In a significant shift from Pakistan’s official stance, Interim Prime Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar, during an appearance on Dawn News’ program ‘Live with Adil Shahzeb,’ acknowledged that the people in Balochistan are not merely dissatisfied with Pakistan, but are seeking an independent state.
During his interview with journalist Adil Shahzeb, Kakar addressed the complex issue of enforced disappearances in Balochistan. He recognized the challenges in resolving these cases and stressed the importance of focusing on the return of missing persons. Notably, he admitted that the root of the discontent in the region lies in the aspiration for a separate Baloch identity and state – a perspective rarely acknowledged by previous Pakistani administrations.
This statement marks a distinct departure from the approach of past Pakistani governments, which tended to describe the Balochistan independence movement as the concern of a minority, often responding with offers of dialogue rather than recognizing a widespread desire for independence.
Originating from the Pashtun belt of Balochistan, Kakar’s tenure as Interim Prime Minister has been marked by controversy. Pro-independence and political parties in Balochistan have criticized his government, perceiving it as being supported by the Pakistani establishment and involved in the suppression of the Baloch movement.
Kakar’s administration has been accused of employing force against relatives of missing persons and engaging in political vendettas. The Interim Prime Minister has openly opposed demonstrations by families of the forcibly disappeared and has accused journalists, writers, and civil society advocates supporting these causes of being linked to the Baloch armed struggle.