In an unprecedented development, different nationalist Baloch leaders and groups have vehemently endorsed the suicide attack carried out yesterday on a convoy of Chinese engineers.
Different Baloch leaders and groups released media statements or took to twitter to express their views on the issue, suggesting a very radical change in dynamics of Baloch nationalist movement.
Dr. Allah Nazar, the head of a prominent Baloch militant organisation, Balochistan Liberation Front, endorsed the attack in a tweet and paid his ‘rich tributes to Rehan Baloch’. He also praised Aslam Baloch, Rehan’s father, for the ‘upbringing of his child’.
Rehan was the suicide attacker, who carried out an attack on a convoy of Chinese Engineers in Dalbandin town of Chaghi district of Balochistan on Saturday. According to the Balochistan Post sources, at least four people had died in the attack including three Chinese Engineers.
Rehan Baloch was the eldest son of top BLA commander Aslam Baloch.
United Baloch Army, A Baloch militant organisation, in a press release, also ‘paid rich tributes to Rehan Baloch’.
“Rehan Baloch repeated the role of Majeed Baloch and Baaz Khan Marri, letting the world know that Baloch will not hesitate from any sacrifice for their motherland Balochistan”, said Mureed Baloch, UBA’s spokesperson in the statement.
Abdul Nabi Bangulzai, a senior Baloch leader, in a tweet, said that China’s role as a coloniser and collaborator with Pakistan has brought China face to face with Baloch nation. He also paid paid tributes to Rehan Baloch.
Another militant organization, Baloch Republican Guard, also endorsed the attack carried out by Rehan Baloch. In a press release, BRG’s spokesperson Dostain Baloch said that Rehan Baloch sent out a message that without Baloch’s consent CPEC or any other projects cannot succeed on Baloch land.
Wahid Qambar, another commander of Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF), termed the suicide attack by Rehan Baloch a ‘historic event, which he can never forget’.
Rahim Advocate, another Baloch leader, said in his tweet that: ‘Rehan Baloch s/o Aslam Baloch gave a clear message that Baloch youth are determined to achieve their freedom from Pakistan and will not let anyone plunder the Baloch resources’.
Akhtar Nadeem, who is considered a prominent commander in BLF, said “Rehan has set a new precedent in Baloch struggle, the upbringing of his father Aslam and his resolute stance on freedom set him for this great sacrifice”. He ‘saluted Rehan Baloch’ and warned that the ‘enemy should know Baloch will not hesitate to choose any means for the motherland’.
Gulzar Imam, a prominent commander of Baloch Republican Army, tweeted about the attack and ‘saluted Rehan Baloch for his bravery’.
A Sindhi militant organization, Sindhu Desh Revolutionary Army, lauded the act in a press release and asked Baloch and Sindhi youth to build passion similar to that of Rehan Baloch for the motherland.
Bashir Zeb Baloch, a Baloch leader, in his press release said that the path chosen by Rehan Baloch ‘would shake the core of exploiters’, and termed Rehan as ‘an eternal asset for the Baloch nation’.
Where many stalwarts of Baloch pro-independence endorsed the act of suicide attack against Chinese Engineers, some criticized it. On social media, some Baloch activists argued that this would damage the international reputation of the Baloch independence movement.
According to the analysts, this radical shift in the Baloch movement is a matter of grave concern for Pakistan because Baloch insurgents in past had restrained from taking such extreme measures.
‘Pakistan after all the security measures could not stop suicide attacks by the religious militant organisations, if Baloch groups too start carrying out suicide attacks, the region will be pushed into an unprecedented violence, which will be very dangerous for Pakistan’s existence,’ an analyst told The Balochistan Post.