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WASHINGTON: The US State Department has assured Pakistan that it does not support the demand for an independent Balochistan, as it respects the country’s unity and territorial integrity.
“The US government respects the unity and territorial integrity of Pakistan, and we do not support independence for Balochistan,” says a policy statement the US State Department shared with Dawn.
Elaborating the US position on the matter, a State Department official said: “We have consistently urged all parties in Pakistan to work out their differences peaceably and through a valid political process.”
The statement followed two seminars that Baloch nationalists in Washington held at Carnegie Endowment and Capitol Hall this week, urging the US administration and lawmakers to support their struggle.
In their speeches, Baloch activists pointed out “gross human rights violations, including disappearances, torture and political suppression” that they alleged the Pakistani government was carrying out in Balochistan.
Published in Dawn, May 17th, 2016
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Comments (43) Closed
May 17, 2016 09:26am
The problem is that there is difference between what you say and what actually you are doing.
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May 17, 2016 09:36am
Why does Pakistan need re assurance on its domestic matters everytime by the US? All this does is just give US more and more confidence that Pakistan can't function without their approval.
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May 17, 2016 09:41am
The fact that carnegie endowment and capitol hall gave space to the two seminars tells us loads about the real intentions.
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May 17, 2016 09:48am
So, the talk has started!
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May 17, 2016 09:50am
music to ears
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May 17, 2016 09:52am
This is not the democracy and honest way to accept division after division. This whole earth belongs equally to all humans. Its resources need to be equally distributed. Baluchistan was a barren desert, huge population of Baluchistan migrated in other parts of subcontinent. In the same way the Pashtuns also.
There need the share of land and in resources to those regions where population migrated and that caused huge suffering of whole people of those regions due to huge population.
What human moral ethics have any such solution that realize the sufferings of densely populated areas due to such migrations?
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May 17, 2016 09:53am
Awesome!!!... Victory for Pakistan's diplomacy... Credit goes to our diplomat-in-chief Mian Nawaz Sharif, COAS Raheel Sharif and their respective teams… their persistent and tenacious efforts made it all possible…
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May 17, 2016 10:07am
But they support insurgency
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May 17, 2016 10:12am
There's a handful of pro indian lobbies who yap about it. Truth be told, even if US had nefarious designs nothing could undo Pakistan. I think Pakistan should lobby to support freedom for Sikhs of Khalistan. Remember 1984?
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May 17, 2016 10:13am
This is how it unfolds in the beginning. Time to seal border not only with Afghanistan but also with Iran.
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May 17, 2016 10:54am
A long time ago the US was giving similar statements regarding Bangladesh too....
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May 17, 2016 10:56am
In India and many other countries, people of all religions, different ethnic groups live together so what is problem in certain countries only.
So a game is behind
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May 17, 2016 11:00am
India is Investing a lot on this Issue. and at there back they don't know whats happing in Assam and Naghaland.
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May 17, 2016 11:02am
Indians must be disappointed!
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May 17, 2016 11:03am
USA are great friend of Pak. THanks to them. Just need there support to ease visa process from Pak to USA for genuine applicants
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May 17, 2016 11:03am
Good. Indian interference in Balochistan won't go unnoticed in UN anymore. Another vote for Pakistan when it comes to Indian interference in Pakistan.
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May 17, 2016 11:23am
@Hitesh , Just keep on dreaming . Balochistan is not East Pakistan which was over 1000 miles away from the rest of Pakistan.
Most Balochs are pro_Pakistan and there are lots of development going on there . And do you really think China would invest close $50 Billion in a place which is about to go up in the flame? I think India should take care of your own problems like Kashmir , Nagaland, Assam and many more.
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May 17, 2016 11:32am
US should talk about Kashmir too...and killings by Indians in Kashmir.
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May 17, 2016 11:40am
Good development.
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May 17, 2016 11:43am
Indians will be super happy to hear even this news. Keep dreaming, soon we will be back to greater heights inshAllah.
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May 17, 2016 11:53am
@Ahamd I agree to your comment
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May 17, 2016 12:02pm
Thank you PM Sharif for making Pakistan great again! WOW!!!!
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May 17, 2016 12:11pm
good
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May 17, 2016 12:34pm
@Hitesh: Talks can be done on anything. Kashmir itself is a talked about subject. What's new here?
