ISLAMABAD: Following the Baloch rebel leader Brahamdagh Bugti’s willingness to shun militancy and join the mainstream politics of Balochistan, the government’s negotiating team has concluded the first round of talks with these groups through mediators.
In an interview with BBC on August 27, Brahamdagh Bugti, the leader of banned Balochistan Republican Party (BRP), said if the people of Balochistan so desired, he was willing to a truce with the authorities and return to his home province.
Saeed Zehri, who represents the Baloch youth and is also trusted by the militant groups, is mediating the talks. He is stationed at the Balochistan House, Islamabad, these days.
Zehri recently returned from abroad to undertake mediatory efforts between the militant group leaders and the federal government.
Talking to The News, Zehri said following the greenlight from the highest government and establishment authorities to resolve the lingering issue of Balochistan insurgency, which is part of the National Action Plan, reconciliation with all the rebel groups including Brahamdagh Bugti had been initiated.
He said several meetings had been held in Quetta and Islamabad and the second round of talks was about to start.
Zehri said many issues had so far been tackled in the first round of talks and the negotiating team will soon be meeting Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and some high-powered personalities in the establishment.
Saeed further said he had also been offered by Islamabad to become an adviser to the prime minister on youth affairs of Balochistan which he may consider after the success of the talks.
The ongoing talks with the representatives of Brahamdagh Bugti and other Baloch groups are at an advance stage and may culminate in a joint statement on reconciliation soon, sources privy to the efforts said.
As a first goodwill step, Balochistan’s Senior Minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehri has withdrawn the FIR of his son’s killing and some FIRs registered against certain Baloch youth may also be withdrawn as the talks advance.
From the Balochistan government side Sanaullah Zehri is said to be overseeing the process. The sources said talks were being carried out with the approval of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan Army as well as Balochistan Chief Minister Dr. Abdul Malik.
It is believed that the ruling PML-N, which is going to take over the Balochistan government on completion of two and a half years rule of National Party, wanted to expedite truce talks by accepting all legitimate demands if the militants shun insurgency and use of arms.
Brahamdagh has demanded withdrawal of certain FIRs against militant group’s leaders which has been accepted partially while the federal government is preparing a Rs6.5 billion development package for the province when the insurgency would end as a result of truce with the rebel forces.
The authorities are putting major thrust on the separatist groups to first lay down their arms and come down from the hills so that the process of development could be initiated. As a goodwill gesture the security forces operating in Balochistan have assured that the death squads created to battle out the armed groups would be done away with.
The militant groups have been assured that first priority would be given to the local Baloch youth in recruitments required for the CPEC. Furthermore, the role of security agencies would also be minimised when the insurgency ends, sources said.http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-13-40654-Talks-with-Brahamdagh-other–Baloch-groups-in-second-phase
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