violations in the region.
Meanwhile, calling for a further dialogue between the two countries, the author of the book stated that the citizens of both the countries wanted to communicate with each other. “The common people were never against each other. Some vested interests and external forces have kept us from mingling freely,” said 81-year-old Kutty.
The Kerala-born octogenarian migrated to Karachi 60 years ago and has since been actively involved in Pakistani politics and peace-building between the two countries. Calling it an autobiography of a political worker, Kutty termed the book as a truthful account of political events that have been witnessed by him over the past six decades in Pakistan. “Being a political activist and not a politician I am able to write the things more truthfully,” Kutty added.