The elusive leader of a major rebel group fighting for the independence of Balochistan, Dr Allah Nazar Baloch has gained iconic status in Balochistan province. In his first interview to any Indian media organisation, the head of the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) said over phone from an undisclosed location that Kulbhushan Jadhav was never arrested from Chaman on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, contrary to the claims made by Pakistan. According to him, Jadhav was picked up by mercenaries and smugglers from Chabahar in Iran, and then sold to a terrorist group, which, in turn, sold him to ISI.
Q: You are the only leader who is fighting for an independent Balochistan while staying in Balochistan. The other leaders are in “exile”. How do you justify your armed struggle, in which, as per your own admission, 2,000 Pakistani security personnel have been killed?
A: Not only me, but my colleagues, who are on the ground, are also fighting for a free Balochistan. We cannot achieve freedom for Balochistan without an armed struggle. The Baloch have no other way because the colonial powers and the rest of the world only hear the roar of the gun. I cannot say that only 2,000 army men have been killed, but I can say that my nation (Balochistan) has adopted its own culture and language (to deal with Pakistan).
Q: Why is the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) against CPEC when Pakistan and China both claim that it will bring prosperity to Balochistan?
A: The Baloch nation is not only against the CPEC, but also against all the imperialistic projects that are against Baloch interest. The CPEC may bring prosperity for Punjab, but the Baloch will suffer from a demographic change and this project will bring a level of disasters that we cannot even imagine.
Q: You had recently tweeted that Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav was kidnapped by the ISI and Saudi backed terrorist group Jaish-ul-Adl and Mulla Omar of the Jundallah group. Can you share more details on this? Is this a substantiated truth? When was he kidnapped and why?
A: Yes, Pakistani ISI is backing the Jaish-ul-Adl, and Saudi Arabia is financing both the Jundullah and Jaish-ul-Adl. Both are carrying out terrorist activities in the region and they were also involved in the abduction of the Indian national from Chabahar, Iran.
According to our sources, the Indian national was never even seen at the Chaman border (Pakistan had first claimed that Jadhav was arrested from Chaman border between Afghanistan and Pakistan). Pakistan had initially claimed that they had arrested him from Chaman border, but later they said that they arrested him from district Washuk, Balochistan. Later, they also involved the Iranian government (in the whole matter), but the Iranian government denied its involvement.
Q: You have also claimed that one of the training camps of the Lashkar-e-Tayyaba is situated in Balochistan. How has this camp not been discovered by the Pakistan army, which carries out regular operations in that region?
A: The Lashker-e-Tayyaba is an asset for the Pakistani army. How can you expect the Pakistani army to discover it? The Lashkar-e-Tayyaba conducts operations against the Baloch freedom movement.
Q: Pakistan has accused you of working with the Indian security agencies. Your comments.
A: I categorically reject this as a false propaganda of the ISI and the military of Pakistan.
Q: India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day speech in 2016 raised the issue of Balochistan. Did that lead to any marked changes on part of the Pakistan security establishment in dealing with the Balochistan freedom fighters?
A: We hope that not only India but the entire civilised world will raise their voice for Baloch nation, which is suffering from the worst kind of human crisis. The Pakistani regime has intensified its actions against the Baloch nation, the number of forced disappearances of people is increasing day by day. We hope the international community will take action against Pakistan for the atrocities it is doing in Balochistan.
Q: How serious is the issue of forced disappearances in the region? Are the judiciary and the media not being allowed to do their job there?
A: This is one of the most serious problems which the Baloch are facing today. The repercussions of this will be very disastrous for the region. Regional stability and peace depend on Baloch state’s freedom. We appeal to the civilised world to support the Baloch nation.