The Wind of Change

By Sobdar Baluch

On September 12 this year, the Russian President Vladimir Putin surprised his Japanese counterpart by offering to him an ‘unconditional peace treaty between Japan and Russia’ to resolve their long-standing controversial issues. Both countries have been at conflict over Kuril Island or Northern territories. Soviet Union seized these territories in 1945 at the end of World War II and a few years later expelled about 17,000 Japanese citizens from the Island.

Mr Putin’s unconditional offer should be seen as a step toward confidence-building measures between both nations and the initial stage of resolving outstanding issues peacefully instead of continuing violent conflicts.

The second positive development in September was that French president Mr Emmanuel Macron in a landmark admission officially acknowledged for the first time that France carried out ‘systematic torture’ during the Algerian war of independence.

According to a report by British Newspaper the Guardian, ‘Macron will announce that archives will be fully opened up to historians, families and organisations seeking the truth about the large number of disappeared civilians and soldiers, both French and Algerian, whose bodies have never been found.’

This courageous decision of France cannot bring back the loved ones of those were killed, disappeared and tortured during the fight against colonialism but this decision will at least be a source of comfort to those families who want to know what happened to their loved ones. It also removes the sense of guilt of France to some extent.

The French decision could also compel those who committed crimes against Baloch, Bengali people, Kurds, Tamils and other occupied nations in recent past and continue to commit acts of violence including systematic torture, enforced disappearances, and rape and target killings. Iran, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and others are still repeating the history of Algeria during their ‘counter-insurgency policies’ in territories under their occupation.

However, Putin and Macron are not the only leaders who offered peace treaties and extended goodwill gestures to their neighbours. The widely respected Baloch leader Hyrbyair Marri who also heads the Free Balochistan Movement has made a similar offer of ‘none confrontation’ between Afghan and Baloch people in 2017.

Mr Marri has suggested, “The Afghans and the Baloch should revive their hundreds of years old treaties and like ASEAN countries and the European Union; we should expand our treaties of unity to other nations. So, that Afghanistan and Balochistan can become an example of peace, prosperity, and stability in the region. We should have treaties like those between Khan Noori Naseer Khan and Ahmad Shah Baba.”

He went on to say, “About two centuries back our leaders had respect for each other’s nation and we should respect their vision and continue their tradition of mutual respect. It can help us to resolve our minor internal problems peacefully. We are two brotherly nations and we should not allow the Pakistani Punjabis to make us fight each other. Our focus should be the freedom from the yoke of Punjabi and end their interference in our countries.”

Hyrbyair Marri maintained that Balochistan and Afghanistan had hundreds of years of friendship and brotherly relations. He said it was the time that Afghan and Baloch should sign peace treaties that in Free Balochistan and Afghanistan all the border issues and the artificial lines drawn by the colonisers would be resolved peacefully and through dialogues.’

Wisdom and statesmanship echoes from the words of Hyrbyair Marri and it shows that he is a man with a vision. He advocates for a Free Balochistan that would become a beacon of hope, peace and prosperity in the region, unlike Pakistan and Iran who have become a threat not only to the regional stability but they have also become a threat to world peace.

If Russia whose borders even do not meet with Japan can offer a peace treaty to resolve their long-standing controversial issues then Hyrbyair Marri’s point is absolutely valid and carries weight that Afghan and Baloch should have similar treaties so that Pakistan, Iran and their collaborators and proxies cannot get the opportunity to exploit our the minor differences.

Some Baloch political parties until recent past used to criticise Hyrbyair Marri’s stand on Afghan Baloch historic relation and his willingness to create an atmosphere of friendly relations between the Afghan (Pashtuns) in Pakistan occupied territories of Afghanistan and the Baloch people. These (pro-freedom parties, their leaders and activists) have now changed their view against Afghans (Pashtuns) and they could be seen in the rallies and meetings standing next to Pashtuns/Afghans. This is a positive change and confirms Hyrbyair Marri’s viewpoint about Afghan-Baloch historical relations.

The recent statement of BNM to organise events on 13 November Baloch Martyrs Day was an endorsement of Hyrbyair Marri’s national decisions. The BNM has not condoned or accepted the Baloch Martyrs Day until 2018 since it was first announced in 2009 by Mr Marri and his friends in London and Balochistan. Even though the BSO-Azad supported this day the following year in 2010 but their devotion to the ‘National Remembrance Day’ remained limited. Despite the so-called alliance between BSO-Azad and BNM the later did not even supported BSO’s stand about Baloch Martyrs Day.

What now needs to be done is that these Baloch pro-freedom political parties should also accept the fact and Hyrbyair Marri’s point of view about Iran because the Islamic Republic has never been a friend of Baloch people and will never support the Baloch struggle for freedom. During 1970s Baloch war of liberation, Iran has directly and openly supported Pakistan to eliminate the Baloch freedom fighters.

Not only that, but Iran is also committing heinous crimes against Baloch people who are under its occupation on the other side of artificial ‘Goldsmith Line’ – an arbitrary line drawn by the British colonial forces to divide Balochistan to appease Persia. Even if our some visionless and narrow-minded political parties and their leadership do not support Hyrbyair Marri’s point view about Iran because of their personal grudges and ego. Mark my words, in no time they will switch sides and start speaking against Iran.

The entire world including our neighbouring Afghanistan, the Gulf States and Western powers are against Iran because of its ongoing proxy wars in the Middle East and terrorism against nations under Iran’s occupation. How is it possible that our pro-freedom fellow Baloch cannot either see or understand Iran’s evil designs? Are they so naïve or are they being blackmailed by Iran? Has Iran trapped them in an evil net that they cannot now free themselves from this net?

Whatever the reason, I believe just like their views have changed in support of Hyrbyair Marri’s farsighted national philosophy about Afghan/Pashtuns-Baloch relations and Martyrs Day; they will soon change their policies and stand about Iran. Even though at present they are all unsuccessfully trying to team up against Hyrbyair Marri and his friends but deep in their hearts, they know Mr Marri’s devotion and dedication to Baloch liberation struggle is pure and uncompromising. His policies and decision are in Baloch national interest, aligned with international changes and developments and above any party politics.

Those who have no vision and political maturity, they will change with the wind and the wind is blowing against Iran. The temptation in the wind of change can no longer be resisted.

Photo courtesy: Associated Press (AP)