28 May: The Day Pakistan Lost Balochistan
Nadir Baloch
The Balochistan Post
Nuclear tests killed The Ras Koh but opened a window to the world to see Balochistan. This killing of Baloch Land with nuclear bombs brought consideration to Balochistan and its geography. The Ras Koh is a Part of the Chagai hills forming part of the Sulaiman Mountain Range. The word, Ras Koh means “Way to the Mountains.” Pakistan’s nuclear tests were carried out in Occupied Balochistan, on 28th May 1998. This was the Day when “Pakistan Lost Balochistan”. The nuclear test was conducted in a series at the Chagai test site. The tests further heightened the tensions, Pakistan, started a nuclear arms race in the region.
Samar Mubarakmand, a senior Pakistani scientist said, everybody was raising slogan: “Allah-o-Akbar” when the tests were successful. The same slogan is chanted by ISIS and other Pakistan based terrorist groups. It shows the religious motive, behind the nuclear blasts. Pakistan was made on religious based hateful ideology against, other religions and mankind. It has been, always a safe haven for terrorists from all around the world, with the military logistic and political support. It is always a threat, to the world, that religious outfits and banned organisation can take over control of nuclear arsenal.
According to reports of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), they were able to estimate the yield of the Pakistani tests, it ranged from nine to 12 kilotons for the first series of explosions, and from four to six kilotons for the single explosion.
As a result of explosions, Ras Koh and Chagai hills turned into ashes, human and animals were ‘ dying like flies”. Millions of livestock died in deserts. Farming and agriculture were destroyed. Those who left alive migrated and reached to big cities, where young girls and women were sold in open markets for food and bread. This was another turning point for the nationalist forces active in Baloch politics to start 5th Baloch Insurgency against Pakistan to save its Mother Land from further exploitations.
Pakistani tests broke the de facto moratorium on nuclear testing. The UN Security Council firmly condemned Pakistan by unanimously adopting Resolution 1172 on 6 June 1998. The resolution recognized a threat to international peace and security. Pakistan was later accused of selling nuclear technology to Iran, Libya and North Korea. In 2004, The incident led to UN Security Council Resolution 1540, UN Charter to take and enforce effective measures against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
Pakistan is one of the most dangerous countries of the world, a continuous threat of nuclear war in South Asia. The irresponsible attitude of the Pakistani government by supporting terrorist against neighbouring countries, its army’s involvement in gross human rights violations against oppressed nations has given momentum to National movements. Fall of this nuclear state sponsoring terror is a serious concern to international community.
The Security Council should disarm Pakistan from its nukes as it has been involved in illegally transferring it to other countries.
Additionally, cases of cancer are very common in the local population of test site, UN should visit the region to investigate these cases and help the people of Balochistan.
Nadir Baloch is a political commentator and member of World Baloch Organisation (WBO). He tweets at @NadirBalochWBO