Political solution needed to deal with genocide cases in Balochistan: Editorial

Islamabad, Feb 19 (ANI): A political solution must be sought immediately to deal with the cases of genocide in Balochistan before it is too late, an editorial has said.

US Republican Representative Dana Rohrabacher, who first chaired a US Congressional hearing on Balochistan, has now introduced a resolution calling for self-determination for Balochistan.

Pakistan has taken a strong exception to this resolution, with Prime Minister Gilani, the Foreign Office, Pakistan Embassy in the US and the Pakistani media all condemning it jointly.

The Obama administration may have distanced itself from the resolution, but the editorial says that there are three factors behind this development. One, the Republicans are surely annoyed with Pakistan and its double dealing in the war on terror. Two, the US's vested interest in the region, and three, international lobbying by Baloch nationalists is finally wielding the desired results: the issue of grave human rights violations in Balochistan has now become an international issue due to their efforts.

The Pakistani state and media are angry at the latest developments, but the editorial questions why has there not been any anger against the 'kill and dump' policy that the army has been pursuing in Balochistan for almost a decade now?

It is now getting clearer as to what Pakistani military has done in Balochistan. Hiding under the umbrella of 'sovereignty' cannot hide the state's own cruelty, which has led to this pass, the Daily Times editorial said.

The sovereignty argument looks lame in the case of genocide and massacre, Rwanda and Bosnia are cases in point, it said, adding that Pakistan must revisit the slow genocide that is going on in Balochistan and a political solution must be sought immediately before it is too late. (ANI)