Monitoring Desk: “Separatism or independence, while commonly accepted in the 1960s and 1970s, is unwelcome in the modern world. The case of Catalonian independence is a good case study in this. The formation of Bangladesh was part of a much larger historical event. As colonial power around the world diminished, new post-colonial realities were born. Colonial-made borders ceased to exist. In the decade preceding the formation of Bangladesh, 50 new countries gained independence – 17 of these in a single year of 1960. In the last 30 (1995-2025) years, only six new countries have gained independence.
These are observations of an article, “Another Bangladesh?” published daily in The News.
The writer Hassan Iftikhar logically built up his viewpoint that historical perspectives negate that an independent state can be created through an armed struggle, even with the help of adversaries, because global settings are not as they were in the early 60s to late 90s.
While citing geographical realities, the writer said that Bangladesh was cut off from the rest of the country with 1200 miles of enemy territory in between, while Balochistan is not such a geographical entity. He stated that Bangladesh was encircled by India, which had openly declared war on Pakistan even at its western borders, and without the open intervention of the Indian army in 1971, there probably would have been no Bangladesh. While Indian trained and controlled Mukti Bahini and other assorted militias were responsible for much bloodshed, separation was only possible due to India’s role. The Pakistan Army did not surrender to any ragtag militia; the instrument of surrender was signed with the Indian army.
Moreover, East Pakistan was a majority versus minority struggle as not only were ethnic Bengalis an absolute majority in East Pakistan, but they were also in the majority in United Pakistan, and felt subjugated by the minority. In Balochistan’s case, things are pretty different. In many areas of Balochistan, ethnic Baloch are in the minority. More ethnic Baloch are living in Punjab than in Quetta.
Moreover, guerrilla warfare is now a thing of the past as unarmed drones, fighter jets, precision artillery and other such military developments have vastly diminished the chance of success for any guerrilla movement. This is why the Kurdistan Workers Party had to give up arms. This is also why the revolutionary armed force of Colombia (FARC) failed, and so the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
