Adil Najam
Government sources in Pakistan have just announced that Nawab Akbar Bugti, chief of the Bugti tribe, veteran politician, and senior Baluchistan leader, has been killed in a shootout between “tribal militants and government forces” in Balochistan.
This is very sad and disturbing news that cannot bode well for anyone. While details are still coming in, BBC reports:
The battle near his mountain hideout in south-west Pakistan also caused heavy casualties on both sides, reports say. More than 20 soldiers and at least 30 rebels died, officials say. The octogenarian has been at the head of a tribal campaign to win political autonomy and a greater share of revenue from Balochistan’s gas reserves. “It is confirmed, Nawab Bugti has been killed in an operation,” Information Minister Mohammad Ali Durrani told Reuters news agency. The battle reportedly took place near the town of Dera Bugti, not far from Mr Bugti’s hideout.
According to a newsflash posted on The News website:
Jamhori Watan Party (JWP) chief Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti was killed in a historical operation carried out by security forces in Kohlu and Murree tribal areas on Saturday night, Federal Information Minister Muhammad Ali Durrani confirmed… Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPP-P) leader Makhdoom Amin Faheem termed Akbar Bugti’s death an incident which could worsen security situation in Pakistan.
The death, and the manner of death, of the veteran Baluch leader will indeed worsen the security situation in Baluchistan and exacerbate the feeling of marginalization amongst Baluchis. Nawab Bugti had, at various points in his life, ‘butted heads’ with just about all major leaders in Pakistan. His recent standoff with the Musharraf government was not the highpoint of his own political career but it may well be the lowest point of the Musharraf rule. However, more than the implications on immediate politics – which will become more clear and more pronounced over the next many days – this marks a tragic end to the life of an important political leader.
Born on July 12, 1927, Nawab Bugto was a ‘ tribal’ who was educated at Oxford, England, Aitchison College, Lahore and Karachi Grammar School and has served as Governor and Chief Minister of Baluchistan. Mr. Bugti’s legacy was clearly a mixed one and will be much debated and much dissected. He was, however, a major leader and this was indeed a sad and tragic way to go.
Accrding to the front story in Daily TImes “The authorities have arrested 670 people for inciting violence and for attacks on public and private property since late Saturday.” Sounds like rounding up everyone they could find. There are never this many leaders and inciters, only followers. This type of police action will only increase the resentment.
Very pertinent analysis on the Bugto situation by Kamily Hyat in today’s News
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=2207 4
Worth reading, whatever your opinion on the subject. As she says in her opening: “What he could not do in life, Nawab Akbar Bugti has achieved through his death. From his cave in the Bhambore hills, where he had been hiding since he was forced out of Dera Bugti some weeks ago, Bugti has won the battle he had waged for many months against the might of Pakistan’s military.”
I think she also gets it right in saying: “Never a part of the Baloch nationalist movement till the very recent past, Bugti, through his death, may also have determined the future of his province.”
Dear Arvind, I am not sure whether you are from Pakistan or India. I agree no country should commit aggression against its own people. But I am surprised that you think that India would never do this. Isn’t this exactly what we did in the Punjab with the storming of golden temple, are now doing to the Naxalites, have been doing in Kashmir. Unfortunately all across our region and even in the world there are these attempts to use violent means to solve disputes. Why point fingers at others when we ourselves killed Bapuji and kill his spirit and his ideals every day. If there is a lesson that Indiansand Pakistanis know very well it is that only more violence will come from violence. Peace to all.
I am very much agreed with Saifulmaluk. Really if you look back in 70s you will find same set of attitude was shown by then military government and off course by a majority of Pak citizen also. What you received, a divided nation.
It may be a reason of debate, why USA didn’t killed the Saddam and Pak did to Nawab (or Israel invaded Lebanon). Hopefully Lebanon was not a part of Israel but It is unimaginable how to use such brute force against own people (fighter jets, helicopter gunship, artillery etc) specially targeting a old, frail person. There are very few example of this kind except under military dictatorship. And I am sorry to say Maulana Abdul Gaffar Khan was also treated same there.
I could not Imagine while India not having less military might by any mean than Pakistan never used such brute force against any insurgency (however it may be economically cheaper) despite loosing a number of security personals and huge loss to exchequer.
Without discovering the body and authenticated evidence, crime of murder cannot be legally established to have been committed. Although Government had a motive to neutralize Bugti, but its intentions to kill by sacrificing its officers and jawans is not understandable.
Osama bin Laden is wanted dead or alive by the lone super power for terror attacks in US. Why on similar charges, including several attacks on US consulate in Karachi through BLA, Bugti was not declared wanted?
Internal tussles within Bugti’s tribal hierarchy and killings for the top positions are well known from their history.Why this angle has alluded minds finding the truth in this case?
Bugti’s field operators are known to resort to suicide bombings for achieving ends. Why the possibility of a suicide attack on law enforcing authorities at cave’s entrance is not examined? this possibility would have two angles. One to subvert the authorities’ action, in which case possibility of Bugti being inside the cave and killed becomes highly improbable and secondly, the palace coup conspiracy, which carries high probability, as the blame in that case would exclusively land on the Government, keeping the actual perpetrator of the coup out of harms way.
The news of Bugti’s death was broken by private TV channels and confirmed by the Government, based upon Bugti family resources. Initially two grand-sons of Akbar Bugti were also reported killed. Now they are reported to have escaped unhurt.This means that, there was another way out from the 150 feet deep cave. In that case, what made Bugti to remain inside the cave which was susceptible to collapse under attack, if not family conspiracy?
Above question need convincing answers before reaching any definite conclusion…