Chagai: The Fukushima and Chernobyl of Balochistan

By Shahdad Baloch

On May 28, 1998, the Pakistani army has carried out series of atomic explosions in district Chagai Balochistan – the district which is abundant with porous rock – owing to which the Geologists believe that the tests have not only caused a decline in groundwater but have also contaminated both surface and ground waters.

Consequently, the contaminated water is not suitable for human consumption or even farming and ranching. The nuclear tests were carried out clandestinely without informing the 410000 population residing in the resource-rich area of Balochistan. The first violation of human right prior to nuclear test which proved to became a breeding ground of series of epidemic diseases across Balochistan, Global climate change, resulting in water scarcity, has already plagued the entire region but no international watchdogs are allowed to visit and study the effects of nuclear radiation in the affected area in retrospect.

Unlike the incidents of Chernobyl and Fukushima both of which were natural disasters, Balochistan’s district Chagai has faced the same consequences despite which it became under the limelight before international arena because of the backwardness of the area dwelled by nomadic Baloch. Chernobyl and Fukushima dominated international media and attention of humanitarians due to their infrastructural developments whereas Chagai is lagging behind in this field.

The radiations, environmentally hazardous and a threat to livelihoods ought to be judged through the same parameter but as ill luck would have it, the entire world has shown ignorance to the issues that Baloch nation en masse faced on May 28, 1998 ‘the black day’ for the Baloch nation. Besides, the open-pit mining fields of resource-rich Reko Diq/Saindak have intensified the environmental pollution for the people of Balochistan.

Radiation-related diseases which appeared after half decades of Chernobyl and Fukushima has triggered the worldwide doctors to rush to that unfortunate places and rendered their humanitarian services but in case of Chagai a pin drop silence was witnessed world wide-resounding the notion that the world does not bother for the suppressed Baloch nation suffering under cruel Pakistani army atrocities. There have been reports of adverse health effects in Chaghai district and the surrounding areas. A disproportionally large number of people are suffering from skin diseases and damage to the thyroid glands. The symptoms have been spreading due to lack of treatment facilities in the affected areas. Despite this decades have passed but no independent body has been allowed to visit the area and formulate an evidence-based report regarding the diseases, sufferings and casualties inflicted on the Baloch nation.

Like every year the free Balochistan movement under the leadership of Mr Hyrbyair Marri is highlighting the issue in every possible way in Balochistan and on the international level. Free Balochistan movement under the guardianship of Mr Hyrbyair Marri is not only working on the 28 May incident that happened with Baloch nation but his aim is to convey the message before the world that if today it is Balochistan, then, tomorrow same might happen with India, Afghanistan and the West where there would not be natural forces behind nuclear radiations that happened in the case of Chernobyl and Fukushima but the forces would be the religious dogmas of Pakistani army carrying the tactical nukes to play havoc with the world. The bomb which the Pakistani calls as “Islamic bomb” is built for the purpose of hate and bigotry towards non-muslims – the severity of the threat can be judged from the behaviour of Pakistani army who is reiterating to not to take any sort of action against Haqqani network – the would be Osama bin Laden – for America being nurtured by Pakistani military against the West and America for another 9/11.

Pakistan has always been an irresponsible, politically destabilised and economically beggar state – for few dollars, Pakistan has sold the nuclear formula to North Korea and Iran which is thriving to be a nuclear power and probably Iran might conduct her nuclear test in Iranian occupied Balochistan – another threat alert for the Baloch nation. The sandwiched Baloch nation is facing the sword of Damocles hanging overhead in shape of nuclear radiations from both Iran and Pakistan. It [Pakistan] might experiment its tactical nukes on Baloch population as a threat to halt freedom struggle of Baloch nation, the fact that Pakistan has hit Baloch population with all weapons of mass destruction but attempt to nukes is left-the authenticity of which can be judged through the visit of free observatory groups or delegations in occupied Balochistan.

Today the world powers like America and Russia are unanimously extenuating their nuclear stockpiles but Pakistan is thriving to cross China and France regarding nukes stockpile. It is reported that soon Pakistan would become third largest nukes holder country of the world. Pakistan is also the godfather of terrorists and renowned political machinate of the world the evidence of which is Pakistan’s role in the war on terror where the world was searching for Osama bin Laden but he was enjoying safe heaven near Kakul academy of Pakistan army.

Thus, it is high time for the entire world to bring Pakistan to united nation and ask for immediate disarmament by declaring her as a guilty state that hit Balochistan with nuclear bomb on May 28, 1998 – the day which would be observed as ‘black day’ through the protest of free Balochistan movement under the leadership of Hyrbyair Marri who has the backing of entire Baloch nation.