Yes, let’s talk Balochistan!

Now that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's infinite wisdom has put Balochistan on the agenda, let's talk self-determination
Mohan Guruswamy Delhi

Since Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in his infinite wisdom, put Balochistan on the Indo-Pak agenda along with Kashmir, let's now not shy away from talking about it. The Pakistani case for Kashmir no longer rests on religion; the Bengali rebellion and secession in 1971 did in that argument. It now rests upon the more exalted principle of self-determination.

That is what their friends abroad and even in India wax eloquent about. The Pakistanis no longer harp about Indian perfidies in Junagadh and Hyderabad. Free elections, full integration and the sheer fact of Hindus being the major community in these two one-time princely states has put paid to that. But Kashmir still dogs us. It is predominantly Muslim and the demand for self-determination has us confused. Isn't that what democracy is all about?

The irony is that Pakistan is the champion of self-determination when its own people do not often enjoy democratic rights. The three pillars upon which the Pakistani State rests are still 'Allah, Army and America'. The people of Pakistan do not figure in this scheme at all. The Pakistani leaders want a diplomatic engagement with us on Jammu and Kashmir again. Their Prime Minister, Yousuf Raza Gilani, has once again donned the cloak of democracy that hangs outside General Ashfaq Pervez Kiyani's bunker. But we must not shirk from talking about self-determination with them. It's a two-edged sword and cuts both ways.

Let's take the case of Balochistan.