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May 17, 2016 12:34pm
How does independent Texas sound?
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May 17, 2016 12:35pm
@Ahamd
Sure. You must be hoping that the visa authorities would be screening your comment here and you'd get a green card straight out!
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May 17, 2016 12:36pm
@Ahamd No one is no ones friend in this world my FRIEND.
I think you're not old enough to remember how fast US dumped Pakistan after the collapse of USSR... Blink of an eye is the right expression.
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May 17, 2016 12:53pm
@Ahamd.
Work hard and smart to improve your own country, instead of doing menial worthless jobs in America, and waste your youth and life away!
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May 17, 2016 01:01pm
US should support independent Kashmir
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May 17, 2016 01:11pm
but there is no such thing as Independent Balochistan, although all you wanted and want to create is the law and order situation in the province by creating and sponsoring Jandullah to stop development of Gawadar, which is a gateway for EU to Central Asia and Russia's energy resources. thanks for some consolation by the way in the face of denying Pakistan the right to buy your F sixteens
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May 17, 2016 01:19pm
Our only real friend is China. US is feeling the pinch of Gawadar Port and the development it will bring. Also China will play a major role in the World politics soon so all we need is China. Even US will bend down to the rising power of China.
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May 17, 2016 02:39pm
The insurgency, in Baluchistan, has ended. As long pakistan controls the eastern Afghanistan, , independent Baluchistan will remain a dream, of a fool. And as per facts, the insurgency only exists in few cities of Baluchistan, where certain Baluch tribes are present in considerable number. In north of Baluchistan, from Chaman to upwards, there is no insurgency, there is no "struggle" against Pakistan. Indians exaggerate the scale of insurgency and chances of its success and I do not blame them.
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May 17, 2016 02:52pm
US was also saying the same when Bangladesh got independence. It even sent it's aircraft carrier Enterprise to help Pakistan. Well even it could not ignore the reality later and recognised Bangladesh.
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May 17, 2016 03:41pm
We can not trust America...China is the only friend Pakistan has...period
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May 17, 2016 04:40pm
We need to bring our house in order, every thing will subsequently fall in place. No other country can bring about any disorder until we have peace ,harmony and economic stability in our country. We all know that Balochistan has been a sensitive issue for us and we have never handled it the way it deserves to be handled. I was astonished to read an article in one of our local newpaper about district Taftan, which gives our country millions of Kg of minerals and Alloys which amounts to sizable money but , that district has no hospital, a primitive BHU where we would not send our pets for treatment even, not even a single connection of potable water. Under such circumstances , shouldnt be there any voice of resentment???? So i will repeat again, bring your house in order, rest will fall in place.... otherwise we will just keep on crying and blaming others.
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May 17, 2016 05:20pm
"In their speeches, Baloch activists pointed out “gross human rights violations, including disappearances, torture and political suppression”
The activists should have also enlightened the audience with the gross human right violations committed by the Sardars and the exploitation that is being carried out by this group. Just few days back it was in the news that some secretary of health was caught with cash worth millions of rupees , euros and dollars. Every member of the provincial assemble is awarded portfolio and the result is nil.
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May 17, 2016 05:23pm
This is US warning to Pakistan of its intentions, should it move further closer to China. best answer to this is more democracy in the region.
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May 17, 2016 06:11pm
@SAEED MASOOD. China is friend only till You offer your shoulder for them to ride. I hope you get it.
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May 17, 2016 07:16pm
This is a kind of "warning" in the diplomatic language.They showed us that they can support demand for the independent Balochistan and that is why they allowed the organizers to hold such public events in the US.
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May 17, 2016 07:22pm
What difference does it make of what US supports or not. Baluchistan is not going any where.
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May 17, 2016 11:46pm
No one helped while Pakistan lost half of its country, East Pakistan. Its better to be economically and militarily strong to protect the country. Reassurances mean nothing when it comes to integrity and territorial defense of a country.
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May 18, 2016 01:09am
US made same statement for the then East Pakistan but what happened every body knows. After winning war in Afghanistan against USSR, Pakistan was left alone to fight terrorism. So, don't rely on others rather make yourself strong enough to defend our country.
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May 18, 2016 04:27pm
@Hitesh . It started more than 50 years ago. Nothing much happened though.
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