Baloch Women Forum Propaganda, Terror Links & Truth
The True Agenda Behind the Baloch Women Forum and Human Rights Misuse
Propaganda in the guise of Advocacy
There is another group so called Baloch Women Forum (BWF) that is stirring a commotion. It is serving as a demand of the missing people in Balochistan. However, behind the curtain it is again an attempt to politicize a sensitive matter to make it relevant. The discussion is not a standalone site. It is closely associated with BNM ecosystem of diaspora. This ecosystem is in tandem with outlawed terrorist groups such as the (Balochistan Liberation Army) BLA,(Balochistan Liberation Front) BLF and (Baluch Raaji Aajohi Sangar) BRAS. Notably, these forces use human rights platforms not to seek justice. In fact, they do so with an anti-state agenda. Their first intention is to raise funding with the anti-Pakistan powers through the activism.
Selective Silence Exposes Hypocrisy
BWF professes to be interested in human rights. But its silence concerning human rights abuses by BLA and BLF is quite a clamor. Such groups have attacked school children, passengers, teachers and laborers. They have hijacked trains and committed brutality. But BWF never says a word of these crimes. Such unilateral activism is not human rights advocacy. It is hypocrisy.
Routine Engagement Misused
It is also noted that the evidence to such sessions is usually supported by the participation of the members of UN Working Group on Enforced Disappearances (WGEID) in them. But this is misleading. They are used to taking part in such forums. That does not imply that they support the accusations. Pakistan has been interacting with the Working Group of UN. Institutional mechanisms have been evident in the state. They are the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances, judicial and parliamentary.
Domestic Mechanisms Exist
Affected families should embrace the use of such channels. There are judiciary, legislative and commissions that listen to their grievances. Local solutions can be requested instead of politicized claims being made to the international bodies through lobbying.
The figures speak it all. Overall, 82 percent of cases of missing persons have been solved in Pakistan. This is even higher in Balochistan at 84 percent. This is improvement and determination.
False Victimhood as a Shield
The other disturbing tendency is the depiction of active terrorists as innocent victims. A few examples reveal this strategy. Wadood Satakzai and Karim Jan were affiliated to terrorist networks. But they were pictured as innocent victims. Likewise, Mahrang Baloch cousin Sohaib Langov was killed in the line of duty of terror operations. Nevertheless, he was depicted as the victim of state activity. This misinformation is aimed at protecting prohibited garments and undermining the actions of counterterrorism.
International Manipulation at Play
International organizations should walk on the edge. Human rights systems are being abused by those operating and representing aggressor intelligence units. India has been on the forefront in boosting such narratives. The motive is geopolitical. This aims at demonizing Pakistan and destabilizing it. There is nothing incidental about the fact that forums such as BWF echo hostile agendas.
Counterterrorism against Propaganda
Pakistan has drawn a distinct line between the acceptable counterterrorism activities and propaganda by terrorist fronts. The state has the responsibility of keeping its citizens safe against the violent bands such as the BLA and the BLF. Meanwhile, it is determined to be peace, the rule of law and protection of civilians. Institutions can help in the resolution of real grievances. However, the discourse should not be hijacked by politicized campaigns which are supported by foreign money.
Commitment to Peace and Stability
Balochistan people are entitled to peace and development. They do not require additional propaganda breeding instability. Moreover, the policy of counterterrorism in Pakistan emphasizes on the elimination of violence and provision of security to the citizens. The misconceptions that groups such as BWF propagate only postpone this. Such manipulation should not be allowed by international platforms. They should not buy the masquerade, and they should see the ulterior motive.
BWF propaganda is not a human right one. It is of political survival and foreign financing. The forum makes itself hypocritical by siding with the outfits that are forbidden and still overlooking their offenses.
The history of the successful resolution of the cases and the institutional mechanism in Pakistan is opposite to these misrepresentations. The globe cannot afford to be careless. Propaganda will never bring peace to Balochistan. It will be realized in the context of truth, accountability and shared willingness to subscribe to the rule of law.
Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed in this article are exclusively those of the author and do not reflect the official stance, policies, or perspectives of the Platform.